The village of Carrbridge is set to launch into the New Year with a showcase of events for 2007, the Year of Highland Culture.

The programme gets officially underway on Saturday 27 January 2007 with musicians across Badenoch and Strathspey tuning up for a special Burns Night supper to be held at Carrbridge Village Hall.

Billed as a 21st century celebration of Scotland's most famous bard, Burns 'N' Brass provides a combination of traditional verse and song along with samba drums and brass.

The event, which includes a haggis supper, is being hosted by Carrbridge Community Arts along with members of the Carrbridge based street samba band, Carrumba.

Among the highlights of the evening is the address to the haggis to be ceremonially drummed into the village hall while included among the special guests are Edinburgh based brass maestro, Marcus Britton and one of Scotland's top fiddle players, Bruce MacGregor from Blazin' Fiddles.

"The aim is to bring together a unique blend of the past and present to create a traditional Burns Supper with a contemporary twist," said Carrbridge Community Arts co-ordinator, Linda Jolly.

She explained that it was felt the Burns Night celebration, which is one of the hi-lights of the Carrbridge calendar and is expected to be its usual sell-out success, would provide a memorable start to the programme of events lined up for 2007.

"Carrbridge is renowned for its innovative events and we have an exciting and diverse programme that runs right throughout the year with something for all ages which can be enjoyed by both local residents and tourists alike."
Among the main events are the Carrbridge Gathering and Scottish Open Chainsaw Championship on Saturday September 1st, the five day Carrbridge Live Festival which runs from Wednesday September 19 to Sunday September 23 providing a combination of contemporary and traditional music, spectacular street carnival and outdoor activities and the World Porridge Making Championship on Sunday October 7 which includes the Cairngorms Farmers Market and the Carrbridge Challange 3km and 5km Forest Run.

The village also has its own professional touring performance programme which this year includes a visit in March by the Monsters and Mayhem childrens theatre company as part of the Puppet Animation Festival, a return of favourite actor /storyteller, Mike Maran and infectious on-stage energy provided by the world renowned New York based band, Luminiscent Orchestrii.

A number of other exciting events are also in the pipeline including a youth music and fashion show, a visit by the Mugenkyo Japanese Taiko drummers and a special celebration of traditional music with Carrbridge hosting one of the touring concerts as part of this year's Blas Highland Music Festival. Further details of all the Carrbridge events will be posted on the Carrbridge website at www.carrbridge.com.

Meanwhile, there are still a limited number of tickets left for Burns 'N' Brass, which starts at 7.30pm.There will be a wine and beer bar as well as a complimentary dram. Tickets costing £10 and £7 for under 18's and seniors, are available from the Old Bakery Coffee Shop or by contacting the Carrbridge Community Arts Ticket Line 0n (01479) 841211.  Tickets can also be purchased online at www.thebooth.co.uk