Whit’s on this weekend?
At a loss for what to do this weekend? Have no fear! The Orcadian is here with a few peedie suggestions…
First Foot Soldiers
May 12, 2018 9:00 pmShetland four-piece First Foot Soldiers are to return to Orkney this weekend, playing gigs at Kirkwall’s The Neuk (formerly Matchmakers) this Saturday night and the Auld Motorhoose on Sunday afternoon.
The band, who have been together since 2010, will be entertaining crowds with a mixture of rock and pop songs from the 1960s to the 1990s. First Foot Soldiers have been warmly welcomed by audiences since their first trip to Orkney in 2012, having also been part of the visiting line-up for the first-ever Orkney Rock Festival back in 2014. They say they are very excited to be making this return visit to the county.
Orkney Wine Festival
May 11, 2018Kirkness & Gorie have launched the 2018 Orkney Wine Festival, which starts this Friday, May 11.
“We’ve just put tickets on sale to our customers, and they’re selling fast,” said organiser Duncan McLean.
“It’s great to see the continuing loyalty of so many folk to the festival, which is now in its 12th year and showcases the best of Orkney food, as well as some of the world’s finest wines.’”
There are two geographical themes in this year’s festival. Patrizia Baldini from north-west Italy makes a return visit after her first festival in 2016, talking about the wines of Piemonte and Tuscany at Helgi’s and The Lynnfield. Taking part for the first time is José Tirado, all the way from Chile, representing the world’s biggest organic wine producer, Emiliana. He will be pouring his wines at The Commodore and the festival’s first ever event at The Old Library, which has the enticing name The Thrill of the Grill!
The final theme for this year is Sauvignon Blanc, with two free tastings in Kirkness & Gorie pitting the visitors’ white wines against Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand. Indeed, last Wednesday saw what might just have been the biggest wine tasting in the world — and certainly Orkney! As the MSC Meraviglia docked in Kirkwall, Kirkness and Gorie invited all 4,400 passengers to come down and try a glass of sauvignon blanc!
The festival will also include a wine fair in Stromness Town Hall and a link-up with the West Side Cinema, featuring a film from north-west Italy, accompanied by Patrizia’s wines from the same area.
Anyone wanting to find out more can look at Kirkness & Gorie’s website, email kirknessandgorie@olagorie.com or phone 01856 888792.
Gardening Exhibition Weekend
May 12, 2018Orkney Auction Mart will be holding their gardening exhibition weekend, this Saturday and Sunday.
With handmade goods from Orkney Arts & Crafts on display, there will also be a table-top sale from a range of local businesses.
Remembering Scapa Flow
May 11, 2018Another Orkney Production (AOP) are set to host a weekend of events to celebrate the life and work of an important and well-known local author of the early 20th century, who is now largely forgotten.
A best-selling and prolific author, J.Storer Clouston was as popular as his contemporaries Sir Compton MacKenzie and P.G Woodhouse. Five films were made from his stories, including Marcel Carne’s Drole de Drame (1938) and the classic war film, The Spy in Black (1939).
The weekend begins this Friday, May 11, with the inaugural J. Storer Clouston Lecture, given by Professor Donna Heddle, head of the Institute for Northern Studies.
Then, on Saturday afternoon, Orkney Library and Archive plays host to the Stromness Writing Group who will read favourite extracts from Clouston’s novels and present new short stories and poems inspired by his work. A showing of The Spy in Black will also take place that evening at the Cromarty Hall, introduced by Orkney Rangers Sandra Miller and Elaine Clarke.
On Sunday, Dr Sarah Jane Gibbon — another authority on Clouston — will be leading a guided walk “in Clouston’s footsteps” around the Orphir coast, along with writer Alison Miller and RSPB’s Ian McNab, to look at aspects of Clouston’s research, homeland and character, whilst taking in scenic views of Scapa Flow and the Orphir hills.
To find out more about these events, you can contact Moya McDonald on 01620 825187 or 07719367052 moyamcd@gmail.com
Orkney Vintage Cavalcade
May 13, 2018 10:00 am - 5:00 pmOrkney Vintage Club will be holding their annual cavalcade, this Sunday.
Vehicle owners taking part should gather at Glaitness Primary School at 10am for a 10.30am start.
This year’s outing will include a visit to the Burray Railway Shed followed by lunch at The Sands. Finally, the cavalcade will return to Kirkwall where vehicles will be displayed at the Kirk Green.