Music and song to fill Moray town
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A CALL has gone out for local people to get involved in this weekend’s Keith Festival of Traditional Music and Song.
It could mean them playing their part in securing this rich tradition in the future.
Festival chairwoman Kathleen Anderson said guest performers were coming from all over Scotland, and youngsters from near and far will be lining up in a wide range of competitions.
"It would be great to see the local public turning out in large numbers for the concerts and ceilidhs in a show of support for our great musical heritage, and even to hear the youngsters competing," she added.
"The festival has lasted a remarkable 45 years and we hope the great public backing will be seen again this weekend."
The festival opens this evening (Friday) with a ceilidh, dance and bothy ballads and other songs concert, and most of Saturday will be taken up with the competitions, followed in the evening by a prizewinners’ concert.
Scottish folk band Rura are the headline act on Saturday night at a ceilidh.
Kathleen said: "We are spoiled with such a strong line-up of dance bands, groups and individual musicians and singers, and it just needs the public to turn out and make this another memorable weekend. The talent we have on our doorstep in quite amazing."
An open-air concert is being staged in Reidhaven Square on Sunday afternoon from 2pm, and a special effort is being made this year to draw youngsters into the festival.
A new family ceilidh on Friday evening offers young loons and quines the chance to try Scottish country dancing, and a special bairns ceilidh is scheduled for Sunday at 1pm.
Kathleen said: "It is important that we make space for our youngest people in the festival, because it might inspire them to take up the music and singing in the future, keeping our Scottish and Doric traditions alive."
Joining Rura on the guest list are the Ewen Galloway and Lynn Christie Scottish dance bands, the Quiggs, Strathspey Fiddlers, the Cruickshank Family Band, and singers Joe Aitken, Scott Gardiner, Allan Taylor and Moira Stewart.
Tickets and full programme are available at festival office, Cramond Insurance, Mid Street, Keith.
