LOCAL TALENT TO SHINE AT KEITH FESTIVAL.
Local talent will, once again, be playing a big part of Keith's annual festival of music and song.
The Keith Traditional Music and Song Association (TMSA) Festival has always been proud to promote local singers and musicians during the weekend which, this year, takes place from Friday 10th - Sunday 12th June.
Taking part in the 41st Keith Festival as official guests are Keith singer Rachel Carstairs and Keith based ceilidh band Gled tae be Glaikit.
Keith Grammar School student Rachel makes her debut as a festival guest however she has been competing at the event for many years as well as doing well at the Burns Federation Competitions. Gled tae be Glaikit are well known for their Hogmanany ceilidh in the town's St Thomas' Hall as well as being a popular band at other events.
Other official artsists with a local connection includes championship fiddler Raemond Jappy who is originally from Findochty. Now living in Aberdeen Raemond is a former winner of the prestigeous Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship and released his own album, accompanied by Keith quine Mo Rutherford, entitled 'Crossing the Spey'.
The headline act of the festival, Glasgow based band RURA, also carry a local connection with their fiddler, Jack Smedley, having grown up in Cullen. Jack was in The Strathspey Fiddlers, went on to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and runs the Fochabers Fiddle Week. RURA, who were named Live Act of the Year 2015 at the Scots Trad 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 years festival. I would certainly urge folk to come along and hear the quality for themselves."
The 41st Keith TMSA Festival takes place from Friday 10th - Sunday 12th June 2016. 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 and Twitter @KeithFestival
