MORAY MUSIC FANS are set for a double treat when of Scotland’s leading bands take to the stage in Fochabers next month – and returns to headline the Keith Traditional Music Festival a month later.
RURA has slotted in a Moray date in their summer tour promoting their latest recording ‘Despite the Dark’, the Inchberry Hall slotting in between visits to Eden Court in Inverness and The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen.
The five-piece line-up were catapulted to the top of the traditional folk scene in 2010 when they were award winners at the renowned Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow – a Festival they have now appeared at on a remarkable seven consecutive occasions.
‘Despite the Dark’ is their second album and is being accompanied by an extensive UK and International tour where music fans can enjoy their “exquisitely rugged, yet refined, blend of fiddle, Highland pipes, whistle, flute, bodhran, guitar and voice”.
Voted live act of the year at the traditional music awards in 2014, the band will be on stage in Fochabers at 7.30pm on May 15 with tickets available now online.
For those who miss out on the Fochabers date, RURA are also headlining the 41st Keith Traditional Music and Song Association (TMSA) Festival from June 10 to 12.
The band will perform on the Saturday evening concert sponsored by the Strathisla Distillery at the Royal Hotel.
The Festival this year will also include Old Time Dance in the Royal British Legion on the Friday night (sponsored by Tesco and Cramond Insurance Life & Pensions) and dancing to the six piece Alan Crookston Scottish Dance Band with tickets at £8.
Other events include concert ceilidhs, sing-a-rounds, an open air concert and competitions. Tickets for these events start at just £5.
The full list of guest artists is available on the Festival’s website www.keithfestival.co.uk and includes Joe Aitken, The Linties, Raemond Jappy, Rachel Carstairs, Gled tae be Glaikit, Danny Couper, Natalie Chalmers, The Mayfield Group and John Dickson.
TMSA Festival chair Kathleen Anderson said: “It’s a really exciting time when the tickets for the festival officially go on sale. It means that the weekend of music and song is just around the corner and getting close. It is just eight weeks away.
“This year we have a wonderful variety of musicians and singers coming to entertain us. We are very excited to have RURA headlining our festival but equally it’s great to have local talent such as Rachel Carstairs and Gled tae be Glaikit joining us as well as familiar favourites such as Joe Aitken and The Linties.
“If you come to any of our events you are sure to have a great time filled with music, song and laughter. I would encourage you to get your tickets early to make sure that you get to your chosen events.”
Tickets are also available from Mither Tongue, Mid Street, Keith, Sandy McCombie on (01542) 882638 or by e-mailing keithfestival@gmail.com.