Northern Roots boasts top-notch music line-up
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NORTHERN Roots, the Highland festival hailed as the Celtic Connections of the North, has unveiled its full programme for May 31 to June 2 at Bogbain Farm on the outskirts of Inverness.
Headliners are BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominees Rura; Highland multi-instrumentalists Anna Massie and Mairearad Green; singer/songwriter Edwina Hayes; the Scots Trad Award Composer of the Year Mike Vass from Nairn and Malinky’s Fiona Hunter; and American troubadours Charlie Roth and A.J. Roach.
"The line-up this year is one of the most dynamic and exciting we’ve had in the five years of this festival," festival director Bruce MacGregor said.
As presenter of BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk and a founder member of Blazin’ Fiddles, he is well placed to keep an eye out for the finest talent on the roots music scene.
"We’ve changed things slightly this year with the more acoustic based acts performing in the early part of the evening in the Bogbain Bothy and then the high-energy stuff through in the Bogbain Barn later in the evening," he added.
"The idea was to allow those folk who want to sit and listen to a gig in comfy warm surroundings and at the same time provide a venue for those that want to have more of a hoolie. "
Those charged with getting the crowds jumping in the barn sessions are Highland favourites Grousebeater Soundsystem, the old time blues, ragtime and jazz sounds of Rob Heron and his Tea Pad Orchestra and the genre-defying fusion sounds of the Elephant Sessions.
Ensuring the festival has a truly international scope, Northern Roots will welcome Irish guests trad fusion act The JP Trio and the close harmony singing of the Henry Girls from Donegal.
For a special Saturday afternoon hoedown at the farm, there is a double bill of North Atlantic troubadours with Charlie Roth joining AJ Roach who is teamed with Dundalk flutist and singer Nuala Kennedy.
Sunday, as well as hosting the finale concert, will also see the final of the new Northern Roots Award for new artists, with the reward being a recording session at the new Bogbain Studios, attracting acts from throughout the UK.
The festival is also spreading its wings to incorporate music in the centre of Inverness with The Market Bar, The Gellions, The Castle Tavern and Hootananny all hosting afternoon music sessions featuring artists from the festival.
Early Bird tickets are available now at www.bogbainfarm.com
