August 2025: Happy Birthday St Margaret's!

We’ve had some great concerts at St Margaret’s over the summer months, which have really showcased the best new voices from Scotland’s diverse and thriving music scene.

Among the highlights, Beth Malcolm’s FOLKMOSIS concert (pictured)– performing with a talented band the music from her album of the same name – was really special indeed, covering her own upbringing steeped in Scotland’s folk traditions. Beth is becoming something of regular returnee to the St Margaret’s stage – we love her music and it’s always a pleasure to hear from artists how much they enjoy playing to a Braemar audience.  

In early August, we welcomed Scottish saxophonist Matt Carmichael and his Quartet, delivering a really a powerfully emotive blend of jazz music, with roots influences. This was our best ever attended Jazz Club gig to date and it’s great to see a growing number of people wending their way to Deeside from far and wide to enjoy truly-world class new music. 

We hosted Sam Tarvit for a week as our first Creative in Residence, generously supported by the Fife Arms. Sam is an RGU jewellery graduate who undertook a period of research into her next collection, focusing on the Cairngorms, its woodlands and the materials gathered from the outdoors. We look forward to welcoming Sam back soon to showcase the work inspired by her time with us. 

Coming up we’ve got a packed autumn programme, with tickets selling fast. Games weekend is now an absolute highlight of the year for St Margaret’s and we’ve got two great events bookending a busy few days in the village. Trad heavyweights Breabach have taken Scotland’s music scene by storm over the past two decades and will raise the curtain on Friday 5th September, with Paul Mealor returning with his ever-popular Caritas choir on Sunday 7th rounding off another Gathering weekend in style. 

St Margaret’s is participating in this year’s North East Open Studios, with interdisciplinary artist Carrie Fertig exhibiting her stunning works from 13th to 21st September. On display will be a selection of sculpture, including a life-sized glass sheep! 

September - October is festival season in Braemar. We’re delighted to be working with the Fife Arms and other community partners once again to stage the Braemar Literary Festival, with many of the main events at St Margaret’s. If you haven’t already, do check out the full programme at braemarliteraryfestival.co.uk – there are still a handful of tickets available to see David Nicholls in conversation with Vicki Perrin, Michael Pedersen in conversation with Gemma Cairney, and Andrew Liddle’s talk on his Scotsman Book of the Year about Winston Churchill’s time as the MP for Dundee. 

The following weekend sees the return of the Braemar Folk Festival – now in its fifth year – with mainstage concerts taking place at St Margaret’s. On Friday’s line-up we have the highly sought-after Mischa MacPherson, an incredibly talented Gaelic singer from the Outer Hebrides, followed by one of Scotland’s most vibrant young bands – TRIP. Saturday’s billing includes multi-instrumentalist and singer Cahalen Morrison, followed by our headline act who are guaranteed to get you dancing – Valtos.

In November, ahead of Remembrance Sunday, St Margaret’s is producing a very special commemorative event alongside our friends at The Gordon Highlanders Museum. ‘Aberdeen Remembers’ will be a moving commemorative event, focused on the contribution and sacrifice made by the people of the North East of Scotland in World War II and in conflicts since.The first half of this commemorative concert celebrates the contribution of the Gordon Highlanders – described by Winston Churchill as “the Finest Regiment in the World” – and the many others who served during the Second World War, accompanied by live music from the 1940s.“For our tomorrow, they gave their today” frames the second half of the concert, celebrating music and culture over the decades since 1945, with a focus on Aberdeen and the North East. Tickets are available now through Aberdeen Performing Arts. 

This month also marks ten years since the formation of the St Margaret’s Trust.. We’ve come a long way, have much to be proud of AND lots to look forward to. If you’d like to be part of it do get in touch!

Fergus Mutch

Chair, The St Margaret’s Trust