ABSTRACT
In July 2022, the music festival Speyfest celebrated its 25th event, returning after two years without a festival due to the COVID-19 pandemic and only weeks after the death of festival founder, Sir James Alexander MBE (1955–2022). Utilising ethnographic fieldwork and incorporating interdisciplinary approaches from ethnomusicology, geography and tourism studies, this chapter critically examines the festival from the perspective of researchers who were performers and workshop facilitators at the festival. Recognising Alexander’s initial desire to develop an event whereby local musicians experience and perform with professional artists, we reflect on the expression of culture, authenticity and meaning with particular consideration for the conceptualisation of ‘Celtic’ music as a musical and commercial term. We critique how the event has changed the ecosystem of traditional music around Fochabers, particularly in terms of the resilience of local music community. Central to the study is a consideration of the Fochabers Fiddlers, an ensemble founded by Alexander in 1980 that, for the festival, not only include locally based members but also members who have left the area but return to perform with the group at the festival. This chapter demonstrates how community festivals and events impact on both place-making and the development of a community of musical practice.
