Caithness musician, Ian Sinclair, to be remembered at festival in Aberdeenshire next year
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A musical tribute is to be staged at a festival in Aberdeenshire next year in memory of the late Ian Sinclair who died in July at the age of 83.
The tribute will take place on Sunday, June 2 as part of the Haal festival in Portsoy which features folk musicians and performers from different parts of the world. The weekend includes concerts, workshops, sessions and storytelling in venues around the village.
Bob Philips, one of the festival organisers, confirmed there will be a special event held in memory of Ian and his music.
"It will be 100 per cent Ian's songs and tunes performed by various artistes. We have several people in mind but have not finalised the line-up yet, but that will be done later in the year," he said.
Mr Philips explained that at this summer's festival, musicians paid tribute to the late Scottish singer-songwriter and instrumentalist, Davy Steele, featuring his songs in a performance called Steele the Show.
"We were discussing who we would like to feature next year and Ian Sinclair was suggested. We spoke to Margie Sinclair – Ian's widow who was a member of the acclaimed band MIRK – and she was delighted with the idea.
"A lot of people are keen to do something for this event and we are hoping the Caithness Junior Fiddlers, which was formed by Ian, may be able to come down as well," he said.
The tribute to Ian will be held in the Church Hall in Portsoy. "It is a fantastic venue and ideal for that kind of thing and can cater for over 150 people," stated Mr Philips.
He said Ian and Margie often attended the festival although it is about five years since Ian was last there due to his health issues.
"The festival is in its 14th year now and is going from strength to strength," added Mr Philips.
Margie Sinclair is very pleased that Ian's music will be featured at the festival and feels that his championing of traditional music is very much a key part of his legacy.
She stressed that Ian, who was a strings instructor at schools in Caithness and north Sutherland for many years, fought to give traditional music a higher profile and helped and encouraged many local musicians, including Gordon Gunn, Addie Harper junior and Karen Steven although she feels there has "been little progress in schools" since he retired.
"Apart from his musical compositions, his 25 years dedication to his pupils, his efforts in raising the acceptance of Scottish traditional culture is surely his most important legacy bequeathed to us," she said.
Ian, who stayed at West Side, Dunnet with Margie, was a stalwart of the local music scene, a founding member of MIRK, a composer and a former leader of the Thurso and Dounreay Strathspey and Reel Society. He was also one of the main organisers of the Thurso Folk Festival and set up the Caithness Junior Fiddlers.
The strathspey and reel society and the junior fiddlers played in various parts of Europe, including Brilon in Germany, Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada and in Turkey. The society also put on a very successful annual rally.
MIRK was formed around 1970 and took their name from the first names of the four members – Ian’s wife Margie, Ian, Ray Crompton and Kevin MacLean.
They quickly gained a reputation for their vocals and instrumental arrangements. Their traditional material was augmented by Ian’s compositions such as The King’s Shilling and Tak A Dram Afore Ye Go – songs which were later recorded by many artists including Jean Redpath, James Taylor and The Battlefield Band.
MIRK were well-known throughout the north, all over Scotland and elsewhere, played on the BBC and for the late Queen Mother at the Castle of Mey and recorded albums. They were inducted into the Scottish Traditional Hall of Fame in 2016.
In 1990, Ian was presented with an award by the Caithness Arts Association for his work with the region’s young musicians.
A service to celebrate his life was held in Ormlie Lodge Service Rooms, Thurso, earlier in the year while an evening of music – dedicated to Ian – took place at the Northern Sands Hotel in Dunnet.
