A recent
series of programmes on BBC4, ‘Folk Britannia’, must have brought back
many happy memories to all those who attended folk clubs in the 60s.
Although the programmes were very much angled to the folk revival in
England, it featured many Scots such as Lonnie Donigan, Donovan, Dick
Gaughan, Bett Jansch, John Martyn,and Robin Hall and Jimmie MacGregor.
Hopefully it will inspire BBC Scotland to do a similar series of
programmes of the Revival in Scotland and its effect on Scottish
politics. The surge in support and expansion of the Scottish National
Party marched hand in hand with the spread of folk clubs all over
Scotland in the 1960s.
For any
aficionado of folk song and music next weekend should be noted in their
diary as the 16th Milnathort Crackin’ Ceilidh Weekend will
run from Friday 10 March to Sunday 12 March 2006. Festival artistes
features a range of folkies who are always worth hearing – Gaberlunzie,
John Watt, Tich Frier, Wildfire, Andy Ramage, Colin Ramage and Neil
Paterson. The main concert on Saturday evening in Milnathort Town Hall
will be head-lined by top Scottish group The McCalmans, who have been
entertaining audiences at home and abroad since 1964. The full programme
for the 16th Crackin’ Ceilidh Weekend is :-
Friday
10 March –
Opening Ceilidh in the Thistle Hotel with The Lomond Ceilidh Band &
Festival Artistes 8pm Tickets £8
Saturday 11 March –
The Orwell Gird Championships and Children’s Street Games in the
Milnathort Primary School Playground, Bridgefauld Road from 12 noon
onwards. Spectators free.
Apres Gird
sessions in The Royal Hotel, The Village Inn and The Jolly Beggars with
Festival Artistes & Guest Singers and Musicians. FREE!!!!!
Concert in
the Town Hall with The McCalmans plus Festival Artistes 7pm Tickets £8
Concert in
The Thistle Hotel with Gaberlunzie and Guests 8.30pm Tickets £8
Sunday
12 March –
Afternoon Sessions in The Jolly Beggars, The Royal Hotel & The Village
Inn with Festival Artistes and Visiting Musicians 2pm onwards FREE
FINAL
CONCERT in The Thistle Hotel with Tich Frier & all Festival Artistes
left standing! 7.30pm Tickets £8
Tickets for all events are available from Fiona McNeil, Trasurer,
Milnathort Folk Festival Committee – Tel/Fax 01577 86300.
Milnathort
which lies in the parish of Orwell is near to one of Scotland’s most
famous trout lochs – Loch Leven, and our recipe for this week,Trout
Cleopatra, is obviously inspired by this fact.
Trout Cleopatra
Ingredients:
4 x 175 g (6 oz) trout, cleaned; 175 g (6 oz) soft herring roes; 2
tablespoons oil; 50 g (2 oz) butter; salt and freshly ground pepper; 50
g (2 oz) flour; 175 g (6 oz) peeled shrimps; 1 tablespoon drained
capers; juice of 1 lemon; 1 lemon, peeled, sliced and pips removed
(optional)
Method:
Rinse and dry the trout and herring roes. Heat the oil
and 25 g (1 oz) of the butter n a large frying pan. Now season with salt
and pepper. Coat the trout in the flour, then shake off any surplus.
Cook gently in the hot fat until coloured on both sides, about 8
minutes, turning once. Arrange on a heated serving dish and keep warm.
Dip the roes in flour and cook quickly to lightly colour, about 3 to 4
minutes. Drain and arrange on the trout. Toss the shrimps in the hot fat
for a moment to heat through, then drain well and lay over trout and
roes. Sprinkle with the capers and lemon juice, then place lemon slices
on top, if using. Heat the remaining butter in a clean pan until it is
golden brown, pour at once over the fish. Serve immediately.
