Scotland in June, Keith vs. Killin

Subject: RE: Scotland in June, Keith vs. Killin
From: robinia
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 03:54 PM

The TMSA (Traditional Music and Song Association) festival in Keith (small brewery town northwest of Aberdeen) has been going strong for over 25 years and draws a lot of good traditional singers who come year after year. I went in '98 and '99 -- enthralled not just with the festival but with The Plough (rhymes with "shoe"), a "singing pub" where if you started a good song, festival-time or no, folks listened and joined in (BTW, it was much better when we weren't led by a thumping guitar, an instrument whose appearance seemed almost invariably to kill good singing... ) And it wasn't just the singing; it was the stories and bawdy jokes too, all told in the broad "Doric" that posed something of a challenge; at first I didn't even know when someone was offering me a drink! Anyway, the Keith festival is such an institution with traditional singers that, in '99 at least, I couldn't even find it on web-posted calendars (they didn't want the publicity, I'm told). The festival at Killin, a beautiful spot at the southern end of Loch Tay (to the west) is better publicized and gets busloads of tourists. In previous years -- when the Keith festival was held a week earlier -- on the Monday morning "orange juice ceilidh" at the Plough (which could go on till well past noon!) you'd hear people telling each other "see you at Killin." But this year BOTH festivals are scheduled for June 14, 15, 16 (and a good friend is going to be at Killin). So I'm torn......

Subject: RE: Scotland in June, Keith vs. Killin
From: Jock Morris
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 02:41 PM

I fully intend to be at Keith festival for the third time; see you there!
I didn't think Killin festival was that touristy last year, but Keith is definitely the better of the two.

Scott

Subject: RE: Scotland in June, Keith vs. Killin
From: Shonagh
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 01:44 PM

Well, The Strathspey Fiddlers who I play with are guesting at Keith, as is Graeme Mitchells band. I absoulutely LOVE keith festival, especially the amazing chorus cup competition on the sunday! And the compeitions are always a good laugh, Ive been doing them for a couple of years and they are really good - doesnt actually feel like you're competing. And of course, the pub sessions at night are brilliant craic. And then theres the concerts...

Ooooh! i cant wait!!

Subject: RE: Scotland in June, Keith vs. Killin
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Apr 02 - 11:14 AM

Tell me more, please. Giok

Subject: Scotland in June, Keith vs. Killin
From: robinia
Date: 27 Apr 02 - 07:17 PM

Anyone else going to be in Scotland June 11 -- June 20th? I'm torn between the traditional music festival at Keith and the (more touristy) one at Killin, which used to come on the following weekend but this year is scheduled for the same weekend. Suggestions welcome on how I can split myself in two.....