Irish Theme Night – 27th March 2026
On Friday, March 27th, Cruden Bay Folk Club welcomed a full house for a lively Irish Theme Night celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. The evening featured a vibrant programme from the club’s regular performers, showcasing a mix of spirited reels, jigs, and heartfelt ballads inspired by Ireland’s rich musical tradition.
The capacity audience quickly became part of the performance, joining in with singing, clapping, and plenty of enthusiasm. The result was a warm, engaging atmosphere that captured both the joy of Irish culture and the strong sense of community at the heart of the club.
Altogether, it was a memorable and spirited evening, highlighting once again the club’s talent for bringing people together through music and shared celebration.
Benefit Concert for Port Erroll Public Hall
On Friday, May 16th, Cruden Bay Folk Club hosted a sold-out Benefit Concert in support of Port Erroll Public Hall, uniting 120 attendees in a night of exceptional music and community spirit. The evening featured resident artists, standout acts like Sir Reel Clarks and the Robyn Smith Trio, and heartfelt performances from The Fiere Deems, The KGB, and The CJK Band. Highlights included emotional ballads, sing-alongs, and a surprise ABBA cover. The concert was professionally filmed by Apex Church’s media team and concluded with a moving group rendition of I’ll Fly Away. Compèred by Scott Thomson, the event showcased local talent while raising crucial funds for the hall. With joy, unity, and generosity on full display, the night celebrated the power of music to bring people together and support a vital community space.
There was a terrific response to the Singing Workshop hosted by the club at Port Erroll Public Hall on Saturday, 11th October 2025. Musical Director, Morag Sinclair, welcomed more than 30 people to the workshop, all of whom participated enthusiastically throughout, creating a wonderful, friendly atmosphere well suited to experienced singers and beginners alike.
Bob Dylan’s Enduring Legacy: A Special Night at Cruden Bay Folk Club
Bob Dylan’s influence on folk music is immeasurable. From the early days of Greenwich Village to the countless folk clubs across the world, Dylan’s poetic lyrics and timeless melodies have shaped generations of musicians. His songs have long been staples of folk sessions, inspiring both seasoned performers and new voices alike.
With the recent release of A Complete Unknown, the much-anticipated Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, there’s no better time to celebrate his legacy. That’s why we held a Dylan Theme Night on 28th February 2025.
We marked the occasion by promoting the event through our adaptation of the movie trailer below because, like Dylan, we know the power of reinvention! Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering his genius, we hope you enjoy our take on his work.
Robert Burns – Theme Night
Burns Night is celebrated the world over, it’s a time when folk of every creed and station remember a humble scots poet who made a mark so deep that his birthday on January 25th has been remembered in a unique and fitting way for more than 230 years.
Here at Cruden Bay Folk Club, we follow that example by paying homage in song and verse to the man who, in 2009, Scottish TV viewers voted the greatest Scot ever, ahead of other famous Scots like King Robert the Bruce, freedom fighter William Wallace, and renowned physician Sir Alexander Fleming to name but a few.
Those attending our 2025 Burns Theme Night were treated to a wide and varied programme that featured several of his most beautiful songs and even a retelling of his masterpiece, Tam O’ Shanter.
St James’s Concert
Fiona Kennedy – Kitchen Concerts
World-renowned Scottish Singer Fiona Kennedy has been recording music for decades, with dozens of albums recorded and a wee black book filled with the names and numbers of some of the best musicians in the world, we were pleased to welcome her invitation to join her Kitchen Concert on the 2nd of September. Started during lockdown to keep the music going, Fiona has stuck with this popular format, and on this particular occasion, she joined a bunch of our regular club members in Cruden Bay to do what she does best, bringing singers and musicians together for a great time, just click this image to watch the show.
Singing Workshop
Women In Music Theme Night
Our regular club night on Friday 31st May 2024 was a celebration of Woman In Music and once again our performers delivered an exceptional programme of entertainment with everything from Judith Durham to Dolly Parton getting the Cruden Bay Folk Club twist.
As ever, the audience showed their appreciation for another great night and broke all records with a bumper fund raiser during the monthly raffle. It has to be said that we have a fantastic club in Cruden Bay and we welcome with open arms old friends and new on the last Friday of every month.
If you didn’t manage along to the Women In Music theme night, you can catch up on all of the performances by clicking here.
Back By Popular Demand
Sir-Reel Clarks
Sir-Reel Clarks is a small family band with diverse and zany ideas. Surreal with a double meaning!
At our club night on 31st March 2023, we were delighted to extend the warmest of welcomes and shine our spotlight on Arron and his dad, Andy Clark.
The Folk Club is delighted to welcome the return of Aaron and Sir-Reel Clarks to a Spotlight Session at our regular club night on Friday 29th March 2024 when we look forward to what is certain to be another excellent night.
To watch their set from 2023, just click here, or on the image opposite.
To Read P&J Article on Aaron published 18th Feb 2024 click here
It’s Christmas!
