Keith Traditional Music and Song Festival gets in tune
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LOCAL singers and musicians are being urged to get into tune for a long-established event which is seeking to strike a high note in its 44th year.
The Keith Traditional Music and Song Festival will comprise an almost non-stop round of ceilidhs, concerts and competitions over the weekend of June 14-16.
And while guest artistes from throughout Scotland will be taking centre-stage, talented performers of all ages have a chance to play their part.
Competitions will cover fiddle, accordion, melodeon, mouth organ, tin whistle, recorder, piano, as well as singing, bothy ballads, story telling, poetry – and even the diddling of a tune.
Festival chairwoman Kathleen Anderson, of Huntly, said: "It is an opportunity for individuals, young and old, and groups to put their ability to the test and try to win a top placing.
"Not many events can boast such a wide variety of competitions, and this is the festival playing its part in nurturing young talent and acknowledging established talent, of which we have a wealth in the North-east.
"We want to have many taking part and the public are welcome to come along and see and hear the competitions as they take place."
Saturday, June 15, will be contest day and entries can be lodged on the day. If you need any further information contact keithfestival@gmail.com.
Scots music legends Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain are in concert at Keith’s Royal Hotel tonight as a curtain-raiser for the festival, with tickets still available from the Mither Tongue shop in Mid Street, Keith, Sandy McCombie on 01542 882638 and Wilma Murdoch on 01542 887362.
And tickets are also on sale for the festival’s headline act, Scottish folk band Rura, who will be staging a ceilidh concert on Saturday, June 15.
Kathleen said: "It’s a real boost for us to get Rura. They are in big demand and there is a local lad, fiddler Jack Smedley, from Cullen, in the line-up.
"It has been a monumental effort to keep this festival going for 44 years and it has only been possible thanks to the people who come from near and far to support our great musical culture and to make sure it still has a future."
