Round up your country music plans and make tracks for the award-winning Caithness Country Music Festival, writes Susan Welsh
Howdy, folks! It’s that time of year again, when you can pull on a pair of jeans and cowboy boots, grab a Stetson – if you have one – and mosey along to Caithness for the country music event of the year, the Northern Nashville (Caithness) Country Music Festival.
A team of more than 20 volunteers have been hard at work already for the best part of a week transforming Halkirk Riding Centre into a rootin’ tootin’ venue where a superb array of world-class performers will be appearing at the festival, which last year was named Festival Event of the Year in the British Country Music Awards.
The award was a huge coup for festival organisers who exceeded all expectations when they took a gamble and staged their first country music festival in 2004. It was a huge success and, over the years, it has gone from strength to strength, becoming a truly international event featuring top-class acts from around the world, along with plenty of homegrown talent.
Festival chairwoman Christine Gray says this year’s three-day extravaganza, which takes place from Friday, April 3, until Sunday, April 5, will be a belter, with plenty to entertain young and old alike.
“We work closely with Heart of Texas Records. Once one or two of their acts had been to Caithness, the rest of them were keen to come, as we always give them a good time and show them a bit of the local countryside, plus it is a very friendly festival,” said Christine.
“I always joke that we turn the riding school into a northern version of the Grand Ole Oprey, but this year it will feel more like a Texas dance hall. A team of willing workers have laid hundreds of floorboards to create a dance floor; we’ve built a stage and honky-tonk style bar; it’s decorated with lots of flags, and there’s great lighting which transforms the whole building.
“We’re a country rather than country and western festival, so while people wear checked shirts and jeans, they don’t really dress up as cowboys, although the children coming along love to do that.”
Since it began in 1987, the Northern Nashville Country Music Club (NNCMC) has built up a name for being one of the most respected clubs on the country music scene, and gained a reputation for being one of the friendliest, with performers and visitors alike singing its praises. This is echoed in the festival, which attracts topnotch artists and hundreds of music fans from all around the UK and beyond.
“I think one reason it’s so successful is that we always feature international artists and there are not many places you can see these American performers, apart from perhaps theatres. And because it’s so relaxed, fans get a chance to meet and chat with the performers, which makes it special, too,” said Christine.
Topping the bill at this, the 12th, festival are The Derailers, from Austin, Texas, whose music celebrates the legacies of Buck Owens, George Jones, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Charlie Rich and the Beatles, while still being on the edge of today’s country music. Recently, they picked up an award after being named Best Honky Tonk Group while glamorous singer Amber Digby was named best Honky Tonk Female Singer at the 2015 Ameripolitan Music Awards in February.
Billed as being the true voice of Texas country is Justin Trevino, who has been playing guitar since the age of seven. He’s a huge supporter of true Texas country music and has declared that this type of music is his life: “It’s who I am, and it’s what I do,” he says.
Traditional country dance-hall music comes from Jeff Woolsey, while fiddler Jade Jack has been has been involved in country music almost from the moment she was born, as her mother was a regular country music performer.
Compered by George Malcolm, the programme also stars international acts James House, Gerry Guthrie, Trevor Loughrey and Rene Meijet and homegrown talent including the much-loved, Manson Grand and The Dynamos, The Duke Boys, The Country Sound of Brandon McPhee, Broken Note, the Norman Borland Band, Rosie & Craig, and Thurso High School band.
“It’s cheaper if you come for the whole weekend, as the weekend ticket covers all the shows, but there’s also day and single-show tickets available,” said Christine.
“The afternoons are great for children, as there’s face painting, Easter eggs, line-dancing lessons and fun on offer to keep them amused.
“The fun starts at 8pm on Friday, and restarts on Saturday with a session running from 2-6.30pm, which is followed by an hour-long break, then the music restarts at 7.30pm and runs until 1am. It’s the same times for the Sunday.”
On Easter Sunday, there will be a special event, a country gospel service conducted by the Rev Alastair Gray at Halkirk Church at 10am, including a tribute to the late George Hamilton IV. Festival guests are welcome to attend and there’s an invitation for musicians to take their instruments and join in.
“I’d say to anyone who hasn’t been before, you don’t know what you’re missing. For those who really like country music, then Caithness is the place to be over the Easter weekend.”
The Northern Nashville Country Music Festival runs from April 3-5. Weekend tickets, to see all shows, are priced at £95. Day tickets are £40, afternoon shows, £15. Under-16s get free admission to afternoon shows when accompanied by an adult and pay half price for evening shows.
Contact: www.nncmc.co.uk or 01847 892410.