'this is amaSing'
july campaign
local
our campaign for the month of july.
every day = one photograph.
each photograph = one person supporting the amaSing project from a location around the victorian spa village of strathpeffer.
with each photograph = one song of that individual's choice to share with the world.
follow the story - discover new music.
explore. engage. experience.
www.facebook.com/amasinguk
www.twitter.com/amasinguk
every day = one photograph.
each photograph = one person supporting the amaSing project from a location around the victorian spa village of strathpeffer.
with each photograph = one song of that individual's choice to share with the world.
follow the story - discover new music.
explore. engage. experience.
www.facebook.com/amasinguk
www.twitter.com/amasinguk
day 1
frances haworth
strathpeffer square
"strath" means a valley and the village is in the valley of the river peffery = strathpeffer.
strathpeffer sprang to life in victorian times after a dr. morrison from aberdeenshire identified and publicised the curative powers of the local spring waters. strathpeffer rapidly became a fashionable spa resort - the most northerly spa in europe.
frances' song choice:
the buggles - video killed the radio star
day 2
sandra & walter fleming
white lodge
situated just off the charming main square (campaign day 1) white Lodge is one of the oldest remaining buildings in strathpeffer. the lodge was built in 1770 long before the victorian era brought its architectural style and influence to the village, and before the boom that made strathpeffer the popular spa resort it became.
sandra & walter's song choice
the eagles - hotel california
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day 3
sandra & solo iddon
knockfarrel
knockfarrell is known locally as the cat’s back and forms one half of the strathpeffer valley. there is
a lovely walk up to the summit where you can see the remains of a vitrified pictish iron age fort. this year’s annual hill race takes place on 9th november over a distance of 8 km.
sandra's song choices:
sarah brightman & andrea bocelli - time to say goodbye
nat king cole - unforgettable
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day 4
shirley & maureen
pump room
the upper pump room, situated in the historic spa gardens, is the only surviving remnant of the strathpeffer spa buildings designed to dispense the mineral waters. the taps to the five original wells still survive in the interior.
the building, constructed in sandstone in 1839, was extensively rebuilt around 1909 when the green and white wall tiling and terrazzo flooring were installed. the pump room consisted of a spacious hall, with a marble counter where the different waters were dispensed.
shirley & maureen's song choice:
faithless - insomnia
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day 5
calum macdonald - runrig
red phone box
this iconic red phone box is now listed as one of 1300 still in service in scotland. it stands in the centre of the village and helps to connect strathpeffer to the rest of the world - especially when mobile and broadband signals fail us!
calum's song choice:
julie fowlis - an eala bhan
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day 6
emily scott
park house studio - amaSing hq
park house studio started life as a doctor's surgery before becoming a branch of the bank of scotland. it was also an architect's office for a number of years and then became a temporary home to the pavilion office while it was being renovated.
it is now the hq of the amaSing festival
emily's song choice
moxy fruvous - gulf war song
volunteer!
day 7
steve macdonald
square wheels
square wheels is exactly what it says it is - a cycle shop in the square in strathpeffer. steve is the owner of square wheels and the driving force behind the now legendary annual strathpuffer challenge - 24 consecutive hours of extreme off-road biking every january.
steve's song choice:
my darling clementine - ”the gospel according to george”
enter the songwriting competition!
day 8
clara hickey
strathpeffer community centre
the present community centre, which adjoins the primary school, came into being in 2000, replacing the large temporary structure which had existed since the 1970s. the centre is fitted out with state of the art facilities and provides a range of activities for children's and adults’ groups. it has a fitness room, a learning centre, a fully fitted kitchen and various sized rooms for hire. it can also cater for weddings and large family functions.
clara's song choice:
Gil Scott - Heron - "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"
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day 9
arthur scott
craigvar
craigvar was built in 1839 by charles macgregor. the house was originally called park house but was renamed in 1936 by a new owner who came from kinloch rannoch and named it after a local hill, craig varr. the house still features its original stonework with red sandstone ladders between the whinstone blocks.
arthur's song choice:
Ben L'oncle Soul - Soulman
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day 10
margaret and george spark
strathpeffer spa golf club
strathpeffer spa golf club was founded in 1888. one of the designers of the original course was the renowned 'old' tom morris of st andrews. it is a short but hilly course and has fantastic views down the valley toward dingwall and the black isle. it has a cosy clubhouse, which serves food and drink in a relaxing setting. there is also a shop selling golfing equipment and visitors are always warmly welcomed.
margaret and george's song choices:
the beegees - staying alive
verdi - 'nabucco' hebrew slaves chorus
tell your friends and share!
