By Martin Kasprovicz
The organisers of Stonehaven Folk Club and Stonehaven Folk Festival are getting together to organise a weekend of music and dance to celebrate the second European Folk Day!
On Friday 20th September Chris Miles and Gearaidh Matthews will be appearing at the Folk Club (all welcome). Chris Miles has been singing solo for almost forty years, alongside twenty years singing in a duo with Gordeanna McCulloch and in the highly regarded acapella group Palaver. For the past eight years she has been in partnership with Gearaidh Matthews, a wonderful guitar player from Drogheda in Ireland, with a history of delighting listeners and fellow players for many years without any impact on his bank account whatsoever. The Performance starts at 8.30pm in the Stonehaven Community Centre. Cost for entry is £10 (Members / £13 (Non-Members) – no pre-booking required, just pay on the door. (And it’s BYOB!)
On Saturday 21st September there will be a Late Summer Ceilidh in Stonehaven Town Hall. This vibrant event will feature live music from Cabrach – renowned for their energetic performances of Scottish folk classics. Whether you’re a seasoned ceilidh dancer or a complete beginner, their friendly caller will guide you through the steps, ensuring everyone has a fantastic time.
There will be the usual and the unusual dances along with a raffle, heads and tails and a chance to win a bottle of malt whisky by rolling your pound coin nearest to it during one of the breaks. Doors for the ceilidh will open at 7.30pm with the band on stage at 8.00pm.
Tickets are £15.00 for the ceilidh and can be booked via Stonehaven Folk Festivals website https://www.stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk/late-summer-ceilidh
The idea of European Folk Day emerged during conversations within the European Folk Network. It aims to demonstrate the existence of a critical mass of people all over Europe, involved in one way or another, in the traditional performing arts.
The first European Folk Day took place on Saturday 23 September 2023 (the day of the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere) and it’s happening again on Monday 23 September 2024! It is coordinated by the European Folk Network.
Festival Chairman Martin Kasprowicz said that “By combining folk performance and a traditional Scottish Ceilidh with a celebration of European Folk Day, these events promise to be a truly unforgettable experience for people of all ages and backgrounds. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate the beauty of folk culture in Scotland and Europe.”