Duo set their sights on literary festivals

THE combined talents of a north-east poet and a guitarist could soon grace literary festivals in Britain and abroad.

Writer John Mackie, from Banff, and musician Adrian Baillie, from Whitehills, have performed together for almost two years as Infinite Equation.

The duo have now recorded a CD of their work which they hope will open up performance opportunities.

Mr Mackie, 62, of Duncan Street, Banff, said: “We mingle poetry with improvised music and have performed throughout Aberdeenshire, Moray and Aberdeen.

“We played for the Lemon Tree writers group in Aberdeen and the reaction made us realise that our potential audiences might be literary. We hope to send the CD to the organisers of literary events such as the Hay-on-Wye festival in England, the St Anza event in St Andrews and others abroad.”

The duo spent three days recording nine pieces at the Arc Studio, Aden Country Park, Mintlaw.

The sessions were produced by Gavin Sutherland, who runs the studio, and engineered by Jim Hunter. Mr Mackie recites his own poems, which includes work written 40 years ago up to the present, while Mr Baillie, 48, of Ogilvie Street, Whitehills, improvises guitar music. The CD is being mixed and should be completed in two or three weeks and may also go on public sale.