Linlithgow starts work on folk festival

Jan 21 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

FUNDRAISING is set to get underway for this year’s Linlithgow Folk Festival with a special event.

On Saturday, March 6, fans will pay tribute to the memory of the late great Matt McGinn in Linlithgow Academy Theatre at 7.30pm and money raised will go to this year’s festival which will run from September 8 to 10.

The Glasgow singer, songwriter, poet and raconteur was Scotland’s “King of Folk” in 1960s and ‘70s.

The humour, uncanny perceptiveness and rare talents of Matt McGinn made him a household name in Scotland and in folk circles throughout the world – in 1962 he sang at Carnegie Hall, New York, with Pete Seeger and a young Bob Dylan.

Matt went on to be regarded as one of Britain’s most powerful folk writers and became one of Scotland’s leading folk singers of his time.

He died in 1977 at the age of only 49, but left some 500 songs, many of which have become classics.

The Linlithgow Folk Festival Association has played an important role in bringing Matt’s work to life again in an innovative and entertaining way.

Eight previous tribute nights in the town have played to packed houses.

The 2010 event promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Singers and musicians from throughout central Scotland will be taking part interpreting their favourite Matt McGinn songs, stories and poems.

The Matt McGinn Night is a major fundraiser for the Linlithgow Folk Festival.

All the entertainers taking part give their services free as a gesture of support.

Tickets for the Matt McGinn Night, priced £8, can be obtained from Blast Off Books , 105 High Street, Linlithgow on 01506 844645, the Black Bitch Tavern, on 01506 842147 and from Linlithgow Folk Festival Association on 01506 510132.

They tickets for the show, which is expected to be extremely popular, can also be booked through the website www.linlithgowfolk.com