THE DUCHESS OF ARGYLL INVITES YOU TO PARTY AT INVERARAY CASTLE

IT’S not every day you get invited to enjoy music and food at the castle by the Duchess but then The Best of the West Festival isn’t like every other event. 

The Duchess of Argyll’s annual bash at Inveraray Castle is a real family friendly end of season showcase and will once again take over the picturesque grounds of Inveraray Castle from the September 7th-9th, 2018.

The event is arguably Scotland's finest boutique festival, where music and food lovers from across the globe gather to celebrate the very best in Scottish music, art, food and drink.

Inveraray Castle, the jewel in the West Highland’s crown, provides a unique and truly stunning backdrop to the weekend festival, which is mud free and fully under cover.
The imposing, turreted castle, sits on the shores of Loch Fyne surrounded by the breath-taking scenery of the west coast.

Now in its eighth year this stylish festival boasts an impressive list of headline musical acts.

On Friday night the event features Seven Nations, a Celtic rock band from New York City and the ever-popular four piece Scottish band Tide Lines.

Saturday brings two outstanding local bands Heron Valley, an energetic young band who grow in stature year on year and the crowd-pleasing Dr Hip and the Blues Operation, a Cowal band whose energy is infectious. Saturday’s music programme will be closed by a very special guest artist, who will be announced at a later date.

The event reaches its musical crescendo on Sunday afternoon with the Edinburgh roots/indie band Bwani Junction presenting an affectionate tribute to the seminal Paul Simon album ‘Graceland’ - which they will play in full. 

Then Skipinnish, Scots Trad Live Act of the Year, return for 2018 to end the party with a bang.

Other main stage acts, and performers for the Loch Fyne Whiskies Stage, will be announced soon.

The popular Festival Kitchen will see some of the finest west coast chefs, including Scotland’s Chef Gary MacLean, demonstrate their skills using the finest local ingredients. The food marquee will be full of much loved familiar names from the Food from Argyll group and invited friends to ensure the food offering really is the ‘best of the west’.

The Duchess of Argyll, Eleanor Argyll, BOWFest chairperson, said: “This year’s Best of the West Festival already looks exciting! As well as a fantastic line up of musicians, we have celebrity chefs, the best in Scotland’s food and drink and a whole host of children’s entertainments – something to keep all the family busy!”

A strictly limited number of Tier 1 tickets for Best of the West Festival will go on sale on Thursday 1st March 2018 priced at:

Weekend Adult £29.50; Weekend Child £14.50;
 Friday Adult £14.50; Friday Child £7.50;
 Saturday Adult £19.50; Saturday Child £9.50;
Sunday Adult £14.50; Sunday Child £7.50.

Children under 8 years of age free of charge.

SAM HEUGHAN NOMINATED FOR MOST STYLISH MALE AT SCOTTISH STYLE AWARDS IN GLASGOw

SAM Heughan is amongst those nominated for a most stylish male award at the 13th annual Scottish Style Awards next month. 

The hunky Outlander star will be competing against artist and playwright John Byrne, Pop Artist Philip Colbert, Young Father’s Kayus Bankole, adventurer Aldo Kane and one of theshowbizlion’s fave people blogger John Robertson aka The Everyday Man at the star studded gala.  

Actress Pollyanna McIntosh will join a host of other stylishly dressed Scots at  lthe Moët & Chandon sponsored bash dubbed Scotland’s most Stylish Event of the year , in the Kevingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow on March 31. 

Guests will be invited to top their Champagne with Chambord, black raspberry liqueur, before enjoying a gala dinner complemented with a Hennessy cocktail. The awards will commence thereafter. 

Ten prestigious presentations will be made in the course of this year’s show with accolades spanning the nation’s Most Stylish Male and Female, along with Tastemaker of the Year, whilst the spotlight will shine on the Most Stylish Bar, Restaurant, Hotel, Entertainment Venue andRetailer. 

In a Scottish Style Awards exclusive, a runway presentation, “Deich bliadhna aig MuileannShiaboist”, celebrating the first decade of Harris Tweed Hebrides  will pay tribute to the iconic fabric whose quality and provenance is loved by the world’s biggest and best designers, fashion houses and luxury brands. Such is the uniqueness and importance of the cloth’s artisan manufacturing process that it is governed by its own 1993 Harris Tweed Act of Parliament, and the runway presentation will highlight these credentials to stunning effect.

Augmenting the runway further will be a Spring 2018 show from Cruise, starring fashion’s biggest names including Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Tom Ford, Givenchy, Valentino, Fendi, Lanvin, Vivienne Westwood, Victoria Beckham, Celine, Versus Versace, Balmain and DSquared2.   

Ken McCulloch, the visionary hotelier who, across the last five decades, has been the force behind many impressive statements including One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow, the Malmaison chain, the Columbus Monte Carlo and now the breathtakingly bold Dakota concept, will be honoured for his Very Special Achievement.  

Mr McCulloch’s award is one of three headline presentations honouring individuals whose contribution to style and creativity is recognised on a major level internationally. The recipients of the finale Style Icon and Outstanding Contribution will be revealed soon along with details of this year’s illustrious Judging Panel. 

Winners across the award categories will each receive a striking Model-Citizen art collectable plus a Magnum of Moët.

 The Sanctuary, Glasgow, will host the Belvedere after party located only a few stylish steps from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

 MARY McGOWNE, Founder of the Scottish Style Awards said: “We are thrilled to be returning this year’s Scottish Style Awards to Glasgow, presented in celebration with Moët & Chandon and a host of prestigious partners. We are particularly excited to welcome Pollyanna as our host. Stylish and talented, she is guaranteed to receive a rapturous welcome on the 31st. “

Pollyannna added: “Delighted and honoured to be hosting this year’s Scottish Style Awards, an incredible celebration of the very best of all things cool and creative.  I can’t wait to see everyone in Glasgow for what is sure to be another legendary occasion!” 

 IZZY CAMERON, Moët & Chandon Regional Sales Manager, North said: 

"Moët is delighted to remain headline partner of the Scottish Style Awards for the 13th year – the nation’s most celebrated occasion of creative endeavour. Joining the Award’s annual toast to talent within Scottish style is an important part of our year-round global commitment to supporting the arts and culture, and there is no finer showcase."