The Traditional Singing Weekend at Cullerlie

21-23 July 2000

A festival to celebrate the singing traditions of North-East Scotland, Orkney, England, and Ireland in the unique setting of Tom and Anne Reid's farm in rural Aberdeenshire - Cullerlie Farm Park.

The Singers

Joe Aitken is recognised as one of the finest exponents of the North-East 'bothy' style. He is a haulage contractor from Kirriemuir and a favourite at festivals throughout Scotland.

Gordon Easton of Tyree is a wonderful all-rounder. He sings bothy ballads, is an expert diddler, tells tales, and has an unaffected fiddle style.

Scott Gardiner of Forfar is the voice of the future in the North East. Encouraged by Joe Aitken and others, Scott has become a fine singer in his own right. He is studying agriculture at Edinburgh University.

Barbara Grieve of Harray, Orkney, is a delightful singer, who champions the Orcadian dialect and the local repertoire of traditional and humorous songs.

Roger Hinchliffe from Lodge Moor near Sheffield is a farmer and a haulage contractor. His distinctive singing style reflects that of his father, Frank, and his uncle, Stanley Marsden, from whom he learnt his songs.

John Kennedy from Cullybackey, County Antrim, is a great entertainer and master of the 'crack', who has a fund of traditional songs, ballads and whistle tunes, some of which are highly unusual.

Will Noble is from Shepley in the Yorkshire Pennines, and his rich bass voice is a great favourite at hunt socials and carol sings. In 1997-98 he was British Drystone Walling Champion.

Anne Reid is our hostess and a lovely singer. She will keep an eye on us all (including Tom) and make sure everyone is just fine.

Tom ('Tam') Reid, is the 'Bothy Ballad King'. He sings with great skill and gentle humour and has been a guest at festivals throughout Scotland, as well as in France and the USA.

Grace Toland was born and raised in Clonmany, Inishowen, where she learnt most of her songs from the older singers. Though small in stature, 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.

John Waltham has sung the songs of his native Dorset at festivals throughout England and Ireland. He is a great supporter of traditional singing and for several years has organised his own singing weekends on his farm at Purse Caundle.

The Festival

The weekend 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. Essentially informal, friendly, and non-competitive, it will be just he place to encourage the young and less experienced as well as the old hands.

The weekend includes:

Concerts featuring the guest singers.
Singarounds for everyone who wants to join in.
Workshops
Writing bothy ballads (Sheena Blackhall)
Farmhouse cooking (Anne Reid), and
Rural crafts including
Rope-making (Tom Reid)
Drystane dyking (Will Noble), and
Crook-making (George Forbes)
A Talk on farm life in the North East (Jack Webster).

Food will be available over the weekend. There will be no bar - BYOB. Camping and caravanning can be booked free of charge. There are many B & Bs in the area - for a list, contact the Tourist Information at Banchory: 01330 822000 or Aberdeen: 01224 632727.

Bookings to:

Traditional Singing Weekend
Cullerlie Farm Park
Echt
Skene
Aberdeenshire
AB32 6XL
Tel: 01330 860549
The festival is organised jointly by
Tom and Anne Reid
In association with
The Elphinstone Institute
(Director - Dr Ian Russell)
University of Aberdeen
24 High Street
Aberdeen
AB24 3EB
Tel: 01224 272996 Fax: 01224 272728
E mail elphinstone@abdn.ac.uk
Thank you to our sponsors
The North East of Scotland Heritage Trust
Coupers Fish Processors
English Traditional Singing Weekend
Plus other anonymous donors

This information provided by Dr Ian Russell, who retains full copyright.