ERIC CROSSES THE WORLD FOR FOLK’S SAKE
News release
Hebridean Celtic Festival
Year of Homecoming 2014
- Aussie DJ crosses the world to visit HebCelt
- Scot still has a love of traditional folk music
- Star interviews will feature in show Down Under
He may have left his homeland 40 years ago, but the sounds of Scotland still play a daily part of Eric Ford’s life Down Under.
Eric, originally from Edinburgh, hosts regular folk music shows with a strong Scottish flavour on Radio Adelaide in South Australia where he has lived for the last four decades.
This week he is combing work with pleasure by becoming the furthest travelled media representative to visit the award-winning Hebridean Celtic Festival from 16-19 July in Stornoway.
The former Australian Army soldier is attending HebCelt during a six-week holiday in Scotland with his wife and will interview a number of artists to feature on his radio shows on his return.
Eric, who has been known to present his show in a Scotland football shirt, said: “I grew up listening to singers like The Corries and The Clancy Brothers and have always been interested in folk music.
“I’ve never been to HebCelt, so when I saw the festival is on while we are in Scotland it just seemed right to visit.”
Eric has been a folk music DJ for over 30 years and currently hosts morning and evening weekly shows, as well as a monthly Scottish Hour programme. He has interviewed a number of Scottish artists, including the Battlefield Band, Dick Gaughan, Boys of the Lough, Eddi Reader and Capercaillie
In addition, he has been heavily involved in the Folk Federation of South Australia for over 30 years and a trustee on the National Folk Trust. He previously ran the federation folk club and has been a regular compere at a number of festivals in Australia, including the Fleurieu Folk Festival in South Australia which features a range of traditional, Celtic, blues, roots and bluegrass music over three days.
A former Army nurse - retiring at a major - he currently works with veterans and others who have post-traumatic stress disorder.
HebCelt festival director Caroline Maclennan said: “Eric is one of our furthest travelled visitors this year and we are delighted he is at HebCelt and that he will be promoting the festival among his listeners back in Australia.”
The 19th HebCelt features its biggest ever programme, including shows by headliners Levellers, Big Country and Donnie Munro and performances by Cara Dillon, Rachel Sermanni, Duncan Chisholm, Cajun band Magnolia Sisters, from the US, and Canadian outfit Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys.
The festival has its two main stages in the spectacular setting in front of Lews Castle in Stornoway, and this year is introducing an acoustic stage for the first time. There will also be concerts in An Lanntair arts centre and in rural parts of Lewis and Harris.
NOTES TO EDITORS
This year HebCelt was selected as one of the top 10 UK summer festivals for the fourth year in succession by influential publication Songlines.
It was also hailed as one of the greenest festivals in the world after being the only Scottish event to receive an Outstanding award from environmental campaign group A Greener Festival. In addition, it was shortlisted in the Greener Festival category in the UK Festival Awards and in the Best Independent Festival category in the AIM Independent Music Awards.
In 2011 it was ranked Best Large Festival at the industry-sponsored Scottish Event Awards and it won Best Event of the Year award at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards in 2004 and 2009.
For more information contact
John Ross
Lucid PR
01463 724593; 07730 099617
johnross@lucidmessages.com
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