Visitors from as far afield as America, Germany, Denmark and Norway will flock to the north-east this summer for an annual music festival.
The 28th Stonehaven Folk Festival will return in July, and organisers are delighted at the speed their early-bird tickets have sold out.
This year’s line-up includes top bands and up and comers from across the country.
Sextet Blazin’ Fiddles – a combination of fiddle players from across the Highlands and Islands – will play the festival.
Also playing is acclaimed Lochaber and West Highlands Gaelic supergroup, Daimh, and Orkney duo, Saltfishforty.
Festival chairman Charlie West said he was delighted at the number of young folk bands in the line-up.
He added: “We all feel it is a pretty good line-up this year. We have also got a lot of good young bands.
“Diamh are attracting a lot of attention, they don’t often come over here. Blazin’ Fiddles are always popular, and we have even got an electric band.
“A guy called Scott Wood is coming, he plays with electric guitar, drums and bagpipe. He is a brilliant piper and is really upbeat.
“It is really nice to get good young bands, there is a lot coming through just now.
“It has suddenly become cool again to play folk music, which it wasn’t for a while.”
There will also be concerts, stories and songs from Singing Kettle co-founder and performer Artie Trezise and the popular aqua ceilidh at Stonehaven Open Air Pool.
The world paper and comb competition will also take place.
A range of workshops will be held over the weekend for fiddle, guitar, singing and mandolin whistle or flute, which will be tutored by many of the festival guests.
Festival organiser Meg Findlay said: “It is always exciting to get the concert line up just right, balancing a mix of well known artists with some of the best up and coming bands.
“We are very pleased with this year’s mix with something for everyone, tunes, songs and some great bands.”
For full festival information, including the line up and how to get tickets, visit www.stonehavenfolkfestival.co.uk
