By Festival organisers –
The North East of Scotland is in danger of losing one of the most successful annual Folk Festivals.
Stonehaven Folk Festival has been a fixture of the summer in Stonehaven since July 1989. It has a reputation as the “Friendly Festival” which, as well as bringing renowned international artists to its main stage, provides a platform for local and up and coming talent.
It has also introduced the people of the North East to the Aqua Ceilidh in Stonehaven’s Outdoor Pool and the World Paper ’n’ Comb Championships. We are also holders of the record for the World Largest Ceilidh Band – certified by the Guinness Book of Records. In July 182 musicians and a dozen dancers packed into Mackie Academy’s main hall and had a whale of a time.
New committee members needed
The Committee of Trustees that run the Festival are aging. Some of them have been on the committee for 30 years or more and with recent resignations the committee will soon not be viable for the organisation of such a large event.
Chairman, Martin Kasprowicz says, “Stonehaven Folk Festival is a very successful festival, selling out most events and bringing in huge numbers of visitors and income to Stonehaven. We like to involve as much of the community as we can – such as the local Lions Club and the Men’s Shed. We have recently embarked on a very successful project to bring traditional music into our local Primary Schools and would want to do even more of this. However without people coming forward to join the committee it’s just not sustainable.
“I am appealing to anyone with an interest in folk music and who would want to join our committee to contact me at info@stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk so that we could discuss their involvement.”
Stonehaven Folk Festival is looking for people with social media and IT skills, financial skills (for a treasurer) as well as management and practical skills. The ability to write creative newsletters, press releases and to fill in funding applications would also be a bonus.
Stonehaven Folk Festival does not receive any funding support from a local authority. It relies entirely on fundraising and ticket sales to stage the Festival. Fundraising helps to keep the ticket prices down to encourage everyone to attend.
All local businesses expressed their delight at the festival returning after the COVID lock down with the increase in trade that the Festival brings in. It looks like they may have to get used to not having a Stonehaven Folk Festival at all.
Previously in The Bellman