Festival tribute to folk musician is lined up

Published on Tuesday 12 August 2008 10:23

FOLK musician, writer and intellectual Hamish Henderson will be remembered at the first annual lecture in his memory tomorrow as part of the Edinburgh People's Festival.

Hamish's biographer, Timothy Neat, will present the lecture tomorrow night at the Out of the Blue Arts Centre in Leith.

It marks the midpoint in this year's People's Festival.

The festival's chairman Colin Fox said: "Hamish Henderson played a hugely important part in Scottish culture for more than 40 years. He was the founder of the Edinburgh People's Festival for one thing. We will recall how he shaped the cultural fabric of Scottish life for almost half a century.

"His contribution to folk music alone stands as a towering achievement. He was a writer and lyricist who has left us many significant pieces of work, uppermost perhaps his beautiful and inspiring ballad Freedom Come All Ye. Hamish was a working class intellectual.

"It has taken far too long for this memorial to Hamish to come to fruition, I admit, but then again its better late then never."

The lecture starts at 7pm. Entrance is free but people are advised to get there early.

The 2008 Edinburgh People's Festival runs until Saturday.