Festival Events

Check out this link for more information about how to get involved in To Absent Friends 2015.

A fantastic array of open events took place as part of To Absent Friends 2014:

Cafe of Reminiscence

At Death Cafes people come together in a relaxed and safe setting to discuss death, drink tea and eat delicious cake. A light-hearted natter taking the darkness out of death, whether you believe in an afterlife or not.

Just Festival has run many popular monthly death cafés in Edinburgh, filling the Bohemian café Love Crumbs with the sound of strangers talking (and even laughing) about death.

Joining in the spirit of To Absent Friends, last November, we replaced our usual death café with a Café of Reminiscence.

We asked people...Do you have a story to tell of someone you loved who is dead? A grandparent who had a fascinating life? A friend with a unique sense of humour?

We invited people to come along, drink tea, eat cake, meet some new people, and share their stories - a celebration of how special dead ordinary people can be. People could also bring something that reminded you of a dead loved one - a ring, a book, a photo - to help get the stories started.

6pm, Thursday 6 November, Lovecrumbs ,155 West Port
Edinburgh, EH3 9DP. This event was organised by Just Festival.

Organ Recital for Absent Friends

An audience of over 200 joined John Kitchen for a lunchtime organ concert in celebration of absent friends, hearing the amazing Usher Hall organ in action.

Dr John Kitchen is Edinburgh’s City Organist and until recently was Senior Lecturer in Music at Edinburgh University, where he is still University Organist; he is also Director of Music of Old Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Edinburgh. A new addition to his regular programme of popular lunchtime concerts, John played a range of music themed around remembrance, and audience members relaxed and enjoy the sounds of the historic Usher Hall organ.

This provided a unique opportunity to reflect on absent friends in the magnificent surroundings of the beautiful Usher Hall, one of Edinburgh 's architectural gems. Since 1896, when Andrew Usher made his historic gift of £100,000 to the City of Edinburgh to found a concert hall, the Usher Hall has become world renowned and a key venue for visiting national and international orchestras.

1.10pm, Monday 3rd November, Usher Hall, Lothian Road, Edinburgh

Scottish Storytelling Centre

Once upon a time, November was a time to remember our loved ones who have died. This was part of the origins of Halloween, a time when the veil between the worlds was said to be thin, a time when we would call our dearly departed to mind.

Poet and Storyteller Margot Henderson invited people to share that 'once upon a time', again. Our loved ones live on in our memories, in the stories that we tell of them, and so we share stories of 'absent friends'.

To Absent Friends, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 1 November 2014. In partnership with the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.

Brass band music by candlelight

An enthusiastic audience filled the stunning St John's Church in Edinburgh, joining Edinburgh Brass Band for a night of celebration and remembrance by candlelight.