If it’s the last weekend in September, then it must be time for the annual Glenelg music festival; Drams in the field.
Hundreds of people travelled to the Glen to hear an excellent line up of musicians. Many of them are now regulars at the event but others came for the first time from as far a field as Ireland and Devon. There was something for everyone; traditional to progressive Scottish music, played on a wide range of instruments; harmonicas to bagpipes; accordians to electric flutes.
Friday nights line up included Scott McDonald; the Jim Hunter band; Glenelg’s very own Sandra MacBeath a.k.a. Teuchstar and ended with the outstanding Peatbog Faeries from Skye who headlined the night.
Although there was some rain on the Friday night, it failed to dampen the spirits of those who were camping in the football field. Many of the campers were delighted to find that breakfasts were being served in the village hall. The Glenelg Inn was very busy over lunchtime and throughout the afternoon. The pub shut at five, which allowed people plenty of time to make their way back up to the marquee in time for the start of the evening’s entertainment. This kicked off with some local young musicians including Iain and Murdo Cameron who got the night off to a superb start. This was followed by the “Cach Mhor Ceilidh Band” who hail from Fort William; the excellent Donald Black on harmonica; the Harris Tweed Brogues and finished up with the boys from Croft Number 5 who headlined the Sat night.
Sunday morning was very wet and many festival-goers did not hang about but left as soon as possible. Both the festival field and the football pitch soon became very water logged. Once again Duncan digger’s tractor performed an excellent service in extracting vehicles from the football and festival fields. The organisers thereafter began the clear-up operation and helped dismantle the large marquee. By the end of the day both the field and the football park were cleared of tents and equipment (which was also aided by the gale force winds on Sunday morning).
Sound and lighting were supplied by Perfect Beat Audio; catering was once again provided by “The Crack” editorial team, who this year added salmon steaks to their range of festival food. These proved to be very popular and quickly sold out on the Saturday evening.
The event overall was a success with a profit of around £1000 being made. It is the intention of the committee to make donations to local community organisations, this year hopefully the New Hall, the Glenelg Mountain Rescue Team and the playing field fund (football pitch) benefiting.
The organisers would like to thank this years’ sponsors; J & B Whisky; The Royal Bank of Scotland; Brightwater Holidays; Inverinate Estate and Highland Council. Special thanks are due to the two Duncans (Barracks and Digger), Roddy McPherson and especially to the local community for its continued support for the event particularly those that helped on bar duty, door duty and stewarding. Thanks to everyone who helped make the event a success; you know who you are! There will be an AGM held later in the year and the existing committee is actively looking for new members to help run the event.
Drams committee.
This
was the line up for the
2004 Glenelg Music Festival
FRIDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2004
Peter McDonald
Jim Hunter Band
Teuchstar
The Peat Bog Faeries
SATURDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2004
The Cach Mhor Ceilidh Band
Donald Black & Donnie Mackenzie 
Harris Tweed Brogues
Croft No. 5
| Drams
in the Field 2002 |
|
Wet and windy conditions failed to dampen the spirits of those who attended this years Drams in the Field music festival. Although the weather was undoubtedly a factor in the slow build up of visitors to the main event on the Saturday, the well-attended gig by Les Miseres in the village hall on Friday evening probably didn't help, as it went on until the early hours of Saturday morning. The first band onto the stage on Saturday, were called "Willie Turnup". Indeed they did and provided excellent entertainment for those who got there in good time, as did another local band, Doc Livingstone. The marquee steadily filled as the afternoon and entertainment progressed with people arriving from all points of the compass. Two girls hitch-hiked from Uist to attend, the Hunt's traveled from North Yorkshire and then there was Bob, who was staying at Upper Corrary and who had, according to Grey Neil, flown in specially from Singapore to take in the musical extravaganza. There were plenty of children around during the day. Some of the older children were selling raffle tickets in aid of the Glenelg Youth Group. By the time the raffle was drawn in the early evening a grand total of £ 226 had been raised for the youth group. Farquhar from Willie Turnup stepped in to help compere the early part of the event and well-known alternative comedian Phil Kay, bravely took on the late shift. There was plenty of dancing down at the stage, especially when Les Miseres were playing. At the other end of the marquee the drink was certainly flowing and at one point more had to be brought in from Balmaccara. The entertainment continued into the evening with Andi Neate, local band Kelpie, the Lush Rollers, Skirler and finished up in the early hours of Sunday morning with local band Ahm-Ur. The late finish meant that the organisers and their support crew didn't get much sleep, as the marquee was due to be dismantled early on the Sunday morning and all the equipment and fittings had to be removed from it by then. Glenelg's music festival is certainly growing, with this year a bigger marquee, two large diesel generators and sufficient chemical toilets to cater for a large crowd (sadly not sufficient toilet rolls - but that's another story). The sound and lighting systems were once again supplied by PBA with Peroxide Brian on lights, Stewart on sound and Kirsten Webster assisting at band changeovers. Catering was provided by "The Crack" editorial team and a big thanks is due to everyone who "volunteered" their services to work behind the busy bar and those who braved the elements to mind the gate and take the money while dispensing the brightly coloured wristbands. Special thanks are due to Duncan (and his digger), who battled the elements and mud to get equipment in and out of the field. Lastly, a big thanks is again due to Charlie Mac, Koko and Donald G and their assistants - Chris Main, Graham Sutherland, Roddy MacPherson and Fiona Cameron for providing another great Drams music festival. The figures raised by the event will be displayed on the village notice board and the web site in due course. For those who want to view snapshots from the great day, click on the camera icon button in the left hand frame. Anyone who took photographs on the day, which feature different shots/groups of people to those on the web site, please contact Graham Sutherland |