The 16th Haal
A festival of music, song and storytelling over the first weekend in June
in and around the town of Portsoy
One of Scotland’s most celebrated folk singer-songwriters and recently named Musician of the Year, Siobhan Miller returns to Portsoy with an intimate trio concert, accompanied by guitar and fiddle.
Captivating audiences with their fabulous harmonies and amusing banter since the year 2001, Kimber’s Men have performed at folk and shanty festivals throughout the length and breadth of the UK from Portsoy in the north to Jersey in the south and from Liverpool to Harwich in the west and east.
Folk singer/guitarist/songwriter Eileen Ordish has been playing folk clubs and open mics in Adelaide since the 70s.
We look forward to hearing her share her knowledge of the history of the folk song.
My name is Thomas McCarthy and I come from Birr in County Offaly in Ireland. My family are the McCarthys who settled there generations ago. I sing wherever I’m invited, at clubs, festivals, people’s houses, weddings, funerals, christenings, at home, down the road and over the sea.
Natalie Chalmers is a celebrated Scottish folk singer, storyteller, and radio host from Fraserburgh, known for her powerful voice in Traditional and Bothy Ballads. Natalie has won many awards including Scots Performer of the Year (2023) and has performed at major festivals such as Portsoy and Glastonbury.
The programme for the 16th Haal has been launched and once again guarantees a strong line up of performers from the local area and around the world.
Margaret Bennett and Students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will headline the Friday evening concert. Natalie Chalmers, a nominee for Scots Singer of the Year at Trad Awards, Malcolm Reavell and Thomas McCarthy, an award winning Irish singer, will also take to the stage.
The Saturday concert will be headlined by the superb Siobhan Miller, Scots Trad Music Awards Musician of the Year 2025, and no stranger to Portsoy audiences. The evening will kick off with a set from Adelaide resident Eileen Ordish, who is sure to enthrall the audience with her extensive repertoir of covers of Baez, Dylan, Cohen and many others. Finally, shanty band Kimber’s Men will be raising the rafters and the Shore Inn tent roof, with some rousing shanties that will surely encourage the audience to join in.
On Sunday afternoon A Wheen o’ Wimmin, five celebrated Scots singers and stalwarts of the folk scene, will be performing.
Enquiries and ticket requests to
Bob Philips bobportsoy@gmail.com
or 07968 872 217
ASPIRE RESTAURANT
16:30- 17:00 – Fiddle Tunes from Guy Burgess
BOAT SHED/SHORE INN
19:30-22:30 – Boat Shed/ Shore Inn Session
Featuring The Sir Reel Clarks, Allan and Guy Burgess,
Anne Rodgers, Students from RCS
Hosted by Bob Sharp
ASPIRE RESTAURANT
11.00-11.30 – Harp Tunes from Heather & Maggie
11.45-12:15 – Pipe Tunes from Rcs Students
16:00-16:30 – Fiddle Tunes. Guy and RCS Students
SYMPOSIUM/ICECREAM SHOP
11:00-11:30 – Pipe Tunes RCS Students
11:45- 12:15 – Harp Tunes from Heather & Maggie
12:30-13:00 – Fiddle Tunes from Students from RCS
PORTHOUSE CAFE
10:30-11:00 – Beyond Boyndie. (Sat Only)
11:15-11:45 – Students RCS Singers/Instrumentalists.
12:00-12:30 – Debbie Taylor
12:45-13:15 – Pipe Tunes From Rcs students
13:30-14:15 – Sir Reel Clarks
14:15 – 16:00 – Bob Sharp, James and Findlay
GRAIN STORE
10:30-11:00 – Songs And Tunes. RCS Students (Sat)
SHORE INN / BOAT SHED
Pauline and Sheena Storytelling
11:15-11:45 – Iddle Tunes and Shanties – Allan and Guy
12:00-12:30 – Piping RCS
12:45-13:15 – Fiddle Music
Open Sessions Hosted by Ronan, Sir Reel Clarks and Many More
Download a copy of the
Fringe programme
We would love to hear from you! Whether you have questions or feedback, reaching out is easy.
The Salmon Bothy Links Rd, Portsoy, Banff AB45 2SS
Drop us a line anytime with your queries.
