A concert with a difference will be staged at Loch Ken next month – with the audience bobbing around offshore.
String quintet The Galloway Agreement will perform on dry land at Galloway Activity Centre for the On The Water event.
But concert-goers are being invited to watch from kayaks, motorboats, paddle boards and canoes – with floating room only. The June 10 evening show is a first for south-west Scotland where an audience takes to the water to watch a bank-side performance.
Led by Glenkens Community and Arts Trust culture and heritage manager Aidan Nicol, the event will be GCAT’s first live music event since the CatStrand was closed for the first lockdown.
Aidan said: “We’re so delighted to be showcasing the talented musicians we have here in the region and making a splash with an event.
“We hope to draw attention back to the vibrant arts scene locally as well as connecting people to our beautiful landscape.
“I’m pleased to be offering this event as a playful return to live programming for GCAT in the Glenkens.”
Loch Ken Trust officer Barney Fryer hopes the concert will make a real splash.
He said: “We are here to provide facilities and activities for everyone in our communities, whether you are looking for thrill-seeking adventures or something a little bit more sedate.
“This event brings together a bit of both with our audience taking to the loch to combine the beautiful melodies of
The Galloway Agreement with the stunning views of Loch Ken that you only see from on the water.”
Galloway Glens project officer Nick Chisholm added: “The help and expertise of the GCAT has been amazing and we have a programme of events for this summer which are designed to be quirky, stimulating and fun.
“On the Water with The Galloway Agreement is the first we are announcing and it certainly fulfils that brief. We don’t think anyone has ever done this before and are really excited to be part of
a team including CatStrand and The Loch Ken Trust that are making it happen.”
The Galloway Agreement comprises some of the region’s best known traditional musicians – Wendy Stewart (clarsach, vocals), Ruth Morris (alto and tenor nyckelharpa), Gavin Marwick (fiddle), Stuart Macpherson (double bass) and cellist Beth Porter.
Their current repertoire is a mixture of original compositions and favourite tunes and songs from Scotland and other European traditions.
Attendees are welcome to bring their own boat or rentals are available from the Galloway Activity Centre.
To book a ticket, visit https://gcat.scot/event/on-the-water/.