day 11
fiona christie
red poppy restaurant
the red poppy restaurant has been a fixture at the pavilion since 2006 and has provided an excellent venue for eating out for locals and visitors alike. in the coming months owners nick and lorraine aburrow are set to move to a new location in the former premises of maya. manageress fiona christie is pictured in front of what will be the new red poppy restaurant.
fiona's song choice
julie fowlis - touch the sky
buy a festival ticket!
red poppy restaurant
the red poppy restaurant has been a fixture at the pavilion since 2006 and has provided an excellent venue for eating out for locals and visitors alike. in the coming months owners nick and lorraine aburrow are set to move to a new location in the former premises of maya. manageress fiona christie is pictured in front of what will be the new red poppy restaurant.
fiona's song choice
julie fowlis - touch the sky
buy a festival ticket!
day 12
ann evans
green kite
ann runs the fair trade shop located in the beautiful setting of the restored victorian station which dates from 1885. strathpeffer recently achieved fair trade village status, reflecting the community's commitment to reducing poverty in developing nations, empowering individuals and supporting small businesses.
ann's song choice
acdc- whole lotta rosie
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green kite
ann runs the fair trade shop located in the beautiful setting of the restored victorian station which dates from 1885. strathpeffer recently achieved fair trade village status, reflecting the community's commitment to reducing poverty in developing nations, empowering individuals and supporting small businesses.
ann's song choice
acdc- whole lotta rosie
like our facebook page!
day 13
janet bowen
loch kinellan
janet has been a great supporter of amaSing from the very beginning of the project and promotes us wherever she goes. her photo was taken at loch kinellan, a beautiful location for walking. it was, and still is, a popular place for ice skating in winter.
janet's song choice
Noel McLoughlin - Mhari's Wedding
volunteer!
loch kinellan
janet has been a great supporter of amaSing from the very beginning of the project and promotes us wherever she goes. her photo was taken at loch kinellan, a beautiful location for walking. it was, and still is, a popular place for ice skating in winter.
janet's song choice
Noel McLoughlin - Mhari's Wedding
volunteer!
day 14
kevin munro
blackmuir wood
kevin is a keen photographer and is involved in lots of local projects around the village. blackmuir wood contains a network of forest trails which lead to the ridge of knockfarrel, with its spectacular views, and the iron age fort on its summit. within the wood is a stone maze built using 81 stones from all parts of scotland.
kevin's song choice
Yasmine Hamdan - Deny
enter the songwriting competition!
blackmuir wood
kevin is a keen photographer and is involved in lots of local projects around the village. blackmuir wood contains a network of forest trails which lead to the ridge of knockfarrel, with its spectacular views, and the iron age fort on its summit. within the wood is a stone maze built using 81 stones from all parts of scotland.
kevin's song choice
Yasmine Hamdan - Deny
enter the songwriting competition!
day 15
claire divine
pavilion garden sculptures
claire is a great supporter of the amaSing project. she is pictured in the pavilion gardens, which play host to a range of huge sculptures, hewn from douglas firs. they were created by local wood carver allister brebner and depict giants, warrior chiefs, norns (viking goddesses) and the famous brahan seer. there are more wood carvings beside the trail on the way to blackmuir wood.
claire's song choice
neutral milk hotel - two headed boy
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day 16
conor o'hara
the eagle stone
conor was one of the amaSing band members who played at the come and sing day in may. he is pictured at the eagle stone, which stands on a small rocky mound with an information panel. the stone is closely related to the prophecies of the brahan seer who predicted that if the stone were to fall three times then ships would anchor on the spot. this might explain why it is now cemented into place!
conor's song choice
josephine sillars - 17 hours
enter the songwriting competition!
the eagle stone
conor was one of the amaSing band members who played at the come and sing day in may. he is pictured at the eagle stone, which stands on a small rocky mound with an information panel. the stone is closely related to the prophecies of the brahan seer who predicted that if the stone were to fall three times then ships would anchor on the spot. this might explain why it is now cemented into place!
conor's song choice
josephine sillars - 17 hours
enter the songwriting competition!
day 17
peter bowen
the highland museum of childhood
peter bowen is a trustee and board member of the highland museum of childhood, which is located in the former station. the museum has a fantastic doll collection and also houses costume, childhood treasures and toys from the past 200 years. there are hands-on activities for all ages and informative displays and photographs tell of the customs and traditions of childhood.
