Feisty female broadcasters Kirsty Wark and Sally Magnusson are to “bookend” Nairn Book and Arts Festival.
The festival will also strike a musical note with a massed singing event and a free Kids’ Day is being introduced.
Ms Wark, one of Britain’s most familiar broadcasters, will launch the 11th festival which runs from Tuesday September 2 – Sunday September 7, while Scottish TV presenter and author Ms Magnusson will bring the event to a close.
The festival will feature award winning crime writers Malcolm Mackay, Ann Cleeves, and Alex Gray, Highland based travel writer Kapka Kassabova, gardening expert Kenneth Cox, and Irish author Nuala Ní Chonchúir.
A varied musical line up includes the Scottish Tango Ensemble, jazz from the celebrated Tim Kliphuis Trio, and Four Seasons of Song, Nairn’s first massed singing event.
Top Scots traditional musicians gather for a concert in memory of acclaimed fiddle player Ian Hardie, including original members of Jock Tamson’s Bairns, Highland Connection and The Occasionals.
A new Kids’ Day offers children free admission to a Charlie Chaplin film, storytelling, and workshops from drumming to animation, and the festival’s comedy night features Paul Tonkinson, fresh from supporting Michael McIntyre on tour.
Fesival chairman David Godden said: “The joy of this festival is its breadth. We aim for the best speakers and performers, while not compromising on the range of interests we cater for. This year, we have some of Scotland’s top writers on crime, history, cookery, dance, gardening and golf. The musical side of the Festival comes to the fore, with our first-ever massed singing event, and an impressive line up of musicians, from traditional through jazz to tango. “And our art exhibitions celebrate the rich creativity of the area, with stunning bronze sculptures cast by Nairn foundry Black Isle Bronze, and contemporary work by art students from Moray College UHI.”
A Taste of the Festival – a free food fair showcasing local artisan fare, with live music, takes place on Saturday August 30.
The Kids’ Day is on Saturday September 6.
The full programme has now been launched