Entertainment has been promised for almost every street corner in Aberdeen as scores of world-class fiddlers prepare to descend upon the north-east.
More than 150 events have been planned for the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (Nafco), which takes place in locations ranging from Macduff to St Andrews between July 11 and 15.
And as part of this a free busking trail of musicians and dancers has been organised, with entertainers of all ages sharing their talents on the city streets and in bars and pubs at random times throughout the festivities.
Festival director Carley Williams is hoping the novel approach – which she has dubbed Random Acts of Violins – will be music to the ears of residents.
She said: “Much like April’s Nuart Street Art Festival showcased the work of local, national and international artists around the city centre of Aberdeen, the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention will ensure the sound of music sweeps through the city centre, thanks to pop-up performances from our convention guests.
“Our Random Acts of Violins is a tongue-in-cheek name to draw attention to bringing the festival atmosphere to a broader audience.
“We want to engage with the community and offer opportunities for local residents and summer visitors to be able to enjoy an artform that has such an influence in Scotland – and the north-east in particular.”
More than 100 artists from Scotland and far-flung locations including Scandinavia, Spain, the USA and Mexico have signed up to participate in the festival.
Alongside the busking trail, they will be hosting concerts, ceilidhs, workshops and tours throughout the region on a daily basis to encourage more people to engage with fiddle music.
This year’s festival marks the first time it has returned to the north-east since its creation by Aberdeen University in 2001.
Paul Bush, director of events at VisitScotland, said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events and the 2018 festival programme is testament to this, celebrating the north east’s rich cultural heritage, and showcasing the very best local, national and international musicians.
“In Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018 it is also great to see so many performance opportunities for young people, putting their fantastic talents and achievements in the spotlight.”
Visit www.northatlanticfiddle.com for full details of all the events planned.
