Over at Beyond the Border, change is in the air as plans for the 2012 Wales International Storytelling Festival are tightening up. Here's the latest news: 

Music News - Middle East Crisis changes line-up. 

With the current bloodshed and suffering in the Middle East, it is definitely a case of 'my diamond shoes are too tight' to complain about the impact on a festival programme. So we aren't complaining. Four of The Vahdat Ensemble, of Lullabies from the Axis of Evil fame live in Iran, and decided that spending up to 3 weeks in Istanbul while their passports are processed would be a step to far for a 5 day visa to perform at the Festival, so instead, we're linking up Marjan Vahdat who lives in Germany with UK based Tambour, Setar and Daf players so she can still bring the amazing Persian sounds to the festival as a soloist with a new band. 

Music Rumour -  Quiet House

News has been out for ages that Fernhill are playing the Festival, but with questions buzzing round site about moving and tuning a Piano, will Julie Murphy also be performing her new album? 

Music Rumour - Transglobal Underground

Likewise Transglobal Underground have been announced as music headliners for a while - but is it true there is going to be a huge fire show before their closing slot? 

Storyteller News - From Odyssey to Eastenders

Internationally renown storyteller and winner of the Tir Na N-og Book Award Daniel Morden turns his back on Greek myth to take inspiration from Eastenders! But no angst and kitchen sinks here - it's all about the Cliffhanger. Daniel will perform a version of The Water of Life on the Friday night of the Festival, stopping at a crucial moment. He'll then spend time over the weekend talking to audiences about what they think should happen next, create a new and improved ending based on those ideas, and then perform the result on the Sunday. 

Community News - Festival Fun for Foster Kids

We're always looking for new ways to make it possible for more people to enjoy the festival. So we're thrilled to have partnered up with Renault Retail Group and their Renault Z.E electric car, and with Arts and Kids Cymru (an Arts and Business Cymru scheme funded by Arts Council Wales through the National Lottery) to fund a project working with Vale of Glamorgan Council to bring lots of their children living in care to the festival for a day free of charge! 

Tickets on sale via their website HERE