Joe Aitken

with Nigel Jelks

A Bothy Lunch

Saturday 20 September, 13:00

Caledonian Hotel

Tickets £8.00 (including lunch)

Joe Aitken was born in 1944 on the farm of East Camno near Meigle, Perthshire, where his father was a horseman. He grew up listening to the tales and songs of north-east Scotland. As a young boy he spent a lot of time with the bothy lads who would teach him bothy songs. He always loved to sing and later picked up more songs from great traditional singers such as Jimmy McBeath.

He took a keen interest when the Traditional Music and Song Association moved its festival from Kinross to Kirriemuir in 1982. There he was persuaded to enter the bothy-ballad and traditional-song competitions. Although he didn’t win he had a great deal of fun and met a great crowd of people, some of whom went on to become close friends. Success soon found him and in 2004 he won the Champion of Champions Bothy Ballad competition in Elgin.

Joe has been to a great many festivals both as a guest and a judge and has enjoyed every one. He can’t wait till the ‘Yellow’s on the Broom’ so that he can start the festival season again and meet up with all his friends.