And just like that…Β Stonehaven Folk FestivalΒ was over! I have had a wonderful time π Storytelling at Stonehaven Tolbooth Museum Bairns Scots Song Workshop Family Storytelling Adults Only Storytelling Sunday Story Craft Workshop and… Petanque! Seafood platter at the Ship! AQUACEILIDH… and…
I’m going to blow my own trumpet here…. well my own comb n paper. Can announce that I am the 2026 WORLD PAPER N COMB CHAMPION!!
Thanks Festival and Tolbooth for having me along. A wonderful weekend! β€
Saturday 11th I’ve got the bairns singing workshop and storytelling session (see below!)
And on the evening of Saturday 11th I’ll be telling tales for adults from 9 to 10pm before Susie’s singing session. Please note this will be at the Legion on Barclay Street and not the 65 Club as previous year.
Finally on Sunday 12th I have a workshop “Flotsam Fables and Driftwood Ditties” – this is fully booked, but if it’s successful I’m sure we can run it again in future years.
Weel, I’ve had a fantastic time working on this project with Arduthie Primary School in Stonehaven!
The pupils:
– Created 6 rhymes! – learned about the plague, crime and punishment, how to play the comb n paper, all about a very important fossil, heard the tale of a ghost and a fishwife and admired the sculptures in the bay – Created 6 songs! – Illustrated the songs and some of the rhymes – Performed our new songs in a concert – Learned and sang “Jeannie Jenkins” at the concert (P1-3)
And since then, Ewan McVicar and I have been hard at work creating a booklet which arrives today – plenty for the pupils, the schools, the folks at Hands Up For Trads Wee Grants Scheme, The Tolbooth and The Stonehaven Folk Festival!
… and I have been busy creating videos of each song. Aye, I’ll be plaisterin them aa ower the socials in the next few days!
I made a pal this morning at Stonehaven Library! I was there telling stories to a wonderful crowd of bairns and their grownups forΒ #bookweekscotlandΒ #aberdeenshirelibraries The bairns were fantastic listeners and great at joining in and we (and my puddock pal) had great fun! Thanks for having us along Aberdeenshire Libraries!!
Finally it’s here! It’s the Stonehaven Folk Festival !!
While I’m looking forward to the songs and the tunes and the World Paper and Comb Championship… I’m also really looking forward to … Telling Stories!
All my storytelling sessions are either FREE or COST ONLY Β£1 this year and 3 of them are FAMILY FRIENDLY!
Tonight – along the boardwalk, join me (and probably those nuisance fairies in the photo!) for STORIES ON THE RICKSHAW with The Stoney Rickshaw ! We’ll be leaving the Men’s shed about 7pm and making our way along the board walk, stopping somewhere there if there’s an audience for a wee tale. Then follow us to the harbour for some more stories, finishes 8pm.
Tomorrow – Saturday 8th July 10.30am – 11.30am. Join us for SINGING FOR KIDS – a workshop aimed at kids of all ages and their grown ups – Held at the Community Education Centre on Bath Street. Only Β£1 per person!
Following that at 11.30am – 12.30pm, there will be STORYTELLING FOR KIDS and their grown ups – a family storytelling session of monsters, heroes and probably farts.
And for the grown ups, I’ll be doing some ADULTS ONLY STORYTELLING at the 65 Club from 9 to 10pm on Saturday – Likely some spooky and bawdy tales just before Susie’s Singing Session!
Of course there are many many other amazing concerts, workshops and sessions going on throughout the festival, many of which have no charge – have a look at their web page for more details!
I’ll be on the The Stoney Rickshaw with Charlie Rickshaw and probably Fizzy the Fairy in tow from 7 to 8pm along the board walk and doon at the harbour – free!
I’ll be running the Singing for Kids Workshop at the community centre, 10.30 to 11.30 on Saturday morning – only Β£1 per participant!
And that session will be followed by Stories For Kids – also only Β£1 per participant
And 9 to 10pm I’ll be doing bawdy and scary tales for Adults in the 65 club – this event is also FREE! (and for adults only)
Well that’s been an exhausting but fantastic trip away to #GlastonburyFestival where I was just one of the fantastic storytellers telling tales in the #kidzfield and #greenfutures Field!
Loads of photos to come once I’ve got the umpteen loads of washing done
In the meantime here’s a wee post about what’s coming up, and a photo of the Kidz Field opening from Duck In A Dress !
In about half an hour I’m heading off to North East Sensory Services to tell some local tales!
Tomorrow I have my last visit to Turriff Academy as part of my Scottish Book Trust #liveliterature residency!
On Thursday evening I’ll be helping some local Rainbows with their Storytelling Badge
And Friday, Saturday and Sunday is the Stonehaven Folk Festival! Another post on that to come