News - 2003
november 2003
Movie Premier at Peterhead - Saturday 29th.
The film making talents of pupils from ten Aberdeenshire schools were on show in Peterhead today when a packed-house enjoyed seeing their films on the big-screen for the first time. Aberdeenshire Council Provost Raymond Bisset described the films as "very professional indeed" when he opened the day long event.
august 2003
Aberdeenshire schools' film makers at the Studio
Pupils from schools at Tarves, Tough and Lonmay have been recording music for a series of short films written and produced by the pupils themselves. The project was overseen by Aberdeenshire's Media Unit and took the young film makers through the process of film making from concept to final editing and production. The films are scheduled for big-screen preview in November.
july 2003
Banff and Buchan Collection soon to go on-line
During his term as traditional music resident in the Banff and Buchan district Tom McKean collected a number of traditional tunes and songs on his travels around the North East. Along with numerous anecdotes from the local farming and fisher communities and with support from the National Heritage Lottery Fund, the fruits of his mission have been digitally recorded and selected recordings will soon be added to our web site.
june 2003
Movie Music at the Studio - Tuesday 17th.
A group of pupils from Insch School were in the studio today preparing and recording music and sounds for their new film production, "The Cellar." The fantasy tale of a boy and his "magic football" was written and filmed by the pupils under the supervision of Aberdeenshire Council's Media Unit and is one of a series of short films currently in production by Aberdeenshire schools.
Turriff Pipers Host 32nd Annual Competition - Sunday 1st.
The sun shone today as the crowds gathered in Turriff to enjoy a day of piping, dancing and ballad singing. Seventeen bands took part in the competition, the Grade One being won by Bucksburn and District with the Asco Buchan Band in second place. Victoria Buchan was voted best overall dancer and Joe Aitken from Kirriemuir won the open Bothy Ballad competition.
may 2003
Buchan Heritage Festival - Saturday 24th.
The Buchan Heritage Society's annual festival was held in Strichen this weekend with 22 singers competing in the Bothy Ballad and Traditional Song competition. The winners, Jock Duncan with "Bethelny" and Geordie Murison with "The Hairst o' Rettie", received their awards from BBC Radio Scotland's traditional music presenter Robbie Shepherd.
april 2003
Gordon Gaitherin'
The tenth annual Gordon Gaitherin' got under way this week at Kemnay, Aberdeenshire. More than a hundred students are taking part in workshops which include tin-whistle with Rory O'Connell, clarsach with Carola MacCallum, pipes with Lee Moore and fiddle with Avril Anderson and Gavin Marwick. The week's events conclude with a grand concert at Kemnay Academy on Friday 11th.
march 2003
Studio News
Our recording studio underwent a major upgrade this month including the the installation of a 32 track ProTools / iMac hard disc recording system and DVD mastering facility.
february 2003
Dr Walford Bodie - BBC Radio - Friday, 7th.
BBC radio visited Macduff today to record material for a documentary about Dr Walford Bodie (1869 - 1939) "Electrical Wizard of the North" - one of Scotland's best known Music Hall entertainers. The recording crew were shown around the town and visited Bodie's family home, the fountain he erected in memory of hid daughter Jeannie, and Doune Kirk where he and his family are buried. The show will be broadcast later this year.
january 2003
Tam Reid - Friday, 31st.
We are sorry to hear of the sad loss of Tam Reid
who died last night while tending his sheep in severe weather.
Tam was a genuine and solid champion of our North East traditions and a very popular master bothy balladeer. In 1977, in the Haughs in Turriff, Aberdeenshire, the farmer was crowned "Bothy Ballad King of Scotland" and to this day has remained at the forefront of the traditional music scene. He will be missed.
