A north-east folk music organisation has launched a new fund to assist artists who are struggling during the current lockdown.
Stonehaven Folk Club has joined forces with the national body, Hands Up for Trad, to support folk musicians and music production staff in Scotland.
It has confirmed it is providing 20 grants of £250 to help towards living expenses at a time when when affected individuals are unable to work.
Officials said they are hopeful this fund will grow with further donations from other organisations and the public in the weeks ahead.
The group has been running weekly folk nights since 1987 and has welcomed many illustrious names through its doors, including Archie Fisher, Karine Polwart, Steve Byrne, Eilidh Grant and Hannah Rarity.
It celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017 and has twice been voted club of the year in 2009 and 2016 at the Trad Awards.
Andy Popplestone, club chairman, told the Press and Journal: “The minute the lockdown started, we knew that it would have a big impact on the folk community who depend so much on social gatherings for live performances.
“We came up with using our reserves to launch a fund that would put something back and try and help those whose income has disappeared overnight.
“We hope setting up the fund will highlight the issue and encourage others to donate to help to support as many as possible working in and around folk music who are really suffering at this time.”
“The club has operated on a break-even basis for several years having accumulated some financial reserves to get us through any unplanned hard times.
“The current crisis is not the hard time the club expected to use its reserves for, but it is appropriate if it can help some of the fantastic Folk talent in Scotland get through the next few months and hopefully stay as performing artists.”
Further information is available at:
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https://www.stonehavenfolkclub.co.uk