SCOTTISH musicians and poetry fanatics will be entertaining people across the country tonight in a “richly cultural” BBC Burns Night show.
Burns Night 2024 will be presented by broadcaster Alistair Heather who has told The National Scots across the nation will be in for an energetic and warm evening full of songs, recitals and traditions galore.
“It’s got that Scottish tradition where you all do a turn – so for everyone that turns up if they can sing, they will sing. If they can play a tune, they’ll play a tune. If they can’t do that, they’ll recite a poem,” Heather told The National.
“We’re got all these talented Scottish people coming up and doing whatever they do best.”
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Recorded at the City Halls in Glasgow, the hour-long programme on the BBC Scotland channel will feature performances from folk group Mànran – who will open and close the show – as well as jazz star Georgia Cécile, who scooped UK Jazz Act of the Year and Vocalist of the Year at the 2022 Jazz FM awards.
Viewers will also hear a rendition of Scots Wha Hae by Kyle Falconer from The View, while the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra will be providing epic backing for many of performances.
Heather said Scots can also expect to see a star-studded rendition of Address to a Haggis with a bunch of celebrities lined up to recite the famous Burns poem.
Heather added: “I also roped the audience in to reciting a poem en masse, so I was out there early getting them rehearsed. They were brilliant and such good fun. They are a huge part of the energy of the night.
“Everyone in the room joins in as you do at a Burns Supper and it’s got a great warmth and sense of fun about it, but it’s also richly cultural. It feels meaningful.
“I only discovered Georgia Cecile on the night and she has got an incredible voice and as for Kyle Falconer, you just get to hear this great voice in a way you wouldn’t have heard it before with this incredible backing.”
There will be poetry recitals from much-loved Scottish stars including comedian Karen Dunbar, Jordan Young (above) of River City and Scot Squad fame, and Len Pennie, who has written a new poem toasting the lassies in Burns’ life.
Schoolkids from across the country are also set to perform Tae a Mouse for a packed audience of around 700 people.
It is the first time Heather (below centre) – who is a Scots language activist – has presented the programme and said it was an honour to do given Burns has always been a central part of his life.
He said: “My family have always been into Scottish traditions, so there’s a lot of folk musicians in the family and my grandad was a big singer of Burns. He would always sing Burns at the folk sessions in Carnoustie.
“The kilt I’m wearing on the night I inherited from my uncle who died very suddenly when he was about 50. He was a great fiddle player and released lots of albums and was hugely into the Scottish folk revival. I was really proud to be able to represent him and the impact he had on our family.
“I know my cousins and auntie are going to have a watch party on Thursday and I was touched to be able to wear that in his memory because that indigenous Scottish culture has been really important to all of us.
READ MORE: Burns Night: Edinburgh couple puts spin on traditional supper
“Burns has always been a very central thing in my life, though I’ve not always had success with it. I entered the Kirriemuir folk festival Scots poetry recital competition once and came last!
“But look who’s on the tele doing Burns now?”
Burns Night 2024 will be on the BBC Scotland channel from 8pm on Thursday and can also be viewed on iPlayer.
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