NEWLY-COMMISSIONED songs based on the work of Robert Burns will get their first airing at a series of workshops taking place across Scotland over Burns Weekend. The one at Peebles’ Eastgate Theatre is on Sunday, January 25 and is open to all singers in the area.

Scotland Sings is running harmony singing workshops across Scotland over Burns Weekend, working with some of the top singing leaders in the country, including one at Eastgate Theatre led by Mairi Campbell.

You don’t have to be in a choir to join in, there are no auditions and you don’t have to be able to read music. Just come along on the day with energy and enthusiasm and you’ll go home having met new people and learned some songs to brighten up the dark nights.

I Will Not Say Goodbye and Petals of a Red, Red Rose pay tribute to the legacy of Burns songs while bringing them into the 21st century. Alison Burns, Scotland Sings co-ordinator, said: “The workshops are part of a four-year project to get more people singing together wherever they are in Scotland. The great thing is that everyone will be in the same boat as the songs we’ll be learning are brand new. There will be a warm welcome for everyone, whether you sing every week in a choir, haven’t sung for years or you usually just sing in the shower!” For more information, log on to: www.sing.scot.