One of Scotland’s most popular traditional music events will see an Aberdeenshire farm hit all the right notes this weekend.
The eighth staging of the Traditional Singing Weekend at Cullerlie Farm Park and Heritage Centre on July 25-27 is expected to attract scores of song enthusiasts to the Aberdeenshire steading.
The festival, jointly organised by the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute, brings together outstanding traditional singers from Scotland, England, and Ireland for a weekend of ceilidhs, singarounds, workshops and talks.
In 2007 the popular event was shortlisted for Event of the Year at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards – the first time it had been held since the deaths of Cullerlie tenants Anne and Tom Reid, the legendary North-east singer.
Tom (known as 'Tam') 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 to be cancelled in 2006. But thanks to the express wishes of the farm's new tenants – Anne's daughter, Tracey, and her husband Eric Walker – the festival went ahead in 2007 to great acclaim.
Now a stellar line-up of singers from Cornwall to Crieff will descend on Cullerlie for this year's gathering.
Dr Ian Russell, Director of the The Elphinstone Institute, said: "The weekend is designed to be informal and friendly and is a great way to hear some of the finest traditional singers from across the UK.
"Last year was a great success and a most fitting salute to Tom and Anne's memory. We have another wonderful line-up for the coming weekend including concerts with guest singers, singarounds, and craft workshops, so there is something for people of all ages to enjoy."
Guest singers at the event include: Tarland balladeer Shona Donaldson; Aberdeen fish merchant and folk club co-founder Danny Couper; Viv Legg of Romany stock from Bodmin, Cornwall; Oliver Mulligan from Co. Monaghan (via London), award winning writer Jess Smith from Crieff, and Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame member, Sheila Stewart from Blairgowrie.
The Traditional Singing Weekend at Cullerlie takes place from Friday, July 25 – Sunday, July 27. For further information on the guest singers, visit: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/events/cullerlie08/index.shtml