COUNTRY MUSIC RETURNS TO BBC ALBA WITH EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE FROM THE KELSO COUNTRY AND WESTERN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Country music fans will be able to tune in to performances from acclaimed music artists, as BBC ALBA brings viewers the best of the action from this year’s Kelso Country & Western Music Festival.
The Haley Sisters performing at the Kelso Country & Western Music Festival
BBC ALBA is delighted to cover the third annual Kelso Country & Western Festival as part of its Ceòl Country series which has been produced for the channel by mneTV.
Ceòl Country, Kelso programmes will commence on Tuesday 9 November at 9pm with weekly hour long programmes being broadcast every Tuesday over the subsequent two weeks, with repeats each following Sunday evening at 9pm.
The festival has a dedicated support thanks to the range of UK-wide country music stars that come to perform and this year saw hundreds of music fans attend over the three day event held at the Springwood Hall in the Border Union Showground.
Five performances from bands or solo artists took place each day with band travelling from all over Scotland and North East England and included Settlers Creek, Chris Raddings, Wrangler, The Haley Sisters, Raising Cain and Middi to name a few. Viewers will also be treated to an exclusive private acoustic set by the fabulous four piece Scottish band, Hillbilly Deluxe and local band Rockin’ Horse.
Hillbilly Deluxe
Brian O’Reilly, who organised the Kelso Country & Western Music Festival, said: “Our third annual festival at Kelso has been the most successful to date and we are delighted that the support of BBC ALBA allows us to reach a whole new audience watching at home. This year’s first festival has had a fantastic line-up and we are happy that BBC ALBA viewers will be able to share the delights of top country music from our festival.”
Features filmed for the Kelso programmes included a historical tour of Kelso in a horse and cart with author, broadcaster and local historian Alistair Moffat, a day fishing for salmon on the River Tweed and a day at the Kelso horseraces with local band Rockin’ Horse.
Presenter of the series, Evelyn Coull, also joined in the spirits by dressing up in authentic Western Ladies traditional attire for a spot of afternoon tea, had a go at line dancing and tried a spot of archery with local group the Ettrick Forest Archers.
Picture caption: Kelso 4 - The Haley Sisters performing at the Kelso Country & Western Music Festival
Picture caption: Kelso 5 - Hillbilly Deluxe