This is a past event
The Festival is a unique celebration, bringing together outstanding traditional singers from Scotland, England, and Ireland.
The event is especially for those who like to hear, enjoy, 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. The weekend includes ceilidhs featuring the guest singers, singarounds for everyone who wants to join in, workshops, and a talk.
About Cullerlie
Cullerlie Farm Park and Heritage Centre was set up by Tom (‘Tam’) and Anne Reid in 1993 and is now run by Anne’s daughter Tracey Walker and her husband Eric, as well as other members of the family. Tom, moved to the Cullerlie Estate with his parents when just a toddler in 1935, and worked with his father in the traditional way of farming. He kept the traditions alive by turning the old original steading into a farm museum with one of the largest privately owned collections of farming and domestic memorabilia in Scotland. Anne, who is from nearby Peterculter, joined Tom when they married in 1975.
Tom (born 1929) 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 in January 2003. Anne (1939-2006) was also a fine singer and 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 Saturdaynight ceilidhs. It is the family’s express wish that the festival should continue to run in memory of Tom and Anne.
At the Park there is a large tearoom where the staff serve soup, sandwiches, and lots of delicious home baking. They cater for all needs with a baby changing area plus disabled facilities.
The Park nestles at the foot of the Hill of Fare where the battles of Corrichie and Cullerlie Moor were fought. It is 6 miles northeast of Banchory and 12 miles west of Aberdeen. From Aberdeen follow the A944 to the Westhill roundabout, then fork left on the B9119 to Garlogie, then fork left again on the B9125 for 3 miles. The Park is on the right.
The Guests
Grace Banks is a fine singer and storyteller from Aberdeen, who promotes the ballad tradition through her work in teaching for SCaT. Originally from Glasgow, she embraces NE style and counts as her mentor Stanley Robertson.
Brian Dawson is a favourite singer from Lincolnshire with a distinctive repertoire that reflects his roots. He is also a song collector and a musician, and is recognised as an expert on Percy Grainger’s song collecting.
Bella Hardy is a young singer from Edale in the Derbyshire Peak District who relishes unaccompanied ballads. She performs with ‘The Pack’ and ‘Ola’, and was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards for 2005.
Billy Jolly, a retired fish merchant from Kirkwall in Orkney, specialises in songs and stories about the sea, which he performs with great warmth and humour. He loves to perform songs from Orcadian tradition, especially those of George Corrigall and Ally Winick, as well as from further afield. He also plays the ‘moothie’.
Geordie Murison from Stonehaven is a gifted singer of the songs of North-East Scotland and widely recognised as an all-round musician. He is a great supporter of the local tradition, especially younger singers and instrumentalists, and has appeared at many festivals in Scotland.
Jerry O’Reilly from Dublin was born into a singing family and is noted for his declamatory ballad style. His repertoire comes from all over Ireland, especially Clare, Kerry, and Cork. His solo CD is a celebration of republican and anti-clerical sentiments. He is also an expert teacher of Irish set dancing.
Carole and Alan Prior are London-based émigrés from Edinburgh, who developed their great love of Scottish traditional song over the past thirty years while in exile. With many formative influences, such as the Stewarts of Blair, they have achieved wide recognition in England and Scotland and have appeared at many of the key festivals.
Grace Toland was born and raised at Clonmany, Inishowen, where she learnt most of her songs from the older singers. She sings with great style in a strong commanding voice. Now living in Kilpedder, Co. Wicklow, she has performed at many festivals in Ireland and England.
Janet Weatherston from Dalkeith was brought up in a noted singing family in Dalmeny, South Queensferry, with Angus roots on her mother’s side at Glen Isla. She has a lively sense of humour and is a great favourite at Scottish festivals. She recently produced a solo CD of her family’s songs.
Graham White is a singer from Aberdeen whose talents have developed over the past few years. He relishes songs in Scots, and his repertoire has been learnt from his father and through his contacts with SCaT classes over several years.
Organisers
Tracey Walker (Anne’s daughter) and Jim Taylor (Tom’s nephew) on behalf of Cullerlie Farm Park and Ian and Norma Russell on behalf of The Elphinstone Institute
Thank you to our sponsors
- Coupers (Fish Processors) of Aberdeen
- Davidson & Murison Ltd
- Scottish Arts Council
- Hosted by
- Elphinstone Institute and Cullerlie Farm Park
- Venue
- Cullerlie Farm Park