Blazin’ hot acts lined up to play Trad on the Tyne

The six-piece, from the Highlands and Islands, will close the concert.

The award-winning group’s new album, Six, sees the new-line up of Bruce MacGregor, Rua Macmillan, Kristan Harvey and Jenna Reid joined by Anna Massie on guitar/fiddle and Angus Lyon on keyboard.

Joining them will be Karine Polwart, who will be performing on the Saturday night. She draws from folk music’s long tradition while keeping pace with the changing times.

Her talent for crafting unique, enduring melodies, her gift for saying just enough without overstating her case, the range and dynamism of her arrangements, all come together in songs of powerful contemporary relevance. She also has the purest and most approachable of singing voices.

With glowing reviews for her 2012 album ‘Traces’, Karine, accompanied by Inge Thomson and Steven Polwart, will play songs from the album and some live favourites.

Other headline acts will include the Friel Sisters, Victorian Trout Conspiracy and Prestonpans’ own Alex Hodgson, while the programme will again feature massed pipes and drums, open stage, workshops, come-and-try classes, storytelling, pub sessions, and a wide range of family entertainment.

Organised by Haddington Pipe Band in association with the Waterloo Bistro, Trad on the Tyne is now in its fourth year.

All the festivals to date have been shortlisted – and won commendations – for the Best Small Festival in Scotland title at the Scottish Event Awards.

Alastair Bruce, one of the organisers was looking forward to the festival, which runs from August 29 to 31.

He said: “The festival is all about blending live performances of the highest quality with a good range of opportunities for people of all abilities to get involved in participatory events – come-and-try sessions, the workshops and the open stage, for example.

“This year is no different, and we are absolutely delighted to be able to be announcing the headline musicians for what should be a fantastic weekend.” The Music to Dine For evening which opens Trad on the Tyne sees the hugely talented Friel Sisters take to the stage.

Anna, Sheila and Clare Friel are young traditional musicians born in Glasgow with their family roots firmly entrenched in Donegal.

They have performed at venues and festivals across Europe, America and Asia and have appeared as guests with acts such as Altan, The Chieftains, and Cherish the Ladies. Last summer saw the girls record their debut album with guest musicians Gearoid Mooney, Seamus O’Kane and Griogair Labhruidh.

As a contrast, the next day at lunchtime sees the highly energetic Victorian Trout Conspiracy in action.

They performed at last year’s Trad on the Tyne and are back by popular demand.

Also back after a sell-out concert at last year’s festival is singer-songwriter Alex Hodgson, from Prestonpans, who carries on the fine tradition of Prestonpans songwriting from the late Davy Steele.

Alex was a finalist in the ‘Burnsong’ songwriting competition in 2005 and 2009, and since then he has appeared live on the BBC’s Hogmanay show and on Robbie Shepherd’s popular BBC Radio Scotland programme, ‘Take the Floor’.

In addition, he sang at the Scottish Parliament, the Queen’s Ghillie Ball at Balmoral, the Waterside Theatre, Capetown, and in Kuala Lumpur.

The full programme will be announced shortly. Information is available on the festival’s website (www.tradonthetyne.com) and on Facebook and Twitter. Tickets will be available later this month.

Greentrax Recordings’ Ian Green, honorary president of Trad on the Tyne, added: “We have had a great response to our first three festivals and have had wonderful support from the local community, so in putting together this year’s programme we were determined to keep the standards as high as in previous years.

“The headline acts are brilliant musicians and deliver not only quality but a real balance to the programme.

“They bring the very best of traditional music to Haddington, and we are very much looking forward to seeing them all at the festival.”