The 5th Findhorn Bay Festival kicks off in less than two weeks and director Kresanna Aigner say the wealth of talent on our doorstep is something to celebrate.
As well as providing a platform for national and international artists during the Findhorn Bay Festival, the spotlight is firmly on performers and artists in the North East and the Highlands and Islands.
Produced by Findhorn Bay Arts, the festival opens with local singer/songwriters Brother Sea from Lossiemouth. Their set is inspired by landscapes so what better way is there to launch the festival’s 10-day explosion of cultural delights? They will be joined by local artists William Freeman, Verii and the Tweed Ceilidh Band.
Annabel Kershaw’s The Mariner’s Daughter is inspired by her own experiences of growing up in a coastal community in Aberdeenshire. Stories of ordinary women are made extraordinary and speak of life, love and loss.
Story in the Song concert features two local songwriters/musicians – Adam Ross based in the northeast and Greenshanks from Grantown on Spey. They will be joined on stage by internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Harry Bird.
Get ready to go wild on the dancefloor as the festival is going to be taken over by Karawane and Highland-based DJs Mark Thomson and Ali Aitken. Salsa, Afrobeat, Cumbia and other joyful world music. Joining them for the Festival Takeover are several artists who will raise the level to a fever pitch and give you an unforgettable experience.
Forres-based Shirley Barr provides support for Iona Lane and has been described as “…a cool new voice on the roots side of the Scottish music scene. Bound for greatness I’d say!” Mattie Foulds, Caribou Recording.
The Celtic Connection Triple Bill features many talents, the Inverness-born and based Duncan Chisholm, Hamish Napier (Grantown on Spey), and Moray’s very own Dopey Monkey who are just back from Brittany on an international musicians-in-residency exchange. The Breton musicians are coming over for the testival and as well as playing concerts will be popping up at various events throughout the festival including going into care homes.
Forres‘ Soul Food Cafe is opening for Main Street Blues who bring their tribute to the three great blues masters – Albert King, Freddy King and BB King.
Mixing music and poetry is Hydrophonica. Poet Genevieve Carver and Highland composer Lucie Treacher perform a new collaboration written during a residency with the Lighthouse Field Station in Cromarty through the University of Aberdeen. This piece is a response to the dolphins and porpoise populations in the Moray Firth.
Scotland in Song with Brian Ó hEadhra, Fionnag NicChoinnich, Jo Miller and Scott Gardiner is an evening of stunning Scottish songs by some of our finest Scottish singers. Presented in partnership with the North Atlantic Song Convention, the artists are all steeped in the singing traditions of Scotland and have performed to audiences far and wide.
The Festival’s theatre programme includes Hebridean Treasure blending music, dance and storytelling with live Scottish and South Asian music. The music and words weave around Findhorn-based Bharatanatyam dancer Kirsten Newell.
Forres-based Rachael Macintyre is involved with two festival events – Cirqulation: Roots – a circus cabaret along with her show Moonbeam on Cat’s Ear, a visual adventure for children involving puppetry, music and video.
There is also a strong exhibition element involving a plethora of local artists.
Latvia-born and Inverness-based Evija Laivina’s Silver Stories explores the emotional and spiritual journey of people who choose to let their hair naturally turn silver.
Findhorn-based artist Lisa Shaw presents a curated exhibition of her large paintings.
Local artist, Andrea Chappell (Forres) brings The Moray Kilt Series, a work-in-progress of her project of working with local craftspeople and communities. Two of the kilts made were from her time as one of Findhorn Bay Arts’ Combine-to-Create artists.
LV11 Photo Collective features single images and a series of works from established, early-career and emerging fine art photographers from the northeast of Scotland.
In addition, there will be a community-sharing event with artist-in-residence Eve Mosher to conclude her residency with Findhorn Bay Arts and a Space for Wellbeing with artist-in-residence Kate Mackay. During the Festival, you can join Kate and her collaborators to experience a familiar space that has been transformed into an indoor oasis.
Artist-led walks include local poet and storyteller Margot Henderson, artist Lisa Shaw and the environmental education charity Wild Things! with Eve Mosher.
With something for all the family including four Grow and Share lunches on Saturday 22 September at Rafford Village Hall, The Woodland Garden, Park Ecovillage, Forres Friends of Woods and Fields and Transition Town Forres along with many free activities in Grant Park including community street theatre with Out of the Darkness Theatre Company with assistance from Surge, lots of Hoola Hoops with Jusztina fromDelighters/Cirqulation where there is no age limit only playfulness required and Carnival Roots and Rhythms with Carol Scorer and her cadre of percussionists.
Many of the Festival events are free and/or on a Pay What You Can basis, this biennial cultural explosion has something to suit all tastes.
Find out more and book tickets by visiting: https://findhornbayfestival.com/whats-on/2024