The Edinbane festival has now run successfully since summer 2001, initially having grown out of a CD launch in the Edinbane Hotel in the summer of 2000. It has moved on from being a two day event in 2001 to a series of events, meetings and spontaneous happenings throughout the year culminating in the midsummer festival itself.

PURPOSE AND AIMS

The aim of the festival is to promote and extend the musical culture of the township, to have a great annual village summer party and to attract bands and other acts of very high quality to perform in the village. And in addition to implement other activities that will enhance the feeling of community within Edinbane.

TESTIMONIES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS

“I’d been playing the fiddle for a couple of years and it was great when Farquhar asked me to go on stage with him and Archie to open the 2002 festival. Before we went on stage I was really nervous, but then the door back stage got stuck and we had to kick it in order to get on, that made me laugh and after that it was fine, once we got on stage I just didn’t want to leave, I can’t wait for another shot.” - Emma Prall, (12)

“I was really shocked when Farquhar asked me and Emma to open the festival with him, Archie and Ali Pentland (former Peat Bog Faeries), at first I didn’t want to do it but Mum and Dad were really excited and told me that it would be all right. I just remember feeling scared but then we got on stage, Farquhar started rapping, it was my favourite song and it just felt really good to be up there.” - Nikita Clutson (10)

“It's is just great for the children and wonderful for me.” - A long term resident

" ....... see the Edinbane Festival, there's the parade and then Boom! - it's
away" - Paul MacDonald Edinbane Youth club member

"I just love it when there are fireworks, I press my face against the
window and remember when my husband was alive and we were young and involved in
things, its just wonderful." - elderly resident

"I hope nobody saw my knees shaking but it was a lot of fun." - Molly Danter
(7 yrs) after the Edinbane school children had opened the festival in July '03
by singing on the main stage.

"When we first went on stage it was really scarey, but I am glad that I did
it and I'd do it again." - Shonee MacDonald (8yrs) - member of the "Edinbane
Thursday night Band" first showcased at the '03 festival.

Farquhar MacDonald, local musician on playing his “home town” – “well it was kind of like driving a tractor!”

USE OF EXCESS FUNDS GENERATED

Excess funds will be used to carry the festival forward for another year as well as contributing towards activities to be carried out by the newly formed Community Development group. If the festival committee decide not to continue with the event, the constitution directs all surplus monies into suitable local projects.