WAXY toilet paper and plastic combs may seem like odd subjects to bring up in polite conversation, but both have been hot topics in the seaside town of Stonehaven of late.
That’s because the World Paper ’n’ Comb Championships, one of the fun highlights of the annual Stonehaven Folk Festival, takes place on Saturday, July 11 at 3.30pm in the town’s St Bridgets Hall.
Last year, entrants of all ages battled it out for the title, giving renditions of the Dad’s Army theme tune and Queen’s We Will Rock You.
Festival chairman, Charlie West said: “The paper and comb championships are always a fun event and, without giving anything away, rumour has it that Izal toilet paper always works best.”
The festival, now in its 21st year, gets under way on Thursday, July 9 at 8pm when the Peatbog Faeries and Skalder take to the main stage of the town hall.
The fun continues on Friday, July 10 with a packed programme that includes Martin Simpson, the Sands Family and Burns Quoir, a ceilidh and late-night blues concert.
Fringe and main events on Saturday, July 11 start at noon and include a concert on the Plainstones, Market Square, didgeridoo and singing workshops, a kids’ concert, the aforementioned paper ’n’ comb championships, and evening performances with Cara Dillon, Idiot and Friend, Shona Kipling and Damien O'Kane.
Mr West said: “There is music here to suit all tastes, not just diehard folk fans, and there is a growing number of events aimed at young people.
“On Sunday, July 12 there is a concert featuring 12-18-year-olds, which gives them the opportunity to showcase their music while gaining the experience of performing on stage for perhaps the first time.
“From what I have seen, there is a huge amount of talent out there.
“I am a bit of a traditionalist and looking forward to hearing the unaccompanied traditional singers on Sunday afternoon, which I think will be really good this year.
“Another act being talked about is Idiot and Friend, alias Les Barker and Keith Donnelly. Keith is a musician, stand-up comedian and performance poet who does humorous poetry and has an amazing knack of playing an audience so they are in stitches.”
The programme on Sunday, July 12 begins at 11am with an aqua ceilidh in the town’s art deco open air swimming pool, when Cabrach will give participants the chance to take part in the Splashing White Sergeant, Drip the Willow and the Spray Gordons.
Les Barker is back in action again at the Heugh Hotel, there’s a fiddle workshop, and a concert on the acoustic stage featuring the 12-18-year-old stars of the future.
Tickets for the final concert, headlined by Ralph McTell, are sold out, and fans interested in attending the remaining performances are advised to buy tickets sooner rather than later.
The Stonehaven Folk Festival takes place from July 9-12. For further information call Hilary Cooper on 01569 766211 or visit the website, www. stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk