18th-century tavern where Enlightenment-era figures drank to be revived for Edinburgh's virtual Burns festival

An 18th-century tavern where Robert Burns, David Hume, Adam Smith, Deacon Brodie, James Watt and Benjamin Franklin were once regulars is to be revived to become the centrepiece of Edinburgh's alternative Burns Night celebrations this year.

Three days of online events will be staged as part of the forthcoming Burns & Beyond festival.

Three days of online events are being staged as part of a reimagining of the Burns-inspired festival, which has seen artists and performers take to the stage of some of Edinburgh’s most historic venues in its first two years.

Live music, poetry and dace performances will be broadcast from the 21st-century incarnation of Lucky Middlemass’s Travern in the historic Cowgate.

It is celebrated in the poem Caller Oysters, by Edinburgh poet Robert Fergusson, who was said to have been one of the biggest influences on Burns.

The performances are being filmed at the Caves as part of a drive to “maintain the momentum” of the festival, which was launched in 2019 to create a major new cultural event in Edinburgh to coincide with Burns Night.

The 2020 Burns & Beyond was one of the city’s last festivals to go ahead before the coronavirus pandemic struck.

Whisky giant Johnnie Walker has backed this year’s festival to help ensure it can go ahead in online form ahead of the company’s new visitor centre opening in Edinburgh later this year.

Deacon Blue singer Ricky Ross, Arab Strap frontman Aidan Moffat, and award-winning poets Kathleen Jamie and Janette Ayachi are among those expected to follow in the footsteps of the Scottish Enlightenment-era figures later this month.

Scottish piping legend Allan Macdonald and indie-folk star Rachel Sermanni will be appearing in a show curated by Lau fiddle virtuoso Aidan O’Rourke.

Art collective Neu! Reekie!’s line-up offering a twist on traditional Burns celebrations will feature pop-rock festival favourite Withered Hand, punk-poet Billy Liar, and dance and performance artist Suzi Cunningham.

Although the performances from the Caves will be free to watch from January 23, audiences will be encouraged to make a donation to Tiny Changes, the mental health charity set up in memory of Frightened Rabbit star Scott Hutchison.

Other elements of the programme will include an online guide to staging a Burns supper at home, showcases for Edinburgh restaurants offering takeaway and home-delivered Burns suppers, and a virtual tour of Burns-related artefacts held in the collection of the National Museum of Scotland.

The Caves in the Cowgate will be returned to an 18th century tavern for the online broadcasts from the Burns & Beyond festival.

Unique Events directors Penny Dougherty and Alan Thomson said: “We believe that this year it is more important than ever to celebrate the words and music of our national bard, and to bring some light into our lives after the dark days of 2020.

"Burns & Beyond highlights the deep and universal themes of love, hope, honesty and kindness, which run through the work of Robert Burns, all of which resonate now more than ever.

"Once again Scotland is being asked to stay home and save lives and Burns Night this year is an opportunity for everyone to show kindness to each other while giving continued thanks to our frontline staff and key workers.”

Scottish culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Burns Night is one of Scotland’s most well-known and best loved celebrations, enjoyed here and across the world.

Rachel Sermanni is one of the performers lined up to appear at Lucky Middlemass's Tavern as part of Burns & Beyond. Picture: Roberto Ricciuti

"Although we are unable to meet up physically this year, we can still come together and continue the traditions of Burns Night, from the safety of home.”

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