The Internationalist (featuring Queen McBean)
A tongue-in-cheek Xmas music film of their stomping Xmas soul single from Andy Clucas and friends, made in their highland hometown of Nairn. Visiting the local record and vintage clothes shop (vinyl 2 vintage), and their favourite music venue/bar/restaurant/hotel (The Bandstand bar) and ending up at the 60’s Ready Steady Go club at the Seaforth club, with the lovely ladies dancing and messing around.
Filmed for fun by Rhiannon Clucas.
The Rolling Stones Theme Night
Our regular club night on Friday 27th October was a ‘Rolling Stones Theme Night’, with brilliant interpretations of more than 20 ‘Stones’ songs.
With another great audience turnout on the night supporting the club and the performers, it was definitely one not to be missed! Having said that, if you did miss it, or would like to replay some of the performances again, just click here to visit the Stones Theme Night page.
Graham Donachie Tribute
Graham Donachie was a regular visitor and performer during the virtual club nights we held during the Covid lockdowns. On hearing the sad news that Graham had passed away, the club decided it might be fitting to do something in his memory to share with his family and friends, and we were pleased when his family responded so favourably to the idea and gave us their permission to include this clip on our website.
The Beatles Theme Night
Our regular club night on Friday 28th July was a ‘Beatles Theme Night’, many of the regular performers, including our very own ‘Flab Four’ The Baytles, came together to deliver a programme of 19 Beatles numbers in the ‘open mike’ part of the evening followed by many more fantastic Beatles covers in the session.
All in all, it was another fantastic night at Cruden Bay Folk Club, if you missed it or would like to replay some of the performances again, just click here to visit the Beatles Theme Night page.
John Prine Theme Night
At our regular club night on Friday 28th April, we celebrated the work of the late great American folk singer, John Prine. This short video shows a few of our regulars, Dave Cherry, Brian MaCaulay, Gordon Mackay and Kenny McKenzie put some rehearsal in for one of their chosen, tracks, ‘I guess they oughta name a drink after you’.
To check out all of the great John Prine covers from the night, just click here
Sir-Reel Clarks
Sir-Reel Clarks is a small family band with diverse and zany ideas. Surreal with a double meaning!
At our club night on 31st March, we were delighted to extend the warmest of welcomes and shine our spotlight on Arron and his dad, Andy Clark, to watch their set, just click here, or on the image.
Burns Night at the Folk Club
Burns Night celebrations never go unmarked at the Folk Club, and 2023 was no exception, amongst an entertaining programme peppered with Burns material, a few of the regulars, Scott, Russell, Gordon, and Dave deliver their own take on the Burns classic, Wullie Brewed a Peck O’ Maut.
The Firie Deems and Brian McAulay
The Fiere Deems continue to work on material to be performed at our monthly Folk Clubs, in December they recruited Brian McAulay to add the baritone part to their lovely rendition of Gaudete which was a particularly fitting choice of music at this, our Christmas / New Year meeting.
Christmas Eve Sing-Along
Now that the club is meeting back in the Killie after the pandemic, we’re delighted to be back in the heart of the community. The villages planned Christmas Eve sing-along gave us the perfect opportunity to get involved, and a small concert party which included Scott Thomson, Russell Taylor, Christine Cruickshank, and Yvonne Bowyer provided a joyous selection of Christmas songs to a delighted audience of villagers, both young and old, who came to visit Santa Clause and to join in with the sing-along.
I hope you enjoy this short video which highlights some of the songs included in their programme.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at Cruden Bay Folk Club.
Much Appreciated Support from Arnold Clark Group
The club is delighted to announce that we have successfully applied for a £1000 grant from the Arnold Clark Community Fund.
In March 2020, Arnold Clark launched their first ever Community Fund to provide financial help to community groups and charities that had been significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Cruden Bay Folk Club was one of over 20,000 applications from organisations from a wide range of backgrounds, and we were delighted to be awarded the maximum grant of £1000 which will go a long way in supporting the club as we prepare to return to live meetings and resume our own fund raising activities once more.
We would like to acckowledge this vital award and thank the Arnold Clark Community Fund for supporting our club.
The Doric TV Team: Mark Findlater, Debbie Leslie, Peter Chapman, Jill McWilliam, Bill Buchan and Gordon Mackay
Doric Film Festival Success for club stalwarts
Three Folk Club regulars, Jill McWilliam, Bill Buchan, and Gordon Mackay, were part of the Doric TV Team who won the group category of the 2022 Doric Film Festival with their short film ‘Doric Future’.
This is the second year in a row that the team has enjoyed success having seen their 2021 entry ‘Fae wi aa bide’ selected as a winner last year.
This year’s theme for the competition was to be based around ‘A Sense O’ Time’, and the team drew their inspiration from their own experience of the Doric dialect and culture in the past, the present, and the future.
The script was written by Debbie Leslie, who along with Peter, Bill, Jill, and Mark narrated the story which was edited and produced by Gordon.
The successes of the Doric TV Team are all the more remarkable considering that they did not meet up face to face at all during the entire production process but instead worked virtually using Zoom throughout.
