FEATURE FOLK FESTIVALS
Martin earthy lie taught Bob Dylan a thing or two. and he's perionned at more festivals than any living loikie, but Martin earthy rernalns one of the most absorbing singers and interpreters of traditional English song. Stonehaven feature him in their memorial concert to Arthur Argo, broadcaster and guardian oi the traditional music oi the iiorth East.
I Keith Keith Traditional Music Festival. Keith, Banffshire. Sat Il—Mon 16. Information 0343 820074. The major Folk Festival organised by the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland. Halls. pubs. hotels are full of informal music. ceilidhs and competitions. No 'Big Name’ folk bands. the accent is on traditional music including guest performers, ballad singer Joe AItken. tin whistler Alex Green and Gaelic and Scots songstress Margaret Bennett. Also competitions in song, fiddle. melodeon, moothie. pipes. diddiing. tin whistle. and original compositions. Keith is a lovely. small market town, with camp site a few yards from the main venues, river
Glasgow Folk & Traditional Arts Trust Ltd
Registered Office: 123 High Street, Glasgow, Gi 1PH Telephone: (041) 552 8581, Facsimile: (041) 552 5215
The TRUST is an Association Not For Gain, established to provide an administration for the independent contributers to our Scottish folk & traditional arts culture.
Until now there has been no single recognisable body to foster the multiple strands of mutual interest for the performance, promotion, preservation and development of the traditional arts.
FESTIVALS t OUTREACH DATABASE it NETWORKS COMMISSIONING * RESOURCE CENTRE For more information contact: Ellen Morris - Administrator
. The TRUST is funded by”;
GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL'S ARTS DEVELOPMENT FUND
and is subsidised bi
walks and a distillery trail.
I Glasgow International Folk Festival Tron Theatre, City Halls and various venues. Glasgow, Mon 2048un 26. lnforrnation 946 1605/552 8605. A week of concerts. ceilidhs and dances with a strong overseas and world music element. Pub Sessions and a Festival Club. Guests include Qawwali master *Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party. Morocco‘s Arabesque with storyteller/musician Iiassan Erraii; England's Band oi Hope with Martin earthy, Dave Swarbick, Iioy Bailey and John Kirkpatrick; Dougie Maclean. Ossian's 'i'ony Guile and Billy Jackson; and the i0 strong Swedish folk dance band logtramp who will also play for dancing round a midsummer pole at a Scandinavian barbecue party in Palacen'ggs Country Park on Saturday I8. See next issue's Folk Listings.
I Dundee Dundee Folk Festival, Dundee Repertory Theatre. Dundee. Wed 22—Sat 25. information 0382 7503i. Takes place in all parts ofthe Theatre building. with four main evening concerts. workshops and other shows. Main events include the premier Scots and lrish traditional music families, the Fisher Family (Fri 24) and the McPeakes (Wed 22). Also the Battlefield Band (Thurs 23) and home—grown songwriting genius
Michael Marra.
JULY
I iiewcastleton Newcastieton Traditional Music Festival. Newcastleton. Roxburghshire. Fri
G LASGOW
are
10th Annual GLASGOW TRYST
A celebration of Scottish music, language, song, dance, crafts and sport in an atmosphere of planned
informality and organised entertainment.
5TH & 6TH AUGUST 1994
In August we are hosted by the Senior Studies Institute of the University of Strathclyde when we present a series of workshops, a masterclass lecure, concert and a oeilidh with a line-up of who’s who in traditional music including Flora McNeil, Sheena Wellington and smallTALK.
25TH to 30TH NOVEMBER 1994 In November we present a ceilidh, craftfayre and Celtic wrestling competitions in the Winter Gardens at the Peoples Palace and a special St Andrew's Night celebration at Henry Wood Hall.
FAMILY TICKET OFFER Ticketlink: (041) 227 5511 from lst July 1994 Programme: 123 High Street, Glasgow 01 1PH
I—Sun 3. information 06977 48255. Competitions during the day in the usual TMSA classes (see Keith Festival). Ceilidhs and concerts at night. Dances on the village green and sessions in the two or three pubs. Free camping and caravan site by the river and a Family Concert and Children‘s Events on Sunday. Set in a lush valley among the rolling border hills, this is one of the longest established ‘traditional’ festivals. not a venue for the contemporary Ceitic/folk/rock/Afro/world/cajun synthesis. but a celebration of the enduring native idioms.
Iiusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Glasgow International Folk Festival Is truly living up to the international tag these days with exotic instrument cases stacking up at the airport baggage reclaim. lieadiining the June event, with his party at a dozen or so, Iiusrat Fateh Ali Khan Is the world star oi Qawwali music, the passionate and spiritual music ot Islam.
I Strathpeiter/Dingwail Highland Traditional Music Festival. Castle Leod, Strathpeffer. Easter Ross. Fri l—Sun 3. information 0463 703509. Formerly held in Dingwall. the Festival this year changes gear with marquee concerts and camping in the grounds of Castle Leod in the small Victon'an spa town of Strathpeffer. and a Festival Club and smaller
7:17,}!
ii
concerts in Tulloch Castle. over the hill above Dingwall. A great line-up of guests mixes traditional music. unaccompanied Gaelic song. folk performers and bands with an awareness of the contemporary approach to the old traditions. Included are Michael Marra. ishbel MacCaskiii. Rock, Salt and Nails, Iron Horse. Shooglenltty and the iiumpii Family.
I Stonehaven Stonehaven Folk Festival. Stonehaven. Aberdeenshire. Fri IS—Suni7. information 0224 734829/0569 765063. Camp site by the sea. Hotel lounges. halls and pubs are the venues for this festival which has strong traditional singing in the Arthur Argo Memorial Concert with Jane Turriii. .iock Duncan. Martin earthy and iiorma Waterson. The folk band approach can be heard in Hungarian group Makvirag. Ulster band Oige make a welcome return visit. Also appearing is Small Talk, a recent coming together of ()ssian’s singer Billy 80$ with piper lain Mclnnes and fiddler Stuart Morrison.
I Bute isle of Bute intemationai Folk Festival. Rothesay and the isle of Bute, Firth ofClyde, Fri 22—Mon 25. information 0700 504734. it's only been going a few years but has made a name for itself with the World Ceilidh Band Competition which brings scores of musicians to the island. Also this year a Shetland Special features wild young band Rock, Salt and Nails. furious fretwork from Ilom Bru, Shetland Traditional Fiddlers and a Shetland Ceilidh Band. From ireland and the Midlands come singing favourites the Sands Family and the ian and lorna Campbell Band. ireland's Stockton’s Wing takes the instrumental honours.
AUGUST
I Auchtennuchty Auchtermuchty
clan Alba
Down In England, the Culbridge Folk Festival celebrates Its 30th birthday over the weekend oi 30 July, In Its usual style or big stages, big crowds and an eclectic approach. Information on 463346. Dig names include Joan Baez, the Saw Doctors, Mary Black,
the .ioois iioliand Band, Otis Rush and Altan. Scotland is represented by big wands oi Dian Alba and Violistone, who might loin up on stage and finish oti what charlie
abandon at Derby.
22 The List 3—16 June 1994