ALLAN HUNTER at the movies. ALEXANDER PAYNE has established himself as one of the most beguiling directors in contemporary American cinema. Films like ‘Election’ and ‘About Schmidt’ have been marked by a wry humour and an acute understanding of human nature.    Those qualities are once again evident in the sublime ‘Sideways’, a plaintive salute […]

ROB ADAMS savours a major step forward for Caithness pianist and composer James Ross in the first of this year’s New Voices commissions at Celtic Connections.

Perth Theatre, Friday 14 January 2005

Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 12 January 2005

ALISTAIR PEEBLES reports on Marian Ashburn’s ‘Cupola’ in Stromness

ILLIYANA NEDKOVA explores the provocative work of a group of women artists featured in the Invisible Fields exhibition at An Tuireann in Skye

BRUCE MACGREGOR explains just how Blazin’ Fiddles came to work with singers Colin MacIntyre, Eddi Reader and Justin Currie in their new With Strings Attached project

FIONA MACKENZIE outlines exciting plans for a new National Gaelic Choir of Scotland

Fiddler DUNCAN CHISHOLM looks forward to an Eden Court outing with Ivan Drever, and further ahead to a renewed long-term assault on the United States with Wolfstone

BILL PEPPE and JUDITH KERSHAW pay tribute to the huge contribution made to artistic life on the Isle of Skye by the late Elizabeth Wakefield, MBE.