Borders Bands Take to the Traquair Fair Stage

Seven up-and-coming musical acts from the Scottish Borders will have a chance to shine next month when they take to the newly-created “Up-and Coming” stage at The Traquair Fair on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August in the grounds of Scotland’s oldest inhabited home Traquair House near Innerleithen.

Performers from Innerleithen, Peebles, Selkirk, Jedburgh and beyond will play at the event which also features an eclectic mix of traditional and world music, visual arts, outdoor theatre, arts and crafts workshops, children’s entertainment, a vibrant crafts market and food and drink from around the world.
The Up-and Coming Stage” has been introduced by the organizers for the first time for 2011 and, following a call for local musicians earlier this year, seven acts from the region have been selected to showcase their talents at the event which attracts around 5000 visitors each year.
The bands chosen to appear include:
Wind Power – a Selkirk-based woodwind group playing music ranging from Mozart to Gershwin.
Hell Bucket – a happy-go-lucky folk/hillbilly band from the Borders
Cake & Grief Counselling from Innerleithen – a young local band with a sound similar to heavy rock, but retaining an element of acoustic playing.  They plan to release their debut album “Eponymous” in the near future.
Spoonthrift – band members from Peebles, Jedburgh and Innerleithen play blues and rock in their own style.
Georgina Gordon – a talented 16 year-old from Peebles who writes and performs her own songs and is influenced by artists such as K T Tunstall and Paolo Nutini.
Michael Jewitt and Andrew Winton - This young local duo from Innerleithen and Walkerburn write their own songs and play with a djembe drum, guitar and ukulele.
Laura & Rob McCleod - a Peebles-based couple showcasing a collection of beautiful, lyrical melodies taken from the traditional Scottish repertoire and the popular classical music scene.
The groups will appear on a bill that also includes Scottish singer songwriter Rab Noakes performing alongside diatonic harmonica player Fraser Spiers, and Western Australian singer and acoustic guitarist Emily Barker and the all-female Red Clay Halo trio. Scotland’s award-winning Blazin’ Fiddles will also attend as will The UK-based New Rope String Band, with its unique combination of circus, clowning and beautiful acoustic music.  Superb Indian drumming group, The Explosive Dholis, is also set to perform.
Traquair Fair organiser Catherine Maxwell Stuart said;

“The Borders is home to a great wealth of creative and musical talent and this year we decided that we would build a special covered stage area at the Traquair Fair to give up-and-coming local groups the chance to showcase their work to a wider audience. The fair-goers are always extremely enthusiastic and we believe that the addition of these acts will be hugely popular with visitors to the event.”

The Traquair Fair takes place at Traquair, Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 August from 11am until 6pm.   Discounts are available for advance bookings and tickets can purchsed online at www.traquair.co.uk/fair or at the Box Office, Tel: 01896 830323

Advance ticket prices Adult £19, Concession £13, Family ticket (2 adults and 3 children, 5-14) £46.  Children under 5 go free, and get a free balloon.
Standard ticket Prices on the day: Adult £21, Concession £15, Family ticket (2 adults and 3 children, 5-14) £48. Children under 5 go free, and get a free balloon.

The Traquair Fair has again benefitted from funding from EventScotland, the national events agency, through their National Funding Programme.

For further media information, please contact Karen Finlay or Yvonne Bruce at Artisan PR on Tel: 01578 722690.

Notes to Editors:
EventScotland is the national events agency.
 
EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors.
 
For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org