Swifties assemble as this year’s Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival is bringing Taylor Swift tribute act, Leona Skimming to Portsoy for The Ultimate Tribute Night on Saturday 28th June 2025.
Taking to the stage as ‘Taylor 2’, Leona is an incredibly talented singer and performer. She captures the essence of Taylor Swift’s vocals and stage presence, with real star quality, performing Swift’s iconic hits including Love Story’, ‘Shake it Off’, ‘Blank Space’ and ‘Bad Blood’.
Adding to the line-up of great entertainment is, Kirk Johnston as TotOlly Murs, the UK’s number one tribute to Olly Murs. Bringing his fun personality and outstanding musical talent, Kirk will perform all of Murs’ pop hits, ‘Wrapped Up’, ‘Heart Skips a Beat’ and ‘Dance with me Tonight’ and his trademark dance moves.
This is a family friendly event, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are on sale on the festival website www.stbfportsoy.org and priced at £15 for an adult and £5 for a child. Doors open at 7.00pm and the show commences at 7.30pm.
Wullie Urquhart, music co-ordinator for the Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival commented: “We are continually looking at how we can enhance and improve the festival entertainment and Leona and Kirk are some of the UK’s top tribute acts. The show promises incredible stage production, high-energy performances and outstanding musical entertainment of all of Taylor Swift and Olly Murs’ greatest hits.
“It will be a family friendly event, allowing our visitors to continue their enjoyment of the festival on into the evening, along with their children. It is something new for 2025 and we hope that people will come out and support our Saturday night pop extravaganza.”
The Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival will be held on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th June 2025. Now in its 32nd year, the event celebrates the maritime heritage and culture of the north east, attracting a flotilla of traditional boats to Portsoy’s 17th century harbour. Festival tickets are available to purchase on the website www.stbfportsoy.org at a 10% discounted price, for a limited time only.
Live music is a major part of the festival programme and a huge line up of local bands, renowned artists and groups will take to the Harbour Stage and Back Green music marquee, during the weekend.
Kicking off the festival celebrations is acclaimed Scottish folk band Mànran, as headliners of the Big Gig on the Back Green, on Friday 27th June 2025. Mànran brings together renowned Scottish and Irish folk musicians, which include accordionist and BBC Radio Scotland presenters, Gary Innes and Ewen Henderson and the band’s lead singer, Kim Carnie, has just released an award-winning documentary which she wrote the soundtrack for. Support act is Brother Sea, who will sweep you away with their hypnotic vocals and songs of heritage and folklore, like stories shared around a campfire.
The Portsoy Pipe Band will officially open the Harbour Stage, which is sponsored by Hamlyns of Scotland Oatmeal, on Saturday. The Anne McArthur Dancers, who have appeared at nearly every festival since it began, will be performing throughout the weekend. Prepare to be amazed as Scotland’s first competitive skipping club Skip 2 the Beat, showcase their fast paced skipping stunts and routines.
Returning to the festival is winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2025, Ellie Beaton from Rothienorman. Ellie will join forces with talented musician Arthur Coates. The duo have developed their own brand, merging traditional music with pop and folk songs, performing as Invergroovy.
Festival favourites Fair Trickit, the ukelele playing, twin sisters Charlotte and Chloe Hay, sing their own self-penned songs and covers. Singer songwriter Cody Feechan from Fife, whose powerful vocals and distinctive sound has attracted radio airplay across the UK. Influenced by all sorts of genres, Cody’s music is best described as folk rock, with some songs sounding a little country style, she recently signed a record deal with the Wee Studio Records and will be releasing an album very soon.
Aberdeenshire folk singer, Iona Fyfe has performed across Europe, the US, Canada and Australia and is one of Scotland’s finest singers. A two-time winner of the Scots Singer of the Year award, Iona’s style is deeply rooted in the singing traditions of the North East of Scotland.
Traditional singer in Scottish Gaelic and English, Linn Phipps will be leading an interactive workshop where attendees will learn some easy Gaelic songs, from the rowing and Luadh (waulking the tweed) traditions. The workshop will take place in the Salmon Bothy on Sunday 29th June at 2pm. Linn will also be performing shanties and maritime songs as the duo “Bonny at Morn”.
Don’t miss melodic based rock singer Danny Mortimer, on Back Green on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday see Turriff Silver Band, Aurora Choir, Brother Sea, Deveron Singers and The North East Ukuleles (The NEukes), an amateur Ukulele group based in Aberdeen City & Shire and have been performing since 2015.
The Black Isle Peas, who started out as four friends jamming during lockdown, to playing gigs around the Highlands, are guaranteed to get the party started. Making their festival debut is the Funky Red Pandas, an award-winning disco funk five-piece, from Aberdeen.
Bringing the festival weekend to a close with the Sunday Shakedown is renowned Highland rock band RhythmnReel, with their upbeat, foot stomping tunes. Don’t miss them on the Harbour Stage at 15:45.
Wullie continued: “We have a cracking programme of music for 2025, welcoming back popular musical acts such as Fair Trickit and Invergroovy, who were a big hit with our visitors last year. Many of our acts are award-winning and represent an eclectic mix of genres and styles, from folk to Celtic rock and pop. Our MC for the Back Green stage on Saturday is Scott Forbes, from Montrose. A regular performer around Scotland, from observations to impressions, Scott’s straight to the point humour will have the audience in hysterics.”
Around 16,000 visitors are expected to attend over the two days, to see the finest craft in the Scottish historic fishing fleet, alongside a medley of music and dance and a wide range of handmade items and gifts. The best of Scottish produce is on the menu in the food fayre, with fresh fish and seafood and locally produced whisky, gin and rum.
Around 30 traditional boats from across the UK will sail into Portsoy, including 19th century Fifie herring drifter Reaper, which will make the journey from the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, Fife. Also returning to the festival is White Wing, a 33ft Baldie and setting sail from Wick in Caithness will be 19th century Fifie and festival favourite, the Isabella Fortuna.