Scotland on Tour

An exciting initiative to support the recovery of Scotland’s live music industry has included The MacRobert Hall in Tarland on its itinerary.

Genre-spanning acts will appear the breadth and length of Scotland with country, rock, pop, jazz, classical, folk and acoustic genres all being showcased.

The MacRobert Hall will host four concerts in 2022 and the first on June 18 is Gaelic super-group and un-challenged champions of straight in the eye Highland music, Daimh.

Formed around the turn of the century and taking the name from the Gaelic word for “kinship” Daimh (pronounced Dive) have taken their contemporary take of Highland and Gaelic music to over 20 countries, setting audiences alight from Moscow to San Francisco. Recent accolades include “Best Folk Band in Europe” at the Folkherbst competition in Germany and recent winners of Folk Band of the Year at the Scottish Trad Music Awards.

On August 18, winners of Battle of the Folk Bands 2018, Eabhal will drop in. They came together while based in the Outer Hebrides and alongside traditional songs, contemporary and self penned tunes, the band draws influence from other musical cultures and unites them within their own music. The 14th October sees Americana singer-songwriter Kirsten Adamson play at The MacRobert Hall. Kirsten’s father Stuart (songwriter and performer in bands The Skids, Big Country and The Raphaels) was a huge inspiration to her throughout her childhood.

Elaine Lennon will perform a solo show in Tarland on 18th November. Since starting her musical career in 2018, Elaine has been awarded Nashville’s Songwriter’s One To Watch, has a coveted Danny Kyle Award under her belt and has won creative support for her debut album. Released to high acclaim at Celtic Connections in 2020 it was awarded Celtic Music Radio’s first ever Album of the Year award. She has performed at UK festivals, Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, opened for artists ranging from Rab Noakes to Eric Paslay and performed headline shows with Grammy winning singer-songwriter Michael Logen.

To buy tickets see www.scotlandontour. com or phone 07873 695170 for more information.

The Scotland on Tour project, which has been created and managed by Active Events, was made possible by £750,000 of Scottish Government backing and will focus on increasing the number of opportunities to showcase and enjoy live music, while bringing exciting acts to the doorstep of cities, towns, villages and rural communities.

New gigs will be staged in 25 of Scotland’s local authority areas, from Dumfries and Galloway to the Orkney Islands, with the aim to bolster Scotland’s incredible live music scene and help to aid the recovery of the country’s creative supply chain.

Kirsten Adamson

Eabhal

Elaine Lennon

Highland Games All Set For August Return

After an absence of three years, organisers have confirmed that Aboyne Highland Games will be held this August.

The traditional Royal Deeside event, which attracts up to 10,000 visitors, will take place on Saturday, 06 August. It will mark the first time since 2019 that the games has been staged, after being cancelled for the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Aboyne Green will come to life on the first Saturday in August as a packed programme of 95 traditional events takes place. Featuring Highland Dancing, solo piping and fiddle competitions, pipes bands, light and heavy athletics, tug o’ war and a hill race, the event is popular with locals and visitors, including many from overseas.

Aboyne Highland Games kick starts the Highland Games season on Royal Deeside and injects around £450,000 into the local economy. Along with supporting local shops, cafes and accommodation providers, the Games welcomes around 80 trade stands, providing a platform for local craftspeople and food producers to showcase their goods.

Photo: Crowds watch the massed bands at the start of the 2019 Aboyne Highland Games. Harry Scott (Deeside Camera Club)

in Aboyne!

It’s our people who make Balhousie Care Group amazing - the everyday heroes who are as committed as we are to providing innovative, awardwinning, quality care based on our core company values:

YEARS

• COMPETITIVE PAY • EXCELLENT BENEFITS • FLEXIBLE HOURS AND CONTRACTS

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We’re recruiting for care and domestic roles at our care home in Aboyne.

Here’s what you’ll get:

• Full and part-time roles available • £2000 Golden Hello for some roles • Flexible working hours • Mileage incentive • FREE accommodation

If you’d like to be one of our everyday heroes contact careers@balhousiecare.co.uk Balhousie Alastrean, Tarland, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, AB34 4TA T: 01339 881235