2008 Report
The weather may have seemed more appropriate for October at times but that didn’t stop the 20th Stonehaven Folk Festival being a huge success all weekend.
Every year the festival brings a throng of visitors to the town and despite the cold weather they came again in droves.
The festival got off to a flying start on Thursday night when those lucky enough to have got tickets to see Eddi Reader were enthralled by the magical fiddle playing of 15 year old Shetland lass Maggie Adamson accompanied by Brian Nicholson’s very original guitar work. Their varied set included tunes and styles from all over the world interspersed with songs from Brian. What a great bonus for the crowds who had snapped up tickets to see Eddi Reader in just 5 days? The festival committee has been trying for many years to catch Dr Reader in country during the second weekend in July and finally succeeded this year. And wasn’t it worth the wait? Eddi was just brilliant including her well known song Perfect in a flawless set. The crowd could not believe that at the end of a great show this wonderful talent treated them all to a 20 minute encore!
For Friday evening’s concert generously sponsored by the crew of the BP Magnus platform, the crowd were in stitches at the hilarious antics of “Idiot and Friend” northern English lunatics Les Barker and Keith Donnelly. Popular Glasgow band Rallion, just off on tour the US had to follow them on stage and did a great job of winding the crowd up for the ceilidh dance. Once again this year local band Cabrach delivered the goods for the dance as well as the annual Aqua Ceilidh in the Open air Pool on Sunday morning.
The late night Blues concert in the Heugh Hotel was another sellout success with acclaimed harmonica player Paul Lamb accompanied by brilliant slide guitarist Johnny Dickinson providing some great entertainment well into the small hours of Saturday morning.
The weather was threatening the Plainstones concert but despite the temperature struggling to get to 12°C a huge number of people stayed for whole event. Organisers estimated that during the afternoon some 800 people stopped to watch and listen to at least one of the acts. Those that were there at 3pm were treated to Paul Lamb and Johnny Dickinson winding the event up.
On Saturday night the town hall was once again sold out for a wonderful evening of song, humour and instrumental brilliance! The ever-popular Mike Silver opened the night with some beautiful silky singing and guitar playing which was perfectly in tune with the stage backdrop, a beautiful Persian rug loaned by festival sponsor and local trader Johnny Briggs. Mr Brigg’s also provided a magnificent rug for the stage and next act, the superb Dundonian Michael Marra took full advantage taking off his shoes and socks for the performance. He did not respond to the shouted question from the audience as to whether he had washed his feet! Michael was just brilliant with his wonderful stories and songs! Closing out Saturday night the Battlefield Band treated the audience to a perfect high energy foot stomping end to the night.
On Sunday there was no let up in pace! Hangovers were cleansed at the Aqua Ceilidh in the open air pool in time for the Tradition Bearer’s concert in St Bridget’s Hall. Geordie Murison hosted this annual feast of tradition and this year the full hall was treated to Danny Couper, Chris Miles, Doris Rougvie and Stanley Robertson. The feast continued in the Belvedere with the annual chorus cup but while this was going on, across town a wonderful fresh talent was being discovered at the now annual Acoustic Youth stage where youngsters have a chance to perform. There was lots of talent on show here but when Festival Chairman Andy Popplestone heard Edinburgh school girl Ailsa Cole he called Festival compere Martin Kasprowicz. Four hours later Ailsa was on the main stage treating the sell out crowd to her wonderful singing!
The Sunday night concert was always going to be one of the most special evenings in the history of the festival. Rachel Unthank and the Winterset kicked the evening off with some soulful singing. Ian Bruce then gave his usual brilliant stage show including an awesome unaccompanied, unamplified rendition of the Robert Burns song Westlin Winds. Then it really was what the crowds had all been waiting for. Barbara Dickson accompanied by her brilliant band gave her first performance at any Folk Festival since 1973! It was a privilege to be in the hall to see this magnificent International star in full flow and clearly enjoying performing in what must have been her smallest concert venue in many years! Expecting 45 minutes of entertainment, an hour at a push, the crowd saw Ms Dickson in full flow for an hour and twenty minutes. It was just the perfect end to a fantastic festival!
Festival Chairman Andy Popplestone said that as he said goodnight to the festival goers leaving the hall on Sunday evening they were full of praise for the whole event which made all the hard work worthwhile. Mr Popplestone said that the committee was very grateful for the support of Aberdeenshire Council this year and for all the commercial sponsors. The committee was especially grateful to local acclaimed photographer Andy Hall for donating a limited edition photograph of Dunnottar Castle in winter to the Festiavl raffle. Four framed copies of his magnificent photograph all signed by Andy, Michael Marra, Eddi Reader and Barbara Dickson ensured the raffle was a huge success!
Andy Popplestone said that the festival had achieved its aims of bringing a very high standard of music to the people of North East Scotland. The Children’s concert with Dennis Alexander was just fantastic enjoyed by adults and children alike. Workshops allowed anyone to come along and improve their guitar and fiddle skills.
The festival comes of age in 2009 and the committee was already starting to think about artists and how to surpass this year’s event. The work starts in earnest in August!