Linlithgow Folk Festival 6 – 10 September, 2017

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Linlithgow Folk Festival 6 – 10 September, 2017

FOLK FESTIVAL TO WELCOME CREAM OF YOUNG TALENT

Some of Scotland’s most exciting young traditional musicians will take centre stage at Linlithgow Folk Festiva 2017.

As well as the headline act BARLUATH – who are a diverse and innovative young Glasgow-based band – the five days of the Festival will also see appearances by artists who are bursting on to the scene, such as BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year, fiddler Charlie Stewart, the guitarist, Luc McNally, the award-winning singer, Iona Fyfe and Linlithgow’s very own Town Piper, Ross Miller, who has recently graduated with a first class honours degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

There will also be a Youth Festival Showcase, where emerging talent under the age of 18 will have the chance to perform in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Barluath Headline Concert

Barlauth’s headline concert at the Academy Theatre on Saturday September 9th will be the high point of the five-day Folk Festival, which runs from the 6th to the 10th of September.

Festival Highlights

First staged in 1999, the Festival is firmly established on the traditional music scene and all the mainstay events will take place again. These include the musical cruises on the canal, the family ceilidh at the Vennel, the Hub at the Masonic Hall, the Bluegrass Concert and Gospel Session, and the outdoor Nora Devine Stage at the Cross.

The organisers are not resting on their laurels, however, and there will be several innovations this year, bringing new venues into play. These will include:-

– SONG AND REELS AT THE ROSE :- Town Piper, Ross Miller, and friends stage a fabulous concert at Linlithgow Rose Social Club.

– The ever-popular Bluegrass Concert will move to larger premises at the Academy, with the fabulous group – THE DADDY NAGGINS -making a welcome return to Linlithgow.

– A YOUTH FESTIVAL SHOWCASE for budding young talent will take place in St Michael’s Kirk Hall.

Already a magnet for visitors from far and wide, the Festival will have even more of an international feel this year, with the participation of musical groups from Linlithgow’s twin areas in France and Germany.

Folk Festival Secretary, JONATHAN MOORE, explained:

“We are trying to keep things fresh, as well as continuing to raise the bar. This year, various new events will be taking place and new venues will be used for the first time. This is a very exciting development and we are delighted to welcome new partner organisations, such as Linlithgow Rose Social Club, where the “Songs and Reels at the Rose” will take place and Linlithgow Town Centre BID, who are supporting the Youth Festival Showcase in the Kirk Hall. This initiative will give emerging talent the opportunity to perform in a relaxed and informal setting.

“We are adding in other events in the build-up to the Festival and are greatly heartened to see that people such as the new Café/Bar 1807 and the TESCO supermarket are keen to be involved. 1807 will be providing space for musicians on the Saturday and on the Sunday, Falkirk favourites The Tonkerers will play from 4pm until 7pm. TESCO will also be welcoming musicians on the Saturday.

With so many new events and so many more people getting involved, we are confident that this year’s Festival will be the biggest and best yet”.

Full details of the programme can be found in the 12-page full colour Festival guide, which is available at “Far From the Madding Crowd” and other local venues. A comprehensive run-down also appears on the website www.linlithgowfolk.com

HISTORICAL NOTE:-

The traditional music scene in Linlithgow has long had a tremendous reputation for encouraging young singers and musicians and giving them a platform. In the 1960s and 70s, Nora Devine’s famous Linlithgow Folk Club, nurtured young talent such as Aly Bain, Barbara Dickson, the Macalmans and many others who went on to have very successful musical careers.

The Linlithgow Folk Festival has striven to keep alive Nora’s legacy and the outdoor stage at the Cross –THE NORA DEVINE STAGE – sees young performers given an opportunity to appear at the very heart of the Festival.

This year, the encouragement of young talent will also be the raison d’etre of the new YOUTH FESTIVAL SHOWCASE in St Michael’s Kirk Hall.

The headline act –BARLUATH – appeared on the Nora Devine Stage in 2011, when they were music students in Glasgow. In 2013, they were the support act for Ralph McTell at the Linlithgow Folk Festival.

Linlithgow’s ROSS MILLER has been given great encouragement and support by the Folk Festival Association and has played on the Nora Devine Stage on several occasions.