Midsummer Music will make an emotional return to Gatehouse venues this weekend after a niche of three years.
Lack of time between the ultimate lifting of Covid restrictions and the summer time solstice had forged doubt on the 2022 occasion.
However reasonably than lose one other pageant organisers, pulled out all of the stops and put collectively a Saturday-only programme.
Gatehouse of Fleet Pageant Group was decided to carry the showpiece again after the unhappy passing of a Midsummer Music stalwart.
Committee chairperson, Michelle McClure, mentioned: “An vital a part of this 12 months’s pageant is paying tribute to a departed pal, Roger Hampshire, who handed away in 2021.
“Roger was instrumental in establishing the unique Gatehouse Music Pageant and was honorary president for lifetime of the pageant committee.
“The stage on the Ship Inn is to be referred to as the Roger Hampshire stage, and renditions of Roger’s distinctive blues songs can be sung by buddies outdated and new.”
All performances are non-ticketed with followers and supporters invited to make a small donation as an alternative.
And the committee is proud to have put collectively a programme whereas on a regular basis working towards the clock.
She added: “We have been impressed by the fantastic return of the Moniaive Pageant in Could.
“We couldn’t begin planning in December as we’d often do as a result of it nonetheless wasn’t sure festivals can be potential.
“Now that we’ve seen it may be executed, it’s all palms on deck!”
This 12 months’s occasion is a pared-back grassroots affair, that includes native expertise across the city’s welcoming hostelries.
Saturday’s programme begins at 2pm and options music periods within the Financial institution of Fleet, Masonic Arms and Murray Arms, and an outside night live performance within the backyard on the Ship Inn.
The occasion can be held on a pedal-powered stage, sponsored by native biking charity Wheels of Fleet.
Gatehouse natives function prominently, with music from Tobacco Barn, Alan of Galloway and the Wave Blues Band fronted by Gatehouse’s Susi Briggs.
For full programme and native particulars go to https://www.fb.com/GatehouseOfFleetFestivalGroup