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Folk group set for 10th anniversary festival


By Kyle Ritchie

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Portsoy's Folk at The Salmon Bothy are in final preparations for its 10th Haal of music, song, stories and poetry.

It will be held over the weekend of May 31 to June 2 and the opening concert is dedicated to the memory of former Portsoy resident, Jimmy McBeath.

He was one of the great tradition bearers, carrying songs, stories and news in the years after World War One, in which he was wounded in combat.

Ralph McTell will headline the 10th Haal Folk Festival.
Ralph McTell will headline the 10th Haal Folk Festival.

Festival organiser Bob Philips said: "The concert in his memory has a very traditional edge to it this year.

"The headline act is multi award winning Scottish traditional singer Siobhan Miller and her band.

"Siobhan is at the tail end of a highly acclaimed UK tour and really shouldn't be missed. The support acts are The Rowies, a young band of students, who are very accomplished musicians and fronted by traditional singer Ellie Beaton from Rothiemay.

"The evening is completed by veteran singers Dave Goulder and Jimmy Hutchison. Carole Anderson and Martin MacDonald will be providing some fine tunes between the songs.

"Of course if you don't fancy a formal concert, there will be music from Bob Sharp, Cullen Duo Fair Tricket and many of Folk at the Salmon Bothy regulars."

Saturday is a day of workshops and sessions, culminating in the festival main concert, featuring Cork singer Jimmy Crowley, and the writer of one of the best known folk songs ever recorded, The Streets Of London – Ralph McTell.

Sunday starts with a concert in the Town Hall at 12.30pm. The Spiers Family, The Gaugers – revived with Norman Chalmers playing concertina in place of the late Peter Hall – and Shepheard, Spiers and Watson..

There is ample fun for children too. The Sneaky Serpant of Loch Soy will be performed by pupils of Paulina Honig on Saturday Afternoon and Artie Tresize, of Singing Kettle Fame, brings his Artie's Tartan Tales to the Scout Hall on Sunday Afternoon.

Tickets for Artie's Show can be obtained from Portsoy Ice Cream Shop.

The weekend winds up with an open mic event in the Town Hall on Sunday evening, where everyone will be saying goodbye to old and new friends until next year.

For information and ticket reservation contact bobphilips25@live.co.uk or call 07968872217.

The Station Hotel will also have tickets available up until the evening of Friday, May 31.


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