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Year of Homecoming
18/08/2008
First Minister Alex Salmond and Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean are inviting Scotland's friends and relatives around the World to come back to Caledonia and visit Perthshire in 2009 for the Year of Homecoming.
Next year will be the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns and a chance to celebrate Scotland's contribution to the world. From Burns Night (January 25) to St Andrew's Day (November 30) 2009, a programme of Homecoming events has been designed to celebrate some of Scottish achievements.
Dougie MacLean's Perthshire Amber music festival will offer homecomers the opportunity to enjoy inspiring music across a variety of venues including historic castles, an Iron Age crannog on Loch Tay and the atmospheric Dunkeld Cathedral.
Giving Perthshire charity and voluntary workers a taste of what's to come, Dougie MacLean will play at a Good Causes Reception hosted by the First Minister at Pitlochry Fesitival Theatre this evening. The event has been organised to thank attendees for their hard work.
Speaking ahead of the event First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"In Scotland we need to get better at celebrating our successes, trumpeting our achievements and rewarding our efforts.
"In communities across Scotland people are doing good work to improve the environment, invest in young people, and support the vulnerable. It is work that often goes unpaid, but which has tremendous and far-reaching impact. Tonight is our chance to honor the efforts of those in Pitlochry.
"Next year we are planning the biggest ever celebration of Scotland's achievements and success. It is a chance to welcome back friends and family to enjoy Scotland's distinctive culture and heritage. Tonight Dougie MacLean gives us a taste of what's to come, ahead of this year's Perthsire Amber festival. I'm sure that next year's festival will be even bigger, as Scots around the world travel home to reconnect with all they have to be proud of.
"Scotland's charity workers and volunteers are a great example of Scotland's strength."
Dougie MacLean said:
"The Perthsire Amber Festival is so much more than a series of music concerts. It's also a tribute to the unique history and culture of Perthshire and a chance to share its beautiful scenery and musical friends.
"I hope that Scots around the world will join us for the Year of Homecoming, bringing friendships new and old to Perthshire for our biggest celebration yet!"
The Homecoming Scotland celebrations have been organised around five main themes - Robert Burns, whisky, Golf, Great Scottish Minds and Innovations and Scotland's culture and heritage.
Perthshire Amber, the Dougie MacLean Festival, runs from October 24 to November 2, 2008 and from October 30 to November 8, 2009.
The Good Causes reception is being hosted as part of the programme of activity around the Scottish Government's summer cabinet meetings. Cabinet will meet in Pitlochry tomorrow, ahead of a National Conversation event in the Town Hall.