The Linlithgow Folk Festival Association promotes folk music in West Lothian, in all its many different styles. As well as the annual festival, they also arrange concerts, ceilidhs, pub folk music sessions, and opportunities to learn about folk music. They have a year-round programme, offering all sorts of entertainment and education.
The festival hub is in the town centre, with stalls, refreshments, information, and opportunities for visiting singers and instrumentalists to perform. There a full day's entertainment at the Festival Hub (absolutely free!) as well as smaller concerts, musical canal cruises and all the features that you expect and enjoy.
Linlithgow is located in West Lothian, just off the M9 Edinburgh to Stirling motorway, in the central belt of Scotland. It is a delightful historic town - the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots - with the Royal Palace, Linlithgow Loch (pic) and St Michael's Church forming a centrepiece that is well worth visiting.
http://www.linlithgowfolk.com
2008: 11th - 14th September 2008: Guests include Eddie Walker and Fraser Spiers.
The Folk Festival kicks off with a bang! On the Thurdsay evening in the famous Four Mary’s Pub in the High Street, where Pure Malt band plays to a delighted packed audience. The setting is informal and attracts a large group of people out to enjoy the atmosphere.
Festival Saturday starts off with a number of workshops, including:
Singing sessions
Song writing for adults and for children
Playing the musical instruments and playing the spoons!
Dancing
Throughout the day there are music sessions in the local pubs, at the Cross and the Canal Basin where everyone is encouraged to join in or simply chill out and enjoy!
Saturday evening – the main festival is held at Linlithgow Academy starting at 8pm. The academy is a lovely theatre style layout that can easy covert to a caberet style candle-light setting.
Festival Sunday begins with a Gospel session followed by more outdoor sessions at the Canal Basin and dancing!
Sunday night is the Farewell Concert, where everyone comes together to celebrate another successful year!
Please note that this year’s Festival Hub will be the Masonic Hall, as the Burgh Halls are closing for extension and upgrading.
Thursday 11th
Festival lecture: The Bo’ness Rebels, by Ewan McVicar. Black Bitch upstairs lounge. 7.30.pm
Festival opening session: Lively music from “Sticky Willie”. Four Marys pub. From 9.00.pm
Friday 12th
Musical Cruises with “Skirlie” and Linlithgow Union Canal Society: depart from canal basin at 7.00. and 8.00.
Family Ceilidh at Linlithgow Primary School, Preston Road, with “Cockleroy” 7.00.-10.00.pm
Music sessions: Singers – Black Bitch Tavern upstairs
Mixed – Black Bitch lounge
Instrumental – Black Bitch public bar
Bluegrass – Auld Hole in the Wall
All sessions from 8pm + at other venues displaying Festival logo
Saturday 13th
Hub at the Masonic Hall open from 10.00.am to 5.00.pm, for tickets, info, chat, free music, refreshments.
Come and Sing – Songs of Work and Play – Hub. 11.00.am – 12.30.pm. Free
Festival Showcase – “Best of the Fest” – Hub. 1.15. – 4.00.pm
includes “Goldrush” bluegrass band at 3.15.pm
Stramash – Workshop participants show off what they’ve learned today! Hub. 4.15. – 4.30.pm
Songs and Music at the Canal – sessions with some of our favourite groups. Canal tearoom. 2.00.-4.00.pm
Pub sessions – afternoon and evening in those pubs displaying Festival logo
Workshops – Songwriting with Dave Francis, Song with Mairi Campbell, Spoons with Andrea Peters,
“Musicians Working Together” with Eddie Walker and Fraser Speirs
For Children Songs and games with Ewan McVicar, Blast-Off Books 10.30.am – 12.00.noon
Mr Boom, Lowport centre. 2.00.-3.00.pm
Craft Fair. Cross House. 10.30.am to 4.00.pm
Evening Concert
Linlithgow Academy 8.00.pm, featuring
Eddie Walker and Fraser Speirs – see www.eddiewalker.net and Youtube
The Cast – see http://www.the-cast.org.uk
Also on Saturday
Scottish Bluegrass Day, including banjo workshop with John Sheldon, Open Mike, Pub sessions.
Evening concert in Queen Margaret Hall at 8.00.pm with The Whitetop Mountain Band
www.whitetopmountainband.tripod.com
Sunday 14th
Hub at Masonic Hall open from 11.00.am – 4.30.pm for tickets, info, chat, free music, refreshments
Bluegrass Gospel session with “A Wing and a Prayer”. Hub. 11.00.am – 12.30.pm
Songs ‘R’ Us – Songwriters’ Platform, hosted by West Lothian songwriters’ Group. Hub 1.15. – 2.00.pm
Open Stage – strictly 10 minutes per act. Hub. 2.15.- 4.00.pm
Open Air Ceilidh – The Vennel. Come and dance with “Cockleroy”. 2.00.- 4.00.pm
Songs and Music at the Canal: Newtongrange Folk Club host a friendly session. Canal tearoom 2.00.–4.00.pm
Pub Sessions: afternoon and evening in those pubs displaying the Festival logo
For children: Music Rhyme and Stories with Liz Wilson. Blast-Off Books. 2 sessions from 2.00.pm for different age-group
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007: 6th - 9th September 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006 - 7th - 10th September 2006. Featuring this year (in alphabetical order):
Andy Shanks
Gifford Lind
Gill Bowman
Goldrush
Gordeanna McCulloch
Hoogie
Jon Cooper
Kick the Cat
Liz Wilson
Mr Boom
Pure Malt
Redwing
and members of many groups and organisations, including:
Sangschule
West Lothian Songwriters' Group
Almond Valley Folk Club
Scottish Bluegrass Association
Falkirk Folk Club
Haddington Folk Club
Further information concerning the Linlithgow Folk Festival and tickets for all events can be obtained from the box office, tel. 01506 433634.
Ends…
FROM: MURDOCH KENNEDY, Press Officer, Linlithgow Folk Festival. TEL. (daytime) 0131 659 6111 ext 3549.
http://www.angelfire.com/music2/linlithgowfolkfest/Festival.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2005: (8th - 11th September 2005) Special Guests: Ralph McTell . Events kick off on the Thursday with a tribute to the Folk music giant, Hamish Henderson in the Black Bitch Tavern and a gig in the Four Marys by local favourites, Pure Malt. On the Friday, the ever-popular Family Ceilidh will take place in the Burgh Halls and Linlithgow Union Canal Society will be playing host to musical cruises.
As always, the Festival Association’s "spiritual home", the Black Bitch Tavern, will present sessions throughout the weekend, but the Burgh Halls is being used again as the festival hub on Saturday and Sunday – serving as a box office and refreshment centre, with free Folk sessions too!
A huge line-up has been organised for Saturday and Sunday, including a Bluegrass music day at Laetare and an expanded "Oot ‘n Aboot" programme, taking musicians out to the wider community.
Copies of the festival guide giving details of all the events are available from the Linlithgow Tourist information office and other outlets.
Murdoch Kennedy, Press Officer, Linlithgow Folk Festival. TEL> 0131 659 6111 ext 3549
Festival box office on 01506 433634.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Festival guests for 2004 includes: Back of the Moon and The Sangsters.
Further information: lffa_enquiries@hotmail.com
| 
|