OUR MAIN INTERVIEW this month features the popular singer and songwriter Dougie MacLean, who has four dates in the area this month. Dougie talks about various aspects of his career, from solo performance through to his ambitious Rural Image project unveiled at Celtic Connections in January, complete with a drive-on appearance by one of his beloved Ferguson tractors.

Also featured in interview is Michael Duke, the writer of the latest touring production from the Edinburgh-based benchtours company. Look out later in the month for an interview with Michael Emans, director of Rapture Theatre company’s touring production of Blue/Orange, and the promised interview with jazz saxophonist Phil Bancroft which I prematurely announced last month …

Shetlander Chris Stout’s band is the subject of our Band Profile this month, while musician and story-teller Bob Pegg describes an intriguing project to recreate the ancient music of Orkney. Joanne Jamieson reports from the Shetland Folk Festival, Georgina Coburn looks at the work of film clubs around the area, and Peter Urpeth updates our ongoing coverage of the Sail Loft project in Stornoway.

The closure of Eden Court Theatre for major work looms ever closer amid concerns over the possibility of escalating costs following a much higher than estimated bill for structural restoration to the frontage. This one will doubtless run and run over the next 18 month, with the spectre of the Scottish Parliament hovering menacingly overhead.

As always, we will be adding more in the way of news, features and reviews as May progresses, so keep checking back for the latest developments.

Kenny Mathieson
Commissioning Editor