Events and things to do

‘Come oan, get aff’ – come and hear Kelty Clippie composer celebrated this weekend

This Saturday (31 October) Dunfermline Folk Club is celebrating the life and songs of Dunfermline man and folk legend John Watt. Tich Frier and Neil Paterson will present a night of John’s songs and stories about his life at Fire Station Creative. John Watt was not only the composer of classics such as Kelty Clippie (listen below), Pittenweem Jo and the brilliant Fife’s Got Everything, he was also the founder of

Shieldbank Coffee Shop and Shieldbank Riding & Vaulting Club, near Saline, Fife

Shieldbank Coffee Shop Monday – Closed Tuesday – 12pm until 6pm Wednesday to Sunday 10am until 6pm Shieldbank Coffee Shop is a small country coffee shop one mile outside the picturesque village of Saline within the grounds of Shieldbank Riding and Vaulting Club. They specialise in home-made soups, home baking, various light lunches, coffee and locally blended teas. In the warmer weather the terrace is open. You can watch the

The Fife Coastal Path, Aberdour: the Cote d’azur of Scotland?

The Scottish Riviera is at Aberdour in Fife. Or at least that’s what it said on the sign at Black Sands, the beach close to the town centre of Aberdour. Today Avocado Sweet is featuring a small but pretty section of the popular Fife Coastal Path, a section which also happens to have at least a couple of good cafes along the way. The starting point is just before the

East Neuk Open Studios on this weekend and next

This weekend is the first of the autumn dates for the twice yearly East Neuk Open Studios Art Trail. The trail takes in over 30 artist and designer studios and workshops and you can follow the Red Balloons to discover artists, designers and makers from the east of Fife. There’s always a range of paintings, textiles, prints, jewellery, illustrations, photographs, ceramics and furniture on sale too. Further details about who’s exhibiting

The low down on Beaujolais

Beaujolais by Paul Rudge, Reubens Wine Store, Dunfermline, Fife Geographically, Beaujolais is part of Burgundy, but from the wine point of view there seems little logic in the association between the Côte d`Or and the pretty, hilly, granite band of Beaujolais vineyards that run along the west bank of the Saone towards Lyon. With annual production sitting at 133 million bottles you’d think the region would be dominated by factory

Jaws on the Prom, Kirkcaldy, Fife

It may not be safe to go back in the water but viewers watching Jaws will be cozy in their cagoules on the Esplanade, Kirkcaldy at the opening of Kirkcaldy Film Festival on 17 September at 8.30pm. Tickets for Jaws were free but have sold out, however check out the trailer for other highlights which include The Ipcress File, Inside Out, Stonemouth and the Scottish premiere of Palio.

Walk with George Lauder: the man behind the man behind the millions

If you’re into local history, here’s a quirky event you may want to check out: next Saturday 19 September, there will be free, costumed guided tours around Dunfermline’s Heritage Quarter as part of a series of events marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of George Lauder. Lauder, the uncle of Andrew Carnegie and the man credited with instilling in the young Carnegie his life-long love of history, was one of

Pretty vintage glassware at the Antiques & Collectors Fair, Edinburgh

Vintage tea and coffee sets always look beautiful but they sit neglected in cupboards for years on end taking up space because the cups are too small for modern builders tea. Vintage glassware on the other hand gets used all too frequently. At the Edinburgh Antiques & Collectors Fair, the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston there’s a great selections of glassware that is often no more expensive than a box of

Empire: sensational expo at The Old Rope Works, Montrose

You only have a few days left to catch this superb exhibition in the atmospheric, lightly refurbished Old Rope Works in Montrose. Empire is A Society of Scottish Artists members’ exhibition, curated by Gayle Nelson PSSA and Alan Bond SSA. It looks at both the positive and sinister aspects of Scotland’s colonial history with tea, opium, imported plants, whalebone and a hangman’s noose all represented in the dimly lit, ivy

Music for a summer night in Dunfermline this weekend

by Donald Makin Dunfermline is alive with music this weekend with a few gigs to perk up the damp summer nights of July. On Friday 24 July, at 9pm, Stella Reilly headlines a free acoustic gig at the Old Inn in the Maygate. With support from the great Deni Smith, whose new single Breakdown is out now, and Scott Gilbert, who is back with top new tune Neon Lights, this