Singers to perform at annual traditional singing weekend

A festival to celebrate the singing traditions of Scotland, England, and Ireland will be held this weekend (Friday, July 22, to Sunday, July 24).

The annual Traditional Singing Weekend at Cullerlie, now in its sixth year, is a unique celebration, bringing together outstanding traditional singers from the Scotland, England, and Ireland.

The event is organised jointly by the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute and Anne Reid of Cullerlie Farm Park and is in memory of her husband, Tam Reid (1929-2003), known as the 'Bothy Ballad King'.

The festival will be enjoyed by all who like to listen to and join in traditional singing. Essentially informal, friendly and non-competitive, it will be just the place to encourage the young and less experienced as well as the old hands.

Dr Ian Russell, Director of The Elphinstone Institute, said: "This will be a great opportunity to hear some of the finest traditional singers from across the UK and Ireland and a most fitting salute to Tam's memory.”

“We have a wonderful line-up. There will be concerts featuring guest singers, sing-arounds for everyone who wants to join in, talks, and workshops on crafts and song, in fact, something for everyone.”

Guests this year include: John Campbell and Len Graham from Ulster – John is Ireland’s finest storyteller and Len is recognised internationally as an outstanding traditional singer. Other guests include – from the South of England – Bob Lewis and Peta Webb; from Orkney, Sarah Jane Grieve; and from Scotland, Gordon Easton, Scott Gardiner, Katherine Campbell, Kathleen Robertson, and Ian Pirie. There will be singing workshops on performing songs in the Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection and making mouth music (diddling or lilting), as well as craft workshops on wood turning, crochet work, farmhouse cooking, and vintage tractor restoration.

A talk by John Campbell and Len Graham will explore the ‘Two Ploughman Bards: Patrick Kavanagh Meets Robbie Burns’

Cullerlie Farm Park and Heritage Centre was set up by Tom ('Tam') and Anne Reid in 1993 and is now run by Anne Reid and her family. Tom was a legendary singer, having been crowned, in 1977, the Bothy Ballad King before a crowd of 10,000 at the Haughs in Turriff, a title that remained his until his death. Anne is also a fine singer and has promoted the traditions of the North East through singing and speaking workshops with schoolchildren and adults at local schools, and at the museum, as well as hosting regular Saturday-night ceilidhs.

Places are booking up fast but there is still availability for the concerts on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Places can be booked by contacting the Cullerlie Farm Park direct on (01330) 860549.