PICTURES: Joe Aitken remembered after greatest Bothy Ballads champion dies, as archive pictures show Champion of Champions wins at Elgin Town Hall in Moray
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HUNDREDS have paid tribute to bothy ballads legend Joe Aitken, after his death from cancer at the age of 79.
Joe, from Kirriemuir, is the most-successful bothy ballad singer of all time — having won the Bothy Ballads Champion of Champions seven times.
Triumphant performances at the Elgin Town Hall event, along with the Keith TMSA Festival, earned the singer a Moray fanbase spanning generations — with his recorded music having soundtracked countless happy memories.
In a statement released yesterday, the Keith TMSA festival committee praised the “festival stalwart and dear friend” as “one of our greatest supporters over many years”.
“The Keith Festival committee are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of festival stalwart and dear friend Joe Aitken,” a spokesperson said.
“Joe was one of our greatest supporters over many years and will always be remembered for his wonderful singing of bothy ballads, traditional songs, and his humorous asides.
“With condolences to Pat and family, he will be greatly missed by us all.”
And, less than two months ago, he again walked out onto bothy ballads’ biggest stage and — in full barnstorming voice — sang signature tunes Muckin O’ Geordie’s Byre and Bogie’s Bonnie Belle.
Joe started competing in the Champion of Champions event in the early 1990s, and remains the top singer throughout its 41-year history.
Scott Gardiner, chairman of the Kirriemuir Folk Festival, said Joe passed away at home on Wednesday, April 3.
After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in August 2022, he added, the legendary singer had: “enjoyed a farewell year travelling round the festivals he loved, and that loved him”.
Joe was made a member of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2018.
Since his death, tributes have poured in from the bothy ballads and folk community.
Many also extended their best wishes to his wife Pat and their family.
Pictures from our archives have documented the past 20 years of Joe’s incredible singing career.
Highlights include his 2018 Champion of Champions win, when he took the stage still jet-lagged after returning from Australia.
Joe’s parents, from Aberdeenshire, introduced him to bothy ballads at an early age before he started his working life on the family farm.
He later became a fuel tanker driver and ended his career operating his own goods vehicles alongside his brother George.
Balancing his duties with travelling across Scotland to share his songs, he also worked part-time at his local fire station for 31 years and was involved in the Boys Brigade.
Fellow bothy singer Allan Taylor, who sang alongside Joe, described the 79-year-old’s death as “totally devastating” in a social media tribute.
“It’s totally devastating, we are heartbroken,” Allan said.
“He was a great pal first and foremost.
“As well as a fabulous singer, it was a privilege to be his friend.
“Our thoughts are with Pat and all the family.”
Many of Joe’s songs were released through folk label Springthyme Records.
Label founder Pete Shepheard praised Joe as “a great upholder of Scotland’s traditional song and Bothy Ballad traditions”.
“Condolences to Pat and the family.”
