About Strathspey in May
May 2010
Strathspey in May Celebrates a Decade of Music and Community Events
Organisers of Strathspey in May are marking its 10th Anniversary in good style with another May bank holiday weekend packed with events. Convenor of the Committee, Boyd Peters, said he was delighted to bring Ewan Robertson back to the festival. Ewan, a part-time firefighter in Carrbridge and son of Maire, won the Young Traditional Musican of the Year competition in 2008. He appears on Saturday 1st May along with ace accordianist Gary Innes. Supporting them on the night will be a second band, a line-up of talented young musicians called Gallus. One member, David MacGregor is from Grantown on Spey.
Treasurer Piers Voysey said "The festival has a great tradition in bringing back home musicians that started here as youngsters and showcasing them when they have mastered their art."
Other highlights of the festival include a Friday concert of contemporary choir singing and some acoustic instrumental music in Grantown's St Columba's Church. Sunday sees the action move to the Square in Grantown, with a Farmers' Market, Pipe Band and the Whisky Festival's mounted horse cavalcade passing through the town, as well as a ceilidh band and some tunes from "Pace". More details to be found on the website, or on the advertising flyer.
Sunday evening sees the 10th Strathspey in May close with a Festival Service in Grantown's Baptist Church celebrating the life and hymns of Peter Grant (first Baptist Minister in Grantown on Spey) and performed by Marie Louise Napier and Seumas Grant. Peter Grant’s hymns were widely sung across the Gaelic speaking world by all denominations and were much loved for their roots in Scottish traditions.
Acknowledgements
The organizing committee is as always grateful to all of you who support the festival by attending the workshops and concerts and who thus make all the time, work and anxiety in the weeks and months prior to the event utterly worthwhile.