Mànran to headline Portsoy’s Scottish Traditional Boat Festival
Acclaimed folk band Mànran will headline the Big Gig on the Back Green at next summer’s Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.
Over the last 15 years the award-winning group have played in more than 30 different countries including the USA, Asia and Australia, where they were presented with International Artist of the Year at the Australian Celtic Music Awards.
The seven-piece band brings together a mixture of modern and traditional instruments including the guitar, fiddle, accordion, flute, Highland bagpipes and the Uilleann pipes, the national bagpipe of Ireland which has a softer sound compared to other variations of the instrument.
The band’s latest single, Standing Still, has featured on the BBC Radio 2 playlist for the last few weeks.
Mànran brings together renowned Scottish and Irish folk musicians, which include accordionist and BBC Radio Scotland presenters Gary Innes and Ewen Henderson and the band’s lead singer, Kim Carnie, has just released an award-winning documentary which she wrote the soundtrack for.
Tickets for the Big Gig on the Back Green on Friday, June 27, sponsored by Urquhart Joinery Services are on sale now, at an early bird discounted price of £27.50.
To purchase visit www.stbfportsoy.org, this is a licensed event for over 18s only.
The Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival will be held on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29.
Now in its 32nd year, the event celebrates the maritime heritage and culture of the north-east, attracting a flotilla of traditional boats to Portsoy’s 17th century harbour.
The Big Gig on the Back Green kicks off the festival’s programme which includes live music and dance, Scottish food and drink and age-old crafts.
Festival tickets are now available to purchase on the website www.stbfportsoy.org at a 10 per cent discounted price, for a limited time only.
David Urquhart, chairman of the Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival said: “Music is a key element of our festival programme and over the years we have welcomed some amazing artists and bands to Portsoy.
“Mànran are an exceptionally talented band, with a worldwide following and numerous awards to their name.
“They are outstanding live and will bring a high energy, lively start to our weekend of entertainment.
“The committee has already started working on the music programme for 2025, featuring talented local singers and performers, representing a variety of musical genres and styles.
“We will also welcome back festival favourites including the Anne McArthur Dancers and Skip2theBeat with their fast-paced skipping stunts and routines.
“Following feedback from this year’s event, we have been exploring new acts and features, suitable for the whole family to enjoy, to enhance our evening entertainment programmes.
“The festival aims to offer something for all ages and interests, and we are always exploring ways to improve what we can offer.”
Gary Innes from Mànran said: “It’s a real pleasure to be headlining this terrific event that we have heard so much about.
“Portsoy is a gorgeous town that we are excited to be performing in and we’re very much looking forward to the big party.”
The Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival was first held in 1993 as an event to celebrate the tercentenary of Portsoy’s old harbour.
Since then, it has been firmly anchored in the town’s calendar, taking place annually each summer and attracting thousands of visitors from across the region, and further afield.
The festival is set around Portsoy’s 17th century harbour and is run by Portsoy Community Enterprise which also manages Portsoy Links Caravan Park, The Sail Loft Bunkhouse, The Salmon Bothy and The Boatshed.
For more information visit www.stbfportsoy.org or on social media at @STBFPortsoy #ahoyportsoy
