- Opera singer and harp player serenade artwork’s arrival
- Pop, rock and reggae in the Sun Amphitheatre on Saturday
- Folk, trad, opera and harp take centre stage on Sunday
Kelton the spectacular one-tonne wicker Beltie bull has arrived ready for his starring role at this weekend’s two-day Music at the Multiverse festival.
At three metres tall he will provide an impressive welcome to audiences as they arrive at Crawick Multiverse, near Sanquhar, for a weekend of amazing sounds – ranging from rock and reggae to folk, trad and opera.
Named after the parish of Kelton, the huge sculpture became an international celebrity when he represented Dumfries and Galloway at the recent Royal Highland Showcase at the Royal Highland Showground in Edinburgh – featuring in newspapers, magazines, TV and being live streamed worldwide.
Now on a tour of his home region the artwork, by Trevor Leat (well-known for making huge willow figures for the Wickerman Festivals), will be at the Multiverse until 1 September.
He was serenaded onto the site by opera singer Claudia Wood and harp player Wendy Stewart – both of whom are performing during Music at the Multiverse.
Cathy Agnew, Crawick Multiverse Trust (CMT) trustee, said: Cathy Agnew, Crawick Multiverse Trust (CMT) trustee, said: “We’ve got a wonderful weekend of live music lined up with plenty of room to social distance in the 55-acre site that is the Multiverse. And it’s terrific that Kelton the Beltie is able to visit Upper Nithsdale and the Sanqhuar Arts Festival as part of his Homecoming Tour.”
The weekend’s events will take place in the glorious Sun Amphitheatre. Saturday will be dedicated to the contemporary sounds of:
- The Dangleberries
- Lucky Doves
- Pedro and the Pirates
- Tom Spirals
- Fathers Medicine.
On Sunday Crawick Multiverse welcomes:
- Smith & McClennan
- Claudia Wood (with pianist Katharine Durran)
- Flew the Arrow
- Wendy Stewart.
Music at the Multiverse will provide a showcase for the wide range of musical talent based in, or with strong connections to, Dumfries and Galloway.
Claudia Wood, who is originally from Sanquhar and still has family in the town, will be singing popular songs from operas and musical shows such as Carmen and Phantom of the Opera.
International harp player Wendy Stewart, from near Moniaive, will present traditional pieces and compositions she’s written that celebrate the wonders of science, some played on her electroharp.
Wendy said: “Getting the chance to play my music in such an amazing setting, for folks out enjoying themselves, will be a real joy.”
The event is part of the Sanquhar Arts Festival and is also exploring Crawick’s potential as an outdoor venue in easy reach of central and southern Scotland and Cumbria.
CMT Trustee Caroline McMillan added: “I’m lucky enough to live very close to Crawick Multiverse and have enjoyed visiting since it opened in 2015. It’s a fantastic place to spend time with family and friends of all ages and perfect for meeting up to walk the dog or enjoy a picnic.
“We want the Multiverse to be a place that visitors and the local community can enjoy in many different ways and hope to bring more outdoor events and festivals in the future.”
About Kelton – he:
- was created in Auchencairn by willow artist Trevor Leat
- weighs in at over a tonne
- measures 4.2m long and is 3m tall
- took three weeks to build
- is made from willow grown by Trevor in Scotland and some brought specially from the Somerset levels
- has dark areas created using steamed willow and a white belt of stripped willow
- was made using 22 bundles of willow, each weighing 18kg, woven round a special frame.
Trevor’s figures are familiar from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, the Wickerman music festivals and a variety of National Trust for Scotland properties.
Kelton was commissioned by the Dumfries & Galloway Royal Highland Showcase team, with support from sources including the Galloway Glens Scheme and Dumfries and Galloway Council. After his tour of the region he will be placed in the care of The Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership scheme.
Ends
Editors’ notes
About Music at the Multiverse
- Tickets are available from www.crawickmultiverse.co.uk
- Prices are £20 Saturday and £15 Sunday and concessions are available
- Doors open at noon both days and close 7pm on Saturday, 6pm on Sunday
- Numbers will be limited for COVID safety
- The event is family friendly
- Crawick Multiverse is one hour from Glasgow, 45 minutes from Ayr and 30 minutes from Dumfries – see website for travel information
About Crawick Multiverse
- Crawick Multiverse is a spectacular land art installation created by the late Charles Jencks and inspired by his thinking about space, astronomy and cosmology. See https://www.charlesjencks.com.
- It was a major land restoration project, transforming 55 acres of former open cast mining into an artwork, visitor attraction and public amenity.
- Crawick is in the hills of Upper Nithsdale on the B740, Sanquhar, Dumfries & Galloway, DG4 6ET.
- Opening: From 1 May 2021, 7 days per week, 10.00 – 4.00
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 01659 50242
Crawick Fact File
Crawick Multiverse reflects both the ecology and geology of the region where it stands. It has many spectacular features for visitors to enjoy.
- Around 2,000 boulders were used to create Crawick Multiverse
- The Sun Amphitheatre
- The North-South line comprises approximately 300 boulders
- The site spans 55 acres
- The Northpoint provides a 20-mile 360 degree panoramic view
- Around 300 boulders were used to create the Multiverse landform.
The Crawick Multiverse Trust
The site is managed and run by the Crawick Multiverse Trust (CMT) which is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. The Trust’s objectives are:
- To advance the arts through the creation of a land art site for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.
- To advance public understanding and appreciation of the role of the landscape and environment as both material and site for art.
- To contribute to the regeneration of the local community in Dumfries and Galloway through the provision of a visitor attraction of national significance.
Through visiting, you are helping maintain the site to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy it. Thank you for your support.
- For media information contact Matthew Shelley on 07786704299 or [email protected]
The Crawick Multiverse Trust is a charity registered in Scotland SC039940 and a company limited by guarantee SC349562. Its registered office is at 32-34 High Street, Sanquhar, Scotland, DG4 6BL.