Oh heavens Tattie that is going back. Would be the year 2000 I think! Maybe before! The current festival is a newish baby and is run entirely by the Folk Club. I suggested in 2017 that we plan a festival for the 1000th anniversary of the Battle of Carham which was arguably when this area became a part of Scotland. It was decided just to start if 2017 and try and run it every year and one of the committee members, Andy Smith, really took it on as his baby and he does a great job with the bulk of the organising.

Johnny is right in that it is more concert based. A few years ago we used to bring folk acts to the club on a pretty regular basis - about once every three months - but a section of the members really didn't like giving up their normal nights. So this now works as a compromise where we bring a few acts all over the same weekend.

There is normally a traditional session in the White Swan (was temporarily changed to the name Tipsy Ghillie) on Saturday afternoons but that won't be happening this year. Because we are still unsure whether rules would even allow inside sessions - but mostly because the organiser of that feels uncomfortable about holding it this year. At the same time from 2pm or so we normally have more mixed informal sessions centring on Rutherfords in the Square too. That is changed to the Cricket Club this year - and in truth will be kind of weather dependent.

The Cricket Club, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this month, is in Shedden Park just at the back of this year's concert venue the Tait Hall. There is planned to be ukelele players giving a wee turn from 11:30 to 12 noon - then it's just be an informal session which will probably last most of the afternoon though some folks with tickets will decamp to the Tait Hall between 1pm and 2pm for North Sea Gas.

It is weather dependent though. The club house itself isn't huge so if weather disrupts things it won't be great. So yes I'd say if you are travelling from afar don't come specifically for a session unless the weather is obviously going to be favourable. We are though expecting an update on Covid rules this afternoon - however even if social distancing is ending we have made the decision to stick to our plans for seating at the main concerts just so everyone feels safe. Likewise in the unlikely event that masks become non compulsory in the concert venues we will still be asking if folk could possibly wear them when moving around inisde.

I normally run a free concert between 12 noon and 1:30pm in our normal venue the Old Parish Church on the Saturday. Normally a half dozen or so different local acts. That is not happening this year. The website says this Best of Borders concert is in the Cross Keys on Sunday between 2:30pm and 4:30pm. That is incorrect and needs changing. It will be a free event for any performer who turns up as well as the local members to perform. We normally have these floor spot evenings in the Oak Room but again because of distancing it will be upstairs in the main ballroom. We just thought folk have not had the chance to do a turn for a year and a half so it wouldn't be fair on them to restrict the performers to a certain few.