Speyfest announces bumper line-up for 2023
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MORAY’s much-loved folk festival Speyfest has unveiled its full line-up for 2023.
A spectacular array of acts will joining the bill for the 26th edition of the family-friendly event.
Speyfest is set to display the very best Scottish talent in Fochabers between July 21-23.
Completing the line up is genre-bending trio Talisk, innovative modern female folk band Kinnaris Quintet, beloved Gaelic crossover act Norrie MacIver Band, and the inimitable musical combination of John McCusker, Michael McGoldrick and John Doyle.
They join already announced Scottish favourites Skerryvore, Celtic supergroup Mànran and folk singer Siobhan Miller and her six-piece band.
Also set to perform at the festival’s Tented Village this July are Glasgow-based five-piece Ímar, female-led fiddle sensations FARA and energetic quartet Mec Lir.
Calum Stewart returns to his native Speyside with a quartet featuring double bass, bouzouki and step dancing, all held together by Callum on pipes, flutes and whistles.
Elsewhere Scottish ska outfit Bombskare, Irish traditional duo Daithí and Adèle, and Aberdeenshire trad group Ruach will have hands clapping and toes tapping across the weekend. Local sensations and festival favourites the Milne’s High School Fiddlers and Auld Fochabers Fiddlers will as ever be joining the Speyfest party.
Highland accordionist and BBC broadcaster Gary Innes will also take to the stage to compere Speyfest’s Family Sunday, keeping audiences of all ages entertained with some stories throughout the day.
The packed programme is also set to feature the festival’s much-loved music workshops, a bustling craft fair, whisky and gin tastings, prosecco afternoon tea and the well-attended Celtic Kirk service.
With a place at the heart of the Speyside community and the Scottish events calendar for more than two decades, Speyfest thrills traditional music fans from Fochabers, Moray and right across Scotland year after year. The 2023 event will once again see thousands of people flock to the Tented Village on the banks of the River Spey for a weekend of top-tier Scottish music and culture.
Last year’s festival saw around 4000 people passing through the gates across the three days, enjoying the talents of more than 70 musicians across 39 performances, all backed by around 100 sponsors and supporters.
Speyfest Chair Ashleigh McGregor said: “We’re so excited to share the full line-up for Speyfest 2023 with you all.
"Last year’s return after the pandemic was a great success and we’re looking to build on that and make this year even bigger and better. We’ve got local superstars playing alongside some of the biggest names in folk music right now and there’s truly something for everyone.
“We’ve also got a fantastic variety of entertainment and activities on offer for all ages – it’s shaping up to be an amazing weekend and we can’t wait to see you there. There’s still time to get your early bird tickets so be quick if you want a bargain!”
Gary Innes commented: “ I can’t wait to return to Speyfest this year to perform with Mànran, as well compering and keeping the energy at full throttle all day Sunday.
"I have such fond memories of the last time we performed at the festival in 2019 – the crowd and the whole event was fantastic, so we’re excited to see how it’s grown since then and once again be at the heart of it.”
Aileen Reid of Kinnaris Quintet added: “We couldn’t be happier to be performing at Speyfest alongside so many other fantastic Scottish acts this year.
"It’s a real highlight of the summer festival calendar and we can’t wait to bring our music to this beautiful wee corner of the country.”
First held in 1995, Speyfest has grown from a local event with one small tent holding around 300 people, to a 1500-capacity festival and a much-loved jewel in Scotland’s traditional music calendar.
A limited number of early bird tickets for Speyfest 2023 are available to buy until Friday, March 3 from https://speyfest.com and from Christie’s Chemist in Fochabers.
For more information visit https://speyfest.com/Facebook @Speyfest/Twitter @Speyfest/Instagram @speyfest
