LOCAL MORAY TALENT will be every bit as important as the top-class traditional music talent arriving in Keith this month for their annual TMSA Festival.
The traditional music event has always been a primary showcase for local singers and musicians – and the 2016 event from Friday, June 10 to Sunday, June 12 is no exception.
For the 41st running of the festival Keith singer Rachel Carstairs and local ceilidh band Gled tae be Glakit will lead a galaxy of talent. Rachel, a Keith Grammar student, will be making her debut as a festival guest – although she has been competing at the festival for many years as well as appearing at Burns Federation competitions.
Gled tae be Glakit meanwhile are well kent faces at the Hogmanany Ceilidh in St Thomas’ Hall along with many other local events. They will join other ‘official’ performers with local connections, including fiddler Raemond Jappy from Findochty (now Aberdeen), a former winner of the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship. He recently released a new album ‘Crossing the Spey’ in which he is accompanied by Keith quine Mo Rutherford.
Headliners at the festival this year are RURA, including Cullen-lad Jack Smedley who was a member of the Strathspey Fiddlers before going on to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. RURA, who were named Live Act of the Year 2015 at the Scots Traditional Music Awards, will be headlining the concert in the Royal Hotel on the Saturday night (sponsored by Strathisla Distillery) with tickets priced at just £15.
Chairman of the Festival Committee, Kathleen Anderson, said: “Keith Festival has a long and proud tradition of giving local singers and musicians a platform to perform. We are delighted that this is continuing this year.
“There are so many talented performers in the local area and it is great to see some who have performed at Keith in the past go on to become well known and respected performers on the national stage.
“Rachel, Gled tae be Glaikit, Raemond and RURA are all part of a wider list of extremely talented guest artists of high quality at this festival. I would certainly urge folk to come along and hear the quality for themselves.”
Festival tickets can be bought from Mither Tongue, Mid Street, Keith or by e-mailing keithfestival@gmail.com.
Log on to the website www.keithfestival.co.uk for more information or follow the festival on Facebook www.facebook.com/keithfestival.