NORTHERN Roots, the Highland festival hailed as the Celtic Connections of the North, has unveiled its full programme for 31st May to 2nd June at Bogbain Farm on the outskirts of Inverness.
Headliners this year 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 alongside 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
Northern Roots timetable
Wednesday 29th May
Opening night party — The Eagle Bar Inverness with The Medicine Revue Show
Thursday 30th to June 1st
Street performances on Inverness High Street from noon to 2pm
Friday 31st May
Afternoon sessions in The Gellions, Market Bar, Hootananny and Castle Tavern from 2pm to 5pm
Bogbain Farm Concerts
Bothy Concerts from 8pm to 10pm with The Henry Girls, Mairearad and Anna and Adam Holmes
Barn Stompin Festival Late Night Club from 10pm until late with Rura and Elephant Sessions
Saturday 1st June
Afternoon sessions in The Gellions, Market bar, Hootanannys and Castle Tavern (2pm to 5pm)
Bogbain Farm Concerts
Medicine Music Revue showcase Bogbain Bothy from 3pm with Charlie Roth, A.J. Roach and Nuala Kennedy
Bothy Concerts from 8pm to 10pm with Edwina Hayes, Fiona Hunter and Mike Vass and Larsa
Barn Stompin Festival Late Night Club from 10pm until late with Grousebeater Soundsystem, Rob Herron and the Tea Pad Orchestra, and the JP Trio
Sunday 2nd June
Bogbain Farm Concerts
Finale of the Northern Roots Award at The Bogbain Bothy, 6pm - The Festival Finale at the Bogbain Barn featuring artists from throughout the weekend and including a special set from the Angus Nicolson trio
*BOGBAIN’S Brew at the Bog festival, run in conjunction with Scottish craft brewers BrewDog, is on target for a successful second year with ticket sales up 248 per cent on last year.
The festival, which takes place on Saturday 4th May in Inverness, is a showcase for indie talent alongside the craft beers from Aberdeenshire-based BrewDog.
Festival director Yvonne Murray commented: "While many giant festivals struggle to shift their £200+ tickets, the small, boutique festivals in the country are experiencing a well deserved boom.
"We are riding the ticking bomb of these overpriced money grabbing events like whooping cowgirls by providing a very welcome alternative — and the stratospheric rise in the Brew at the Bog ticket sales proves this."
Bands performing at Brew at the Bog 2013 include Fatherson, Three Blind Wolves and Miaoux Miaoux alongside almost 40 other acts. Tickets are priced at £20.
