The details: Tickets from £12 adult, £8 children (aged five and over). Jan 15. Doors open 6.45pm, ceremony 7.30pm; booking essential (swheritage.org.uk). Stay at The Newt in Somerset (01963 577777; thenewtinsomerset.com), an exceptional country house hotel found in a large working estate between Castle Cary and Bruton. Double rooms from £383. Read the full hotel review here.
Enjoy the festivities of folk in Glasgow
Banish the January Blues for good in Glasgow, which is set to come alive with Celtic Connections – hundreds of performances, landmark musical collaborations, talks, workshops, film screenings, theatre productions, ceilidhs, exhibitions, free events and late-night music sessions. Europe’s largest winter festival is an 18-day programme of events spanning traditional folk, roots, Americana, jazz, soul and world music performed by more than 1,000 musicians.
Taking its title from the old Aberdeenshire love song popularised by the late Tony Cuffe, the ’Neath the Gloamin’ Star opening night event will showcase the new generation of young artists leading the Scots folk song revival. The line-up includes Fiona Hunter, Steve Byrne, Paul McKenna, Ellie Beaton, Cameron Nixon and Jenny Sturgeon.
The details: Tickets from £24.20. Opens Jan 20 at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (0141 353 8000; celticconnections.com); until Feb 6. Stay at Dakota Glasgow (0141 404 3680; dakotahotels.co.uk), an old Works and Pension building that has been transformed into a stylish modern boutique hotel offering affordable luxury and excellent cuisine. Double rooms from £117. Read the full hotel review here.
Embrace Veganuary in London
With the Christmas turkey a distant memory, make January a dairy-free, animal-free vegan extravaganza. Veganuary is a non-profit organisation that encourages people worldwide to try going vegan for January (and beyond) and works with businesses to increase the amount of vegan food in shops and restaurants. During the 2021 campaign, more than 500,000 people took the pledge and embarked on a vegan diet. Start the journey at some of London’s top vegan eateries and cafés including Hackney’s WAVE (We Are Vegan Everything), Stem & Glory’s Bart Square restaurant and Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diners in both Camden and Islington.
