Posts for June, 2024

Another in our season of free outdoor parties, celebrating the space we have by the Spey and the magical community we live in. Music, dancing, food trucks, outside bar.

This time with Hammer and Andrew Thomson. Two record label bosses in their own right, schooled in the electronic music scenes of Glasgow and beyond over the decades. Hammer famously known for his presence on the Feel My Bicep mix series and Andrew’s more recent history has seen him launch Clyde Built Radio, a Glasgow based station showcasing Scotland’s best DJ talent.

Hammer is known for his love of deep rolling arps, old analogue synths and big euphoric
melodies.
Launching 2 labels, Remmah and Italo