AN AUTUMN WITHOUT A HAIRST?
THE withdrawal of £20,000 in funding has sounded the death knell for the popular Hairst festival which attracted musicians and traditional music lovers throughout Angus.
The 'Hairst', an old Scots word meaning harvest, boasted some of the finest Scottish folk musicians and singers from Angus and the surrounding area.
For nine years it featured folk sessions, Saturday skirls and concerts, ensuring the Hairst festival was a must for tourists, visitors and locals alike.
News of the council's withdrawal of the 20,000 funding has been lamented by Ian Kinnear of Edzell who produces small pipes and who was a regular performer at the festival.
He described the Hairst as a "great way to showcase talent".
He said: "There is such a wealth of artists and musical talent; the whole thing provided a huge range of entertainment for relatively little cost.
"I was mostly involved in the pub sessions and they were always well received. Over the years they attracted a great amount of people, both locals and visitors.
"There were also a lot of foreign visitors who came along.
"The pub sessions were a great showcase for the musical tradition in the area. Having spoken to a number of visitors from overseas, they were getting access to a real bit of culture, rather than a polished performance that you would get at a concert.
"People would come from France and Germany at the same time every year to catch the sessions."
Although Angus Council has confirmed the Hairst has now been disbanded and won't go ahead this year, those involved in the local music scene are sure traditional music will continue to flourish.
Ian continued: "I don't know about the Hairst, but the traditional music scene is still vibrant in Angus, it still exists.
"However it is sad that around 20 funded sessions which were laid on over the summer have now gone."
The Hairst sessions were held regularly at a number of venues throughout Angus, from venues in the Angus glens down to the coastal resorts.
Three Bellies Brae in Kirriemuir was one such venue. Owner Ed Wilson has pledged that, although the Hairst may be no more, the popular local hostelry will continue to hold its weekly sessions on Tuesday evenings.
"We kept our Tuesday evening sessions going anyway. and will still be doing traditional music on Tuesday nights.
"The open sessions attract musicians from all over, from Dunkeld to Letham and Carnoustie."
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Weather for Forfar
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
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