Back in the 805, some obscure band sang about ’The Politics Of Dancing’. Now in 1999, that very same concept is coming alive on the streets of Edinburgh. It’s party time as Scotland celebrates the opening of its new parliament. Words: Miles Fielder
Party faithful
Wednesday 30
Fire On The Hill
Carlton Hill. 10pm. Free. A barbeque on Calton Hill with folk fusion band Salsa Celtica on hand to whip up some fiery Latin and Scots rhythms throughout the night. Beer and wine will be available and a giant bonfire beacon will burn from dusk ‘til dawn to herald the opening day of the Scottish Parliament. Also lighting up the night sky are the Millennial Beacon on Salisbury Crags and the Scottish Gas Beacon on Castle Hill.
Thursday Procession Opening Ceremony
9.15-9.30am The Crown Of Scotland is transported from the castle to the Assembly Hall.
10am Live television coverage begins as guests and VIPs arrive.
10.45-11am Civic procession proceeds from St. Giles. via High Street. Bank Street and The Mound. to the Assembly Hall. 11.15-11.30am The Queen. Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles leave Holyrood and travel up High Street. Bank Street and The Mound to the Assembly Hall in a carriage with Household Cavalry escort.
11.303m Ceremony with speeches by the Presiding Officer, The Queen and First Minister.
Noon The Queen. royal party and First Minister appear on platform outside the Assembly Hall to watch the Childrens' Procession.
Official Broadcast
The Mound/East Princes Street Gardens. 10am. Free. Coverage of the Opening Ceremony in the Assembly Hall and Parliament Square will be broadcast live on giant screens set up at The Mound
Party manifesto: (clockwise from top left) the Scottish Crown Jewels, The Boys Of The Lough with Aly Bain, Donald Maxwell and The Delgados; (bottom) ldlewild.
and East Princes Street Gardens. where Martyn Bennett and the City Of Edinburgh Music School will perform Mackay's Memoirs. a specially commis- sioned piece of music. The actual broad- cast will be from 10.30am-12.25pm. and the event is due to be opened by para- chutists from Scotland‘s Golden Lions Free Fall Team who will land in East Princes Street Gardens. There will also be a fly by from the Red Arrows at 11.20am (Edinburgh). 11.30am (Glasgow).
Pipe 8. Brass Band Concert Parliament Square. 10am. Free. The Edinburgh Samba School. RAF Leuchars Pipes and Drums. and West Lothian Schools Brass Band will play in the lead- up to the Civic and Royal Procession.
Children's Procession
Royal Mile to West Princes Street Gardens. Starts 11.50am. Free. Accompanied by Boghall and Bathgate
Pipe Band. Macnaughtons Vale of
Atholl Pipe Band (from Perth) and Scottish Power Pipe Band (from
Glasgow). 1600 children representing
the 73 constituencies of Scotland will parade from the Royal Mile. passing the
I Assembly Hall at 12.15pm. then contin-
uing on to West Princes Street Gardens. The children will carry banners in three different colours — yellow. red and pur- ple — which have been specially created
; by Unique Events to be distinctively
different from regimental. nationalistic or Trade Union banners; in fact. they mostly resemble Himalayan ‘Prayer
Flags‘. Each constituency chose from a
number of special symbols an image
that best represented their community.
which will be displayed when the ban-
ners are planted on the slopes of the Castle behind the Gardens.
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT OPENING
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THE PARTY STARTS HERE ' HAMPOEN'S FIRST CONCERT
HAM PDEN
SCOTLAND‘S NATIONAL STADIUM GLASGOW
SATURDAY 3rd JULY ’99
Doors open: 4.30pm-Reserved Seats £35.00 General Admission £28.50 Limited Premium Reserved seats £50.00 available to personal callers from Candleriggs Ticket Centre Glasgow (9.30am-9.30pm Mon-Sat 10.00am - 5.00pm Sun-No booking fee for cash sales) and usual agents. OFFICIAL ROD STEWART HOTLINE: 0870 444 4017 24hrs 10 9 per min max CREDIT CARD BOOKINGS 0141 287 5511 -0141 339 8383 (24hrs) 0131 333 2520 (24hrs) 01224 620 011 Tickets subrect to booking fee unless otherwise. stated PLEASE NOTE NO TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT HAMPDEN PARK Tickets are s.“:‘ stinger! in f‘mm‘lt‘ts Terms and conditions details 01 which are available on request SUBJEt‘T T0 llCEHCE
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24 Jun—8 Jul 1999 THE LIST13