The Traditional Singing weekend at Cullerlie will be held this weekend (25 - 27 July) organised jointly by the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute and Anne Reid of Cullerlie Farm Park in memory of Tam Reid (1929 - 2003), known as the 'Bothy Ballad King'. The weekend, now in its fourth year is a unique celebration, bringing together outstanding traditional singers from the North East of Scotland, Orkney, England, and Ireland. The event is especially for those who like to hear, enjoy and join in the traditional singing.
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 in January this year. 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.
Dr Ian Russell, Director of The Elphinstone Institute said: " 'This is a most fitting opportunity to salute Tam's memory and to hear some of the finest traditional singers from the UK and Ireland.'
Amongst the outstanding singers this year will be Isla St Clair and Shona Donaldson. Shona was a finalist in BBC Scotland's 'Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2003' and is one of the brightest young singers from the North East and a talented fiddler. Isla St Clair is one of the best-loved singers from the North East of Scotland. In spite of a highly successful international career in television, she has stayed true to her roots in Buckie and the song tradition she learnt as a child from her mother, Zetta Sinclair, and other stalwarts of the Aberdeen Folk Club scene during the 1960s, including Jeannie Robertson and Jimmy McBeath.
The weekend includes concerts featuring the guest singers, singarounds for everyone who wants to join in, and workshops ranging from Farmhouse cooking with Anne Reid to 'Singin a muckle sang' with Stanley Robertson. A tribute in song to Tam Reid will be held on the Sunday morning.
Places are still available for the Saturday evening concert and can be booked on 01330 860549.
1. Photographs of Isla St Clair and Shona Donaldson are available.
Please contact Emma Darling on 01224 272014.
Issued by Public Relations Office, External Relations, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen.
Tel: (01224) 272014 Fax: (01224) 272086. Contact: Emma Darling