People in Angus and Dundee will join thousands across the UK by hosting live music as part of WaterAid’s third Big National Ceilidh.
The events will take place on October 16 at an as yet un-named venue in the Montrose area and Abertay University.
Ceilidhs are organised up and down the country on the same night, unified by all dancing the Circassian Circle at 10pm to the tune of Jamie Allen.
Proceeds will be donated to WaterAid, which ensures access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation for the world’s poorest communities.
WaterAid’s Clare McTaggart was at the West Park Centre Dundee last night to give a talk to internet magazine the Living Tradition’s summer schools for musicians about the event.
She said, “We are trying to get as many ceilidhs as possible taking place at a community level. We have about 55 confirmed from places right across the world, and it is lovely to have this part of Scotland covered as well.
“The ceilidhs are partly to raise funds and awareness about WaterAid, but also to bring communities together.”
The summer schools for musicians are being held at the West Park Centre until August 13.
They are run by the Living Tradition’s editor Pete Heywood, who has given his support to the Big National Ceilidh.
“We had a guy come in to teach accordion to the class who was a retired British colonel, and during one of the sessions he brought up the subject of clean water,” said Mr Heywood.
“He asked the class what they would do if the were dying of thirst but the only water they were being offered could kill them? Of course you would drink it.
“So when WaterAid approached us we thought that was something we should get behind.”
The Big National Ceilidh was the idea of father and son David and Joey Oliver, of Hexham, Northumberland, who are both involved with the folk scene.
The idea was to bring the social and physical benefits of ceilidh dancing to a wider audience, while raising money for a good cause.
Funds raised over the last two years by the nation-wide event exceed £60,000.
Big National Ceilidh are available from the Water Aid website, and by phone on 020 7793 4594.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user timparkinson.