Well it might not be as well-known as Edinburgh’s famous festival but regular guests to the Flat, Linda and Will were blown away by the experience when they visited last Autumn.
The Festival was founded in 2014 by musician and composer James MacMillan CBE who was brought up in Cumnock – about an hour’s drive from Glencaple. He wanted to encourage access to music as well as giving the town a boost following its severe decline when the coal pits closed.

Many years ago James MacMillan set a poem by William Soutar to music when he lived in Ayrshire and played in local folk bands. This music has been the basis of much of his output over the years and crops up in the orchestral piece Tryst and a little violin piece which Nicola Benedetti plays sometimes called After The Tryst.


Music lovers Linda and Will from London had been meaning to go for several years but eventually made it and say it was a superb experience and exceeded all their expectations.
Linda takes up the story of their visit:
“There were several aspects of the Festival which we particularly loved. The atmosphere is extremely friendly and welcoming and we felt enveloped in the love for its community that the Festival demonstrates. It not only gives the opportunity to hear professional world-class musicians performing in intimate venues like local churches – for example the vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six performed Tudor and Renaissance music in the Catholic Church. But also showcases amazing performances of different musical styles by members of the local community, including the Musical Theatre Group and the performance of James Macmillan’s First World War Oratorio by a mass ensemble including the Festival Choir, pupils from The Burns Academy and the Dalmellington Brass Band. Scottish folk and jazz concerts are also on offer.
The Festival has close links with Dumfries House and having joined as Friends of the Festival we had the privilege of being invited to a champagne reception in the Dining Room before the Sunday afternoon concert.
From a musical point of view, the Festival was completely unique and we are hoping to make a return visit this year.
The other reason why a visit to the Festival chimed so well with our week in Glencaple is because of the Burns connections, covering his whole life from his birth in Ayrshire to his death in Dumfries. So for us as Burns lovers this was a marvellous opportunity to learn more about his life and see the countryside that was so dear to him.
The whole experience was something we would recommend to anyone as something they will never forget.”
So why not come and stay in Glencaple and take a trip to Cumnock to experience this unique musical festival.
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