Pupils' venue is pulling in top folk acts

THREE award-winning musicians are to play at a new community music venue run by school pupils.

The 120-seat venue, called The Hub, was recently set up by pupils at Penicuik High School to help promote Burntout Records, a voluntary label run by young people.

Two winners of the Radio Two Young Folk Musician of the Year award, Siobhan Miller and Jeanna Leslie, will launch their first major album, In A Bleeze, at The Hub this week, while multi-award-winning folk musician Karine Polwart will play on November 13.

Ms Miller, who recorded her first album while she was a pupil at the school four years ago, said: "We are really pleased to be coming back to launch our album at The Hub. It is exciting for me to be beginning my career in my former school."

Fiona Sheal, who is in sixth year at the school and managing director of Burntout Records, said: "Our aim is to get the local community to be more involved in music, the label and our global connection with Thyolo Secondary School in Malawi."