A legendary North-east balladeer and his wife will be remembered this weekend when singers from across the UK and Ireland gather for a unique celebration of traditional music.
The Traditional Singing Weekend, organised by the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute and Cullerlie Farm Park, is to continue in memory of Tom and Anne Reid.
Tom (known as 'Tam') was a legendary singer who was crowned the Bothy Ballad King in 1977 before a crowd of 10,000 at the Haughs in Turriff – a title that he kept until his death in January 2003. Anne, also a fine singer, died in June 2006.
Her death caused the annual singing event, held at Cullerlie Farm Park, near Echt, to be cancelled last year. But thanks to the express wishes of the farm's new tenants – Anne's daughter, Tracey, and her husband Eric Walker – the festival will now go ahead for a seventh year.
The event is aimed at those who like to hear, enjoy, and join in traditional singing and brings together outstanding traditional singers from Scotland, England and Ireland.
Dr Ian Russell, Director of the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute, said the weekend was designed to be informal, friendly and non-competitive.
"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 Tom and Anne's memory. We have a wonderful line-up for the weekend including concerts with guest singers, singarounds, and craft workshops, so there is something for people of all ages to enjoy."
Guests this year include Grace Banks, one of Aberdeen's most popular singers and storytellers. Grace, who has appeared at the Word Festival, promotes ballad tradition through her work in teaching for Scottish Culture and Traditions (SCaT).
Singers travelling from England include Brian Dawson, who has a distinctive repertoire that reflects his Lincolnshire roots; Bella Hardy from Derbyshire, a young singer who was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2005; and London-based émigrés Carole and Alan Prior, from Edinburgh, who developed their love of Scottish traditional song over the past 30 years while in exile.
Guest performers travelling from Ireland include Jerry O'Reilly, from Dublin whose repertoire comes from all over Ireland especially Clare, Kerry, and Cork. Also making an appearance at Cullerlie will be Donegal singer Grace Toland who has performed at many key festivals in Ireland and England.
Closer to home singers include Billy Jolly from Orkney; Geordie Murison from Stonehaven; Graham White from Aberdeen; and Janet Weatherston from Dalkeith.
The Traditional Singing Weekend at Cullerlie takes place from Friday, July 20 – Sunday, July 22. For further information on the guest singers visit: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/events/cullerlie07/
Places are also still available for the two 'ceilidh concerts' on the Saturday evening and the Sunday afternoon, and can be booked on (01224) 645486.
Picture courtesy of Press and Journal.