European Folk Day – September the 23rd
Participants in the Highland Traditional Music Festival such as Andy Mitchell and Colin F MacKenzie performed live songs of note. I am starting a collection called New Rebels Ceilidh Song Book (the first one was in the 1960s) to encourage what Pete Seeger said. ‘Put songs on peoples’ lips not just in their ears’.
I will include Andy’s THE CHANGES concerned with huge depletion of fish stocks in his working life. Also NEW LIGHTS SHINING IN THE GLEN, commemorating the Assynt Crofters successful bid to own their land in 1993. The first of many in Scotland.
Colin wrote and sang at many ceilidhs in North Sutherland. Unfortunately he died young in 1998. His song NO MAN’S LAND WELCOME THE STRANGER is a fitting tribute to an open, inclusive Scotland.