Keith Folk Festival

I have played at some great festivals and events over the years. As many of them happened before mobile phone cameras and the magic of instant video I don't have a lot of photos from those times.

  Back in the 1980's a camera took a film cartridge that allowed 24 or 36 snaps. Often the results were very disappointing - blurry faces, too dark or too light backgrounds and sometimes a floor or ceiling in perfect focus.

Here's a photo from the Keith Folk Festival, taken around 1983. I had just started getting back into serious fiddle playing and going to Jean Ann Callander for lessons, a wise move.

I see I'm wearing an Oxfam Walk t shirt that I bought in an Aberdeen thrift shop and a pair of my favourite army trousers.

Reel Alien guitarist and dance caller Dave Francis is in the foreground. This was my first real introduction to trad music and the start of my love of fiddle music and the ceilidh scene.