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Peek in on Cromarty talents





There's a return for guests Seller & Price, seen here in last year's pirate sketch. Picture: Gary Anthony
There's a return for guests Seller & Price, seen here in last year's pirate sketch. Picture: Gary Anthony

CROMARTY residents will throw their doors open to the public for 28 performances in 10 venues as part of the increasingly popular arts festival Gluren bij de Buren.

Translated as Peeking In On The Neighbours, the festival is inspired by similar events in Holland.

Those taking part host in their homes a range of public art events – from intimate storytelling and topical comedy sketches to traditional Scottish music and contemporary pop.

And the locations will include quirky kitchens, palatial sitting rooms and, for the first time, the unusual settings of Cromarty Lighthouse and the East Church.

Cromarty homes host entertainment for their neighbours for the festival. Picture: Gary Anthony
Cromarty homes host entertainment for their neighbours for the festival. Picture: Gary Anthony

Now in its fourth year, the festival starts on Sunday and talents on display include people who have performed every years so far, such as Ceoloran, Robin Bell and the comedy duo Seller & Price. Plus there are newcomers Jemima Morris and Lauren MacLeod, both up-and-coming teenage vocalists.

Storytelling comes from world traveller Ewan McVicar, who happens to be a resident of Cromarty.

Familiar faces every year so far, Ceoloran will be back. Picture: Gary Anthony
Familiar faces every year so far, Ceoloran will be back. Picture: Gary Anthony

And composer Hilary deVries will be explaining the background to her Highlands inspiration, as well as playing and singing some of her pieces.

Maps of where each performance takes place - as well as the times they’re on - can be picked up from local stores or downloaded from the website The first performances begin at 1pm and the event ends around 4.30pm. All are free but donations will be gratefully received.

The full line-up - also online at -www.glurenbijdeburen.co.uk is:

a The Old Orchard, Miller Road 13.00, 14.00, 15.00

Seller(s) & Price 2016: “Not For Human Consumption” No, they haven’t given up yet… Four brand new sketches to amuse and confuse. FULL FRONTAL NUDITY, GRAPHIC VIOLENCE & SWEARING will not be included due to popular demand. May contain nuts.

b East Church 15.15, 16.00

Piggery Spur. Greg Fullarton and Mike Schroeder make their annual appearance playing an acoustic set of original songs from their album "Welcome to Piggery Spur" as well as a selection of new material. Inspired by the people and places of the Black Isle. Real songs about real life; acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and gravel drenched vocals.

c Wellington House, Church Street 14.00, 14.45, 15.30

A bunch of friends from the Black Isle and Inverness area, coming from the groups Wall2wall and Farsound along with a local guitarist, play a selection of traditional jigs, reels, marches and waltzes.

d The Annexe on the Corner, Church Street 14.15, 15.00, 15.45

Ceoloran is a local 4-piece acoustic band that plays and sings folk music from Scotland and beyond. We perform harmony singing and play a range of instruments including fiddle, mandolin, banjo, whistle, guitar and bodhran. This year we are joined by Ron on the cello.

e Sydney House, High Street 13.15, 14.00, 14.45

‘Darker Tales’. Storytelling for adults from world-travelling storyteller and writer Ewan McVicar. Including: ‘Why the fairies left the Black Isle’, ‘the Cromarty fishermen meet Little Steenie the witch of Shandwick’, ‘the Would-be Missionary of Navity’, ‘Black Agnes of Ferintosh and the building of the Gizzen Briggs’, ‘The Flying Fisherman’.

f Old Police House, Bank Street 14.00, 14.45, 15.15

Robin Bell is a local singer/songwriter who regularly features at Glachbeg Folk Club and on the Free Range Folk stage at Belladrum. He captures his audience's interest and imagination by performing his own material, inspired by characters and events from the local area of Easter Ross.

g 35 Bank Street 14.00, 14.45, 15.15

True Heart. Making a welcome return to Gluren is Joost (Netherlands) and Miri (Japan) offering their unique blend of guitar and song from a whole range of international influences.

h The Lighthouse, George Street 14.45, 15.45

‘A Sense of Place’ with Hilary de Vries. I’m a composer and song writer, and I’ll be presenting and talking about a selection of my music and the different landscapes that have inspired it, including Orkney, Galloway, and, of course, the Black Isle. I’ll be playing clarsach, small pipes and recorder, and also sing a song or two.

i Barkly House, Duke Street 13.00, 13.45, 14.30

Lauren MacLeod is a 15-year-old Cromarty resident just starting out in the world of solo performance. Although a Higher Drama student with a string of musical theatre and opera shows under her belt, singing is her biggest love – everything from covers of lyrical pop, and classics to ballads and some trad/Gaelic.

j 1 Links Cottage 14.30, 15.15, 16.00

Jemima Morris I am a sixteen year old with a passion for music! Two years ago, I began teaching myself the guitar and I now busk regularly, playing a range of different pop songs. I also play the keyboard and sing in my church band. I write some of my own songs and love connecting with different people.


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