Whether you’re a folk music fan or a newbie to the scene, Stonehaven Folk Festival is gearing up once again with something for everyone, as Andrew Youngson finds out
The Stonehaven Folk Festival returns next week for its 26th year, packed with some of the top international contemporary and traditional folk artists. Taking place across four days from next Thursday, July 10, the programme will also promote new and emerging younger talent.
Among the headlining acts this year are Irish supergroup Patrick Street, who will perform at Stonehaven Town Hall on the Saturday night. This will be the start of the group’s UK tour, their only gig in Scotland and their first gig in the country since 2002. In a repertoire steeped in traditional music, the band’s tightly executed arrangements and unparalleled musicianship know no equal.
Another highlight of the programme is Gavin Marwick’s Journeyman Spectacular, on the Sunday night. A showcase of acknowledged fiddle maestro and composer Gavin Marwick’s work, the 10-piece band is a who’s who of some of the finest musicians on the current Scottish scene.
Individually, they include Up in the Air, Bellevue Rendezvous and the Old Blind Dogs All Stars. As the Journeyman Spectacular, they sold out their first gig at Celtic Connections and finished to a standing ovation.
In addition to the headlining artists, two new young musicians are poised to win over new audiences, namely Paddy Callaghan, the 2013 Young Traditional Musician of the Year, and the Mischa Macpherson Trio, who are the current BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winners.
A range of other artists will perform over the weekend with concerts, workshops, sessions and singarounds, plus a large workshop programme covering all levels of ability. All of this and more awaits, such as the world-famous Aqua Ceilidh and the World Paper ’n’ Comb Championship, which this year ties in with a homecoming tartan theme.
The popular annual festival is built around the aim to “promote traditional and contemporary folk music”, but, as chairman Charlie West explained, this is merely the baseline each year.
“That’s a summary from our charitable constitution, but I’d like to think of it as more providing access to a wide variety of music and song plus a series of workshops for all levels of ability and ages, plus a few fun things as well,” he said.
“I suppose I’d say our main purpose is to have some fun while enjoying some great music and song.”
Above all, Charlie and his committee of dedicated volunteers hope to open up the folk-music scene to as wide an audience base as possible. The coastal Aberdeenshire town, he said, is ideally positioned to host a festival of this size, and also the perfect place for such a family-friendly event.
“Stonehaven is the only folk festival of this size in Aberdeenshire and well established on the Scottish folk-festival circuit, recognised widely by our peers and the artists as one of the best organised,” he said.
“Stonehaven itself has a wide range of venues, the harbour is always good for sessions and, of course, there’s the beach and open-air pool.”
The Stonehaven Folk Festival runs in venues throughout Stonehaven from Thursday to Sunday, July 10-13. For further information and tickets, visit www.stonehaven folkfestival.co.uk