peter's song choice
lou reed - perfect day
volunteer
day 18
dave colwell (formerly of bad company)
& ross mcewen (roadway)
rogie falls
dave and ross are pictured at rogie falls, a celebrated local beauty spot. it got a mention from renowned author robert louis stevenson, who visited strathpeffer in 1880. he was here to try to improve his already ailing health and he was trying out the curative powers of the spa. he visited nearby rogie falls and later wrote -
"near here is a valley; birch woods, heather and a stream; I have lain down and died; no country, no place, was ever for a moment so delightful to my soul"
dave and ross's song choice
deep purple - when a blind man cries
day 19
julian foot
strathpeffer pavilion
julian is chair of the strathpeffer pavilion association. he is pictured in front of this venerable local landmark, which holds a special place in the memories of many people, both local and from further afield. it is a stunning venue for weddings, conferences, dances, fairs, exhibitions and performances of all kinds. it will host our headliner, eddi reader, on sunday the 1st of september.
julian's song choice
p. j. harvey - the mess we're in
enter the songwriting competition!
strathpeffer pavilion
julian is chair of the strathpeffer pavilion association. he is pictured in front of this venerable local landmark, which holds a special place in the memories of many people, both local and from further afield. it is a stunning venue for weddings, conferences, dances, fairs, exhibitions and performances of all kinds. it will host our headliner, eddi reader, on sunday the 1st of september.
julian's song choice
p. j. harvey - the mess we're in
enter the songwriting competition!
day 20
trish & lauren wedderburn
strathpeffer primary school
trish and lauren are pictured outside strathpeffer primary school, which opened in 2000, bringing together primary aged school children from both contin and strathpeffer communities.
trish & lauren's song choice nickelback - photograph
volunteer!
day 21
john earl of cromartie, & eve
castle leod
the castle has been lived in by the same family for well over 500 years and is the seat of clan mackenzie, their chief (cabarfeidh), earl of cromartie, and his family. there are parklands around the castle to the south and east, with a fine woodland walk where you can see some important trees, which include the famous spanish chestnut planted in 1550 for mary queen of scot’s mother, mary of guise; it has the oldest recorded planting date in scotland.
john's song choice
carl orff - carmina burana 'o fortuna
eve's song choice
emily smith - the mermaid of galloway
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day 22
mckenzies
the bandstand
pictured on the bandstand are three mckenzie supporters, sophia, murray, and amelia, who are all wearing their amaSing wristbands. the bandstand beside the pavilion is a replica of the one that stood on the site in former years and it was where the resident orchestra used to entertain the crowds who thronged to the spa.
sophia's song choice
i like to move it - reel 2 real (feat. sacha baron cohen)
murray's song choice
monster - the automatic
amelia's song choice
eye of the tiger
buy your wristband!
the bandstand
pictured on the bandstand are three mckenzie supporters, sophia, murray, and amelia, who are all wearing their amaSing wristbands. the bandstand beside the pavilion is a replica of the one that stood on the site in former years and it was where the resident orchestra used to entertain the crowds who thronged to the spa.
sophia's song choice
i like to move it - reel 2 real (feat. sacha baron cohen)
murray's song choice
monster - the automatic
amelia's song choice
eye of the tiger
buy your wristband!
day 23
hamish polson
welcome to strathpeffer
hamish is pictured at one of the two village gateways which greet visitors and locals alike, depending on whether you are arriving from the east or the west. hamish has had a long and distinguished connection with the village, not least for having founded the ever popular strathpeffer dance band. his song choice reflects his association with highland music and this version is by calum kennedy.
hamish's song choice
the waters of kylesku
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welcome to strathpeffer
hamish is pictured at one of the two village gateways which greet visitors and locals alike, depending on whether you are arriving from the east or the west. hamish has had a long and distinguished connection with the village, not least for having founded the ever popular strathpeffer dance band. his song choice reflects his association with highland music and this version is by calum kennedy.
hamish's song choice
the waters of kylesku
buy a festival ticket!
day 24
cailean welsh
morrison well shop / amaSing festival information point
cal is pictured in front of the sampling pavilion. it was erected on the site of the lower pump room, which dispensed water and treatments to visitors to the spa in days gone by. today it is known as the morrison well shop and will serve as the information point for the festival.
cal's song choice
lindsey stirling & pentatonix- radioactive (imagine dragons)
enter the songwriting competition!
day 25
alice bentley
stage in the square
alice works as a volunteer with amaSing. she is a singer/songwriter in her own right and regularly performs locally and on tour. she is pictured on the stage in the square which hosts highland dancing on saturday evenings in the summer months.
