THE HAIRST Sessions and Saturday Skirls are back once again, now in their 10th year, with an enlarged programme featuring five extra sessions on Fridays at Arbroath's Webster Memorial Theatre Assembly Hall.
These unique events feature the best of Angus traditional music with street performances and open sessions throughout Angus for seven weeks.
Three or four times a week, somewhere near you, there will be three hours of informal music hosted by the
key artistes, from talented teenagers right through to the well-matured performers. These are open sessions, with all listeners, singers and musicians welcome.
In addition, on Saturdays, there will be a Saturday Skirl taking place at 12 noon in one of the Angus towns – two hours live outdoor performance of acoustic music.
All events are free.
The Hairst kicks off tomorrow (Saturday), 12 noon to 2 p.m., with The Monifieth Skirl outside the Tesco supermarket, with Karen Hannah and Michael Kelleher.
Karen is a well-travelled fiddle player, having played at home and abroad with the Young Fife Roadshow, Keltic Fiddlers, etc., and currently with The Baffie Band that appears later in the programme - great tunes, with guitar and some 'corkers' of songs from Cork man Michael - put down the shopping bags and dance a jig!
Monifieth is also the venue for the next session, on Tuesday at the Old Royal Inn, starting at 8 p.m. with Mike Ward and The Fishermans Friends. Mike is Tayside's foremost folk fiddler, and a founder member of Tannahill Weavers, Alba and Fon a Bhord. And there will be plenty of songs and tunes from the Fishermans Friends, a local session group.
Chapter and Verse in Forfar is next, on Thursday, with Maureen Jelks, Leslie McLuckie and Ken Johnston.
Next Friday, July 10, The Ferryport Fiddlers Ensemble will play at the Webster Memorial Theatre Assembly Hall, Arbroath at 8 p.m.
For information on all events visit www.thehairst.co.uk
