A tiny Scottish village in Dumfries and Galloway is offering its annual invitation for music lovers to come along and enjoy the some of the best sounds on the folk circuit.
The Moniaive Folk Festival, which celebrates its 18thanniversary from 10 to 12 May, is a much-loved feature in the country’s live music calendar.
This year it offers a chance to hear the wonderful sounds of bands and musicians such as:
- Scottish power trio OBT (Oakes, Bews, Thorpe)
- The foot-stomping Sheelanagig
- Findlay Napier, with songs laced with sadness, joy, melancholy and anger
- Kinnaris Quintet– who are currently storming the trad scene (see picture)
Festival director Stuart Macpherson said:“Our wee village is looking forward to welcoming everyone for the 18thMoniaive Folk Festival.
“Over the years it’s grown into a really popular event, with fans coming from all over the country, and the world, to enjoy some of the finest folk sounds around.
“But one of the best things is that it has never lost the friendliness and intimacy that makes it so special.
“And nowadays it’s more than just a music festival, it’s a whole weekend of entertainment, with lots of family friendly activities from puppet theatre to a costumed parade.”
The family-friendly attractions include:
All weekend
- Spotted Stripes Circus – Lord and Lady Flumperdinkle make a welcome return and mix with the crowd over the festival weekend.
Saturday
- Festival Workshop and Parade – get involved with making props then take part in a colourful parade through the village.
- Little Fawn Theatre – enter the magic world of a travelling puppet theatre in a 1950s caravan.
Sunday
- Clydebuilt Puppets – join this leading Scottish puppet theatre company for a workshop and a fun show.
About the main performers
Friday night
- OBT consists of Tom Oakes (Ross Couper + Tom Oakes, Auvo Quartet) on guitars and wooden flute, Jon Bews (Malinky, James Yorkston, Cantrip) on five string fiddle and Daniel Thorpe (Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2010, Malinky, Tyde) on fiddle. Drawing on the music of Scotland combined with world music influences and new composition, OBT’s dynamic performances work as well in an intimate acoustic setting or on a packed festival dancefloor.
- For over a decade Sheelanagig have brought their foot-stomping folk tunes to audiences across the globe. Guitar, fiddle and double bass combined with the rhythmic energy of flute, drums and a bagful of joint-jumping tunes, means this quintet from South-West England create a real dynamic inherent in both their furious dance medleys as well as their interestingly arranged original pieces. Prepare yourself for “a completely top night out.” Mike Harding – Radio 2
Saturday night
- To celebrate 21 years in the musical melting pot Findlay Napier released his album Glasgow in October 2017. The album features self-penned songs written with collaborator and album producer Boo Hewerdine and songs plucked from Glasgow’s past and present. Folk Radio UK said “laced with sadness and joy, melancholy and anger, this is a magnificent piece of work that both celebrates the city and underscores Napier as one of the finest songwriters and storytellers of the contemporary Scottish folk scene.”
- Last year Kinnaris Quintet released Free One, their much anticipated debut album, to rave reviews. The Herald said it was “a great example of musicians moving the tradition forward…” All vigorous, driving, high spirited musicians in their own right Fiona MacAskill (fiddle), Laura Wilkie (fiddle), Aileen (Reid) Gobbi (5 string fiddle), Laura Beth Salter (mandolin) and Jenn Butterworth (guitar) have all come together to form the brand new quintet that is taking the Scottish traditional music scene by storm.
See https://www.moniaivefolkfestival.comfor full details.