alice's song choice
bruce springsteen - dancing in the dark
buy a wristband
stage in the square
alice works as a volunteer with amaSing. she is a singer/songwriter in her own right and regularly performs locally and on tour. she is pictured on the stage in the square which hosts highland dancing on saturday evenings in the summer months.
alice's song choice
bruce springsteen - dancing in the dark
buy a wristband
day 26
alessandra ross
children's play park
alessandra works as a volunteer in the amaSing office dealing with press and communications. she is pictured at the children's play park at the top of the village playing field, a central location for a great recreational facility, which can be enjoyed by everyone.
alessandra's song choice
michael kiwanuka - home again
donate!
children's play park
alessandra works as a volunteer in the amaSing office dealing with press and communications. she is pictured at the children's play park at the top of the village playing field, a central location for a great recreational facility, which can be enjoyed by everyone.
alessandra's song choice
michael kiwanuka - home again
donate!
day 27
kris gamble
wellingtonia
kris has been helping the amaSing project with aspects of i.t. support and has done a great job. he is a keen user of social media and has a large number of followers on twitter. he is pictured in front of one of the wellingtonia trees in the pavilion gardens. it is a relative of the giant redwood and has very thick, dense, soft bark. it is said that you can punch the bark as hard as you like and you will feel no pain.
kris hopes you like the music - it's the first known original recording of the song from the autumn of 1962.
kris's song choice
bob dylan - don't think twice it's alright
volunteer!
day 28
john thomson
elsick house
john is the conductor of dingwall choral society and joined us for our come and sing bohemian rhapsody day in the pavilion. he is pictured in front of elsick house the former residence of doctor morrison, who was one of the early promoters of the spa. the house dates from the early 1800s it was a youth hostel from the 1950s to the 1980s and has now been converted into individual houses and flats.
john's song choice
the cat empire - hello
get your festival ticket!
elsick house
john is the conductor of dingwall choral society and joined us for our come and sing bohemian rhapsody day in the pavilion. he is pictured in front of elsick house the former residence of doctor morrison, who was one of the early promoters of the spa. the house dates from the early 1800s it was a youth hostel from the 1950s to the 1980s and has now been converted into individual houses and flats.
john's song choice
the cat empire - hello
get your festival ticket!
day 29
ivor blair
achterneed station
ivor was the lead guitarist in the band for the come&sing bohemian rhapsody day and will feature again at the amaSing festival. he chose this location because his grandfather, samuel blair, was stationmaster there in the 1950s. the station was originally called strathpeffer station until the new branch line was built in 1885 and it was then renamed achterneed station. It closed to passengers and goods in 1964.
ivor's song choice
max richter & dinah washington 'this bitter earth & the nature of daylight'
buy a festival ticket!
achterneed station
ivor was the lead guitarist in the band for the come&sing bohemian rhapsody day and will feature again at the amaSing festival. he chose this location because his grandfather, samuel blair, was stationmaster there in the 1950s. the station was originally called strathpeffer station until the new branch line was built in 1885 and it was then renamed achterneed station. It closed to passengers and goods in 1964.
ivor's song choice
max richter & dinah washington 'this bitter earth & the nature of daylight'
buy a festival ticket!
day 30
michael & rona mackenzie
cromartie buildings
michael and rona are pictured in front of their coffee shop, part of the extensive cromartie buildings, which were built as lodgings for visitors to the spa. there have been many occupiers of the retail premises over the years, the most notable perhaps being burnett's the bakers and a&s fraser's, the drapers and haberdashers.
michael's song choice
robbie williams - mr bojangles
rona's song choice
van morrison - brown eyed girl
enter the songwriting competition
cromartie buildings
michael and rona are pictured in front of their coffee shop, part of the extensive cromartie buildings, which were built as lodgings for visitors to the spa. there have been many occupiers of the retail premises over the years, the most notable perhaps being burnett's the bakers and a&s fraser's, the drapers and haberdashers.
michael's song choice
robbie williams - mr bojangles
rona's song choice
van morrison - brown eyed girl
enter the songwriting competition
day 31
louise frame
the wallie
louise is a well known face in the village. she is pictured at the wallie, a local landmark and favourite meeting place. in the background is ord terrace and cromartie drive, built on the site of the former spa hotel which partly burnt down during world war 2.
louise's song choice
kaiser chiefs - ruby
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the wallie
louise is a well known face in the village. she is pictured at the wallie, a local landmark and favourite meeting place. in the background is ord terrace and cromartie drive, built on the site of the former spa hotel which partly burnt down during world war 2.
louise's song choice
kaiser chiefs - ruby
visit the online shop
