PICTURES: Bella Delivers Again
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Belladrum always delivers delicious incongruity.
As the festival eased itself into its second day, smartly-dressed wedding guests wended their way to Belladrum’s Temple in its woodland setting watched by a few wellington-wearing festival goers.
As a piper and African drummer played outside the temple, there were impromptu tunes — including "Here Comes The Bride" — played by those with musical ability on pianos scattered in the woodland. As the Temple doors closed for the private ceremony, curious onlookers turned their attention to a nearby VW Beetle covered in thick moss both inside and out — another example of the unexpected at Belladrum.
As usual, the festival provides an opportunity for a broad range of musicians. Beauly teenager Megan Blyth kicked off Saturday’s programme on the Free Range Folk Stage with a confident performance featuring her own material. With a voice whose maturity belies her youth, the young guitarist delighted her audience.
On the other side of the festival site, local group, Rooty Ma Toot Big Band struck a mellow note for those still re-adjusting to a new day. Des Devine schmoozing through numbers such as "Mack The Knife" and "Miss Jones" was the perfect appetiser for a varied menu of music on the main Garden Stage including The Dangleberries. Mixing the pipes and drums with electric guitar, the Galloway band gave an exuberant performance.
Entertainment beckoned around every corner. Those enjoying lunch by the food stalls, for example were entertained by harmonic soul-folk quintet, Dorec-a-belle, playing from a large wooden sailing boat. Featuring cello, saxophone, accordion and guitar, this all-female band provide an eclectic mix of styles.
While the Garden Stage naturally proves a huge draw, the diminutive Square Wheels Potting Shed Stage is not to be overlooked. Gerry Jablonski and The Electric Band, for example, drew an ever-growing crowd.
The Verb Garden continued to provide lively debates including a Question Time style discussion featuring Highlands and Islands MSP Mary Scanlon, Rob Gibson SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Tam Baillie, Scotland’s Children’s Commissioner and Edinburgh Labour Councillor Cammy Day. Chaired by Iain Macwhirter of The Sunday Herald, topics ranged whether the introduction of university tuition fees in Scotland is inevitable to windfarms in the Highlands.
