By Gloria Potter
An anniversary concert and poetry reading at the Lewis Grassic Gibbon Centre, Arbuthnott, drew a record audience of more than 90 people.
The free event, presented by the Friends of Grassic Gibbon in partnership with the Stonehaven-based poetry festival Wee Gaitherin, marked 125 years since the birth of acclaimed North East writer James Leslie Mitchell who used the pen name Lewis Grassic Gibbon for his Scots novels, including the internationally renowned ‘A Scots Quair’ trilogy which includes ‘Sunset Song’.
Bringing together music, spoken word and community spirit, the programme featured poets Marka Rifat, Neil Young, Alistair Lawrie, Karen MacFarlane, Andrew Urquhart and Leslie Benzie. Music was performed by local all-girl teen band Berlin 87, Gaelic singer and mandolin player Jon Ball, singer songwriter David Potter, who has just released his first CD, accompanied by Gloria Potter, and Lenny Helsing, of Scots band The Thanes, concluded the evening with a rousing set on guitar.
“We were delighted to have such a large and enthusiastic audience from across the Aberdeenshire area,” said Charles Roberts-McIntosh, Chairperson of Arbuthnott Community Association and compere for the evening.
He added the enjoyable evening was a fine example of community arts and creativity at their best and local creativity, honouring Leslie Mitchell. Like his writing in ‘A Scots Quair’, the evening expressed a range of emotions and captured moments of everyday life, landscape and identity.
Discovering the writer was fond of tinned food
Marka Rifat, Toulmin story prize holder and one of the performers, said she was delighted to be part of the 125th anniversary.
She said: ”It spurred me to research more about this industrious and strongly-principled man. I was intrigued to come across his appreciation of tinned foods, because he felt they gave women time to enjoy themselves instead of slaving in the kitchen.”
Meanwhile Lesley Benzie said The Grassic Gibbon Centre and Wee Gaitherin created a welcoming space for people to share in creativity, conversation and cultural connection. It encouraged further interest in our highly influential author and in the Grassic Gibbon Centre itself which houses the Leslie Mitchell exhibition and has a great café.
If you liked this event, check out our web for details of the 2026 Wee Gaitherin free festival of poetry and music programme 3-5 September www.weegaitherin.com”