The weekend festival, which includes concerts, workshops, talks, displays and informal sessions, will be an unrivalled opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together, listen to, and play small free-reed instruments.

The workshops will include playing style and technique, as well as repertoire, and will cater for different levels of ability including mixed instruments so that players of any instrument can take part. Talks will support the theme of the weekend, focusing on the playing of free reed instruments in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK, and Ireland.

These highly portable, low status instruments are played by many ‘amateurs’ in North-East Scotland for their own amusement and the entertainment of others. The festival offers a rare chance to experience one of the less familiar musical traditions of Scotland and elsewhere.