The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #174318 Message #4228311
Posted By: Johnny J
09-Sep-25 - 11:48 AM
Thread Name: 2005 Obit: Citty Finlayson
Subject: RE: Obit: Citty Finlayson
I knew Citty for many years through various festivals and so on.
To be honest, I never actually heard her sing either. At least, not seriously. Of course, there were situations when she would join in choruses and the like. Perhaps, some other members here might confirm if she sang more often in certain circumstances e.g. at local folk clubs and so on?
As Jim says, she was heavily involved in organising and particularly prominent in the so called "lunatic fringe" side of various festivals.
The "Aqua ceilidh" concept was very much Citty's brain child and, as I recall, the first one happened at Keith. There were others and, of course, The Stonehaven one is still going strong.
She also wrote and compiled gig/session/radio broadcast events for "The Broadsheet" during Jack Foley's period.
When I first met Citty, circa 1980, I had been going to festivals already for a few years but I didn't really know the crowd and wasn't "part of the scene".
For better or worse, Citty helped to change all that for me and was very helpful in introducing me to everyone, making me feel part of it all.
Back then, I didn't play or sing either but just enjoyed the music.