We know that many of the Folk Club’s followers are themselves interested in the Doric dialect and will be interested to see this latest installment from Doric TV.
Simon & Garfunkel Theme Night
We’re hoping to get a good turn out of players for our S&G Theme Night and know that many will have a preference for what they’d like to perfom on the night, There’s nothing quite so disappointing for a performer as turning up with a well rehearsed piece, to see someone else play your tune before you get your turn!
So in order to reduce the chances of that happening we thought it might be an idea to invite perfomers to list the numbers they intend doing, they will be displayed right here on this page and updated as we get submissions.
All you need to do to avoid dissapointment is to let us knowwhat your planning to play, if your first on the list and shown on this page, then you’ll be the one singing that song on Friday the 25th May.
Use the form along side to register your song choice
The Play List (so far)
Sound of Silence (Choir)
I am a Rock (Scott)
Call me Al (Scott)
The Boxer (Gordon)
The Only Living Boy in New York (Yvonne and Michael)
Scarborough Fair (Yvonne and Michael)
Kathy’s song (Ian McAulay)
America (Ian McAulay)
Cecilia (Brian McAulay)
Rose of Aberdeen (Brian McAulay)
April Come She Will (Tansy)
Hound of Nylons (Angus McCurrach)
Under African Skies (Ailsa Dixon)
Bye bye love (Peterhead Ukes)
The Fonsecas will be launching their new album ‘Where the river meets the sea’ at our regular club night on Friday 27th April
Reflecting their surroundings, the songwriting of The Fonsecas is inspired by the people, history and coastline of Buchan in NE Scotland.
Amidst the lobster pots and nets of their old fisherman’s loft studio they have crafted a debut album of new music.
Where the River Meets The Sea, due for release on 27th April 2018 by Village Sunsets Records, is an album of 15 original compositions which has been drafted in 2 halves –
Part 1 being a suite of upbeat and uplifting acoustic folk-rock and world-roots grooves.
Part 2 consisting of romantic ballads and coastal folklorism.
Several musicians have participated as guest artists in the album, including Steve Wickham of the Waterboys who plays fiddle on ‘My Sweet Whiskey’, and it’s dub-remix at the end of the album.
Their musical influences are wide ranging, but the Pogues and the Waterboys have had a particular bearing on their sound and style. There are, however, very few boundaries they are unwilling to cross, a fact that is evident from their ventures into techno-folk and roots music.
SOLD OUT
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Heading the ‘Bill’ at the CBFC Country & Western Hoedown are Ol’ Spice, a local band, recently reformed after a 25 year break who are now growing in popularity as a Country Western band, this video was shot at Glasgow’s Grand ole Opry in May 2016, and we are delighted to have them headlining the bill at our Country Western Hoedown.
The main support act at this event is the incomparable Craig Duncan and the Outlaws, a young band with a BIG, BIG future who are much sought after at top Country venues the length and breadth of the UK. This short clip was taken when they performing Live at Captain Tom’s in Aberdeen.
The REBO’S are very well known around the village as they are in fact the Killie’s and the Folk Club’s resident Pub Rock / Country / Blues Folk Band and they will be playing on the night with and array of guest performers from the club to get things warmed up properly at the clubs very first Country and Western Hoedown.
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles theme Night
It turned out he was looking for accommodation and a jam session. I sorted him out with both and we have since become good friends. Many people don’t fully appreciate this, but that jam session in the Killie with Skip in 2012 was the catalyst to those present forming the Cruden bay Folk Club.
I didn’t know it at the time but he is a real, copper bottomed Country and Western star and tours the world with his authentic old time cowboy music. As part of his 2014 tour he wanted to repay the favour of me setting up the session in the Killie which developed out of our kerbside chat that couple of years earlier and I was delighted to introduce Skip Gorman at a very special concert in the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel in Cruden Bay on Tuesday 15th July 2014.
He also joined us at the club on 2 subsequent occasions and has become a big fan of Cruden Bay, as many of us have become fans of the amazing Skip Gorman.
For over half a century SKIP GORMAN has enjoyed singing, playing and performing an impressive and varied palette of traditional American and Celtic folk music. As an accomplished singer, guitarist, fiddler and mandolinist, Gorman has completed over fifteen recordings of fiddle, mandolin, bluegrass and cowboy songs, been featured on many others, and established his own record label, Old West Recordings.
Cruden Bay Folk Club proudly presents
A Singing Workshop, hosted by Janice Reavell
PLEASE NOTE A CORRECTION TO THE DATE IN PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cruden Bay Folk Club proudly presents
A Singing Workshop, hosted by Janice Reavell
Will be held in Cruden Bay Village Hall on Sunday 2nd April from 2pm to 4pm.
Both male and female singers of all abilities welcome (free admission for under 16’s they must be accompanied by parent or guardian)
Cost £5 per person. Places are limited to 20 and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.
To book your place at the workshop email the Folk Club at CrudenBayFolkClub@outlook.com