Traditional Singing Weekend at Cullerlie 27 -29 July 2018
Please Note: Because of the limited number of places available, priority will be given to those who are coming for the whole weekend. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Bookings close 25 July 2018
The Festival is a unique celebration, bringing together outstanding traditional singers from Scotland, England, and Ireland. The event is especially for those who like to hear, enjoy, and join in unaccompanied traditional singing. Essentially informal, friendly and non-competitive, it will be just the place to encourage the young and less experienced as well as the old hands. The weekend includes ceilidhs featuring the guest singers, singarounds for everyone who wants to join in, workshops, craft demonstrations and a talk.

Cullerlie Farm Park and Heritage Centre was set up by Tom (‘Tam’) and Anne Reid in 1993 and is now run by Anne’s daughter Tracey Walker and her husband Eric, as well as other members of the family. Tom moved to the Cullerlie Estate with his parents in 1935, and worked with his father in the traditional way of farming. He kept the traditions alive by turning the old original steading into a farm museum with one of the largest privately owned collections of farming and domestic memorabilia in Scotland. Anne, who was from nearby Peterculter, joined Tom when they married in 1975.
Tom (1929- 2003) was a legendary singer, having been crowned, in 1977, the Bothy Ballad King before a crowd of 10,000 at the Haughs in Turriff, a title that remained his until his death in January 2003. Anne (1939–2006) was also a fine singer and promoted the traditions of the North-East through singing and speaking workshops with schoolchildren and adults at local schools and at the museum, as well as hosting regular Saturday-night ceilidhs. It is the family’s express wish that the festival should continue to run in memory of Tom and Anne.
This Years Guests :-
Natalie Chalmers / Luke Cheevers /Lucy Donaghey / Scott Gardiner / Jimmy Hutchison / Viv Legg / Saro Lynch-Thomason / Ellen Mitchell / Jess Smith / Ken Wilson
Programme of events
Friday 26
7.30-11.30 Welcome ‘Come-All-Ye’ – weekenders & guests
Saturday 27
10.00-11.30
Workshop A
Workshop B ‘My Culture – Traveller Traditions’, Viv Legg & Jess Smith
Workshop C1 ‘Sheepdog Demonstration’
Workshop C2 ‘Granite Dressing’, Dave Bullock
Workshop C3 ‘Farmhouse Cooking’, Shirley Foulkes
11.45-12.45 The Cullerlie Hour – Marquee with Saro Lynch-Thomason ‘Appalachian Women’s Songs of Love and Labour’
This presentation will explore over 200 years of Appalachian women’s experiences, from farmsteads to the church house and the picket line. Drawing on Appalachian ballads, Protestant and Shaker hymnody, work songs, and labour anthems, Saro will explore the music women have used in America’s mountain south to express their sorrows, joys and ambitions. Along the way, Saro will highlight the lives of women singers in Appalachian religious movements, Civil Rights movements, textile strikes, and coal mine wars. Some recordings will be used, but come expecting to sing your way through this presentation!
1.00-2.30 Lunchtime
2.30-5.00
Singaround A Ellen Mitchell
Singaround B Lucy Donaghey
Singaround C Ken Wilson
5.00-7.30 Long Tea Break
7.30-11.00 Grand Concert In the Marquee
All Guests – hosted by Jim Taylor and Ian Russell
Sunday 29
10.00-11.30
Workshop A
Workshop B ‘Songs of the Wilson Family’, Ken Wilson
Workshop C1 Sheepdog Demonstration
Workshop C2 ‘Granite Dressing’, Dave Bullock
11.45-1.30 Lunchtime Singarounds
A Natalie Chalmers and Scott Gardiner
B Luke Cheevers and Saro Lynch-Thomason
C Informal music
2.00-5.00 Farewell Concert
A In the Marquee. All Guests – hosted by Jim Taylor and Ian Russell
B = Bothy/Wash Hoose
C = Tea Room or Outside
Booking:
General Information about the Weekend
. Food will be available over the weekend in the tea room
- You can buy an all-weekend meal ticket at a discount
- There will be no bar – BYOB
- Camping and caravanning can be booked. There is a charge of £10.00 per pitch
- There are several B&Bs in the area – for a list, contact Tourist Information at Banchory: 01330 822000 or Aberdeen: 01224 269180
- Bursaries are available for singers under 25 yrs in full-time education
Bookings to:
The Traditional Singing Weekend, Cullerlie Farm Park, Echt, Skene, Aberdeenshire AB32 6XL
Booking Enquiries – Tel: 01224 645486
Please Note: Because of the limited number of places available, priority will be given to those who are coming for the whole weekend. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Bookings close 25 July 2018.
Festival Organisers
Tracey Walker (Anne’s daughter) and Eric Walker, Jim Taylor (Tom’s nephew), and Scott Gardiner on behalf of Cullerlie Farm Park and Ian and Norma Russell on behalf of The Elphinstone Institute
While Correct at time of printing please check artist websites and Festival Websites for any alterations, amendments or additions
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