Book worms will be heading to Inverness this autumn for its annual celebration of the written word.

From September 30th to October 3rd at the Royal Highland Hotel, the Inverness Book Festival will take place inviting literature lovers from all over the UK to visit the Scottish city.

Eden Court organises the event, which has previously featured guest appearances from top writers such as Louis de Bernières, Chris Brookmyre and popular historian Adam Hart-Davis.

The festival gives visitors the chance to meet the authors behind the books, take part in debates and enjoy readings from new and classic pieces.

Festival goers will also get the chance to meet other like-minded book lovers and discover new literature, which they may not have been aware of.

Tickets for the event usually cost between £4 and £7, although event organisers have not yet confirmed this year's prices.

According to the Lonely Planet travel guide, Inverness is "scenically" situated on the shores of the inner Moray Firth and the city is a good base to explore Scotland's remote countryside from.

Book fans can stay at Thistle Inverness , which with online price check and booking facilities, couldn't be easier.

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The BBC Big band will be performing in Inverness next week.

The concert is due to take place on Friday, February 15th and will be held at the Eden Court Empire Theatre.

It will be recorded for BBC Radio 3's Jazz Line Up and will feature several great jazz and swing pieces.

Highlights of the concert will include an appearance by Carol Kidd accompanied by guitarist Nigel Clark and musicians from the BBC Big Band.

There will also be a tribute to Benny Goodman and the concert will be introduced by Claire Martin.

Ken Bruce has described the BBC Big band as "terrific musicians" who "also have a marvellous sense of humour", noted eden-court.co.uk.

Tickets are priced at £16.00 and the show will start at 8pm.

Big Band fans can stay at Thistle Inverness, which, with online price check and booking facilities, couldn't be easier.

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Theatre fans will be heading to Inverness next month for a dramatic treat.

On May 23rd at the Eden Court Empire Theatre the Scottish Final of the nationwide Festival of One-Act Plays, run by the Scottish Community Drama Association, will take place.

The show will feature the last nine plays that have been narrowed down from the 200 entries that have battled it out at 26 venues across Scotland in the competition already.

Eden Court's adjudicator will be Jill Colby of Broxbourne from Hertfordshire, who has been working in the theatre industry for over 30 years.

The winning plan will then go on to represent Scotland in Swansea at the British Final Festival on July 4th and 5th.

Doubling as a theatre and a cinema, Eden Court has just reopened after undergoing a two-year construction project, that has transformed it into one of Scotland's largest performing venues.

Colin Marr, the director of the theatre, said of the new facilities: "Eden Court has always been many things to many people. We wanted something that would appeal to everyone."

Theatre fans can stay at Thistle Inverness, which with online price check and booking facilities, couldn't be easier.

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Food lovers looking for something a bit different could enjoy a weekend at Highland Feast 2008.

Currently in its tenth year, the event will feature entertainment, tasting sessions and demonstrations.

According to the organisers, food that is "fresh, local and quality" will be the order of the day.

"The Highlands are hailed as a hub of fine food and drink, famous for its fresh produce and renowned for its internationally rated restaurants. Highland Feast is a celebration of all the above," they add.

Events relating to the festival will take place every weekend in September, with activities including a Battle of the Chefs, a Shaken Not Stirred cocktail mixing session and a Mysterious Mushroom Meander through local countryside.

Meanwhile, gourmet enthusiasts may also enjoy a trip to Inverness's farmers market which takes place at the city's precinct each Saturday, featuring food, drink and traditional musical entertainment in the form of a ceilidah band.

Food fans can stay at Thistle Inverness, which with online price check and booking facilities, couldn't be easier.


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Australian comedian Jim Jeffries will be splitting the sides of Scots later this year.

On August 27th the comedian, who is billed as "one of the fastest rising stars in the comedy world", will play the Eden Court OneTouch Theatre in Inverness.

The show will kick off at 20:00 BST and will showcase Jeffries' "brash, confrontational" comedic style, which has seen him be compared to the likes of Bill Hicks and Dennis Leary.

Described by the Scotsman newspaper as "exceptional" and "seriously enjoyable", according to the venue, the comedian has previously earned rave reviews at the Edinburgh Festival.

Furthermore, he has appeared on top TV shows in the UK, such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks and the History of Offensive Humour.

Jeffries is already a headline performer in Canada, Asia and South Africa and in 2007 was asked to do a week of solo shows at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, which he sold out every night.

Comedy fans can stay at Thistle Inverness, which with online price check and booking facilities, couldn't be easier.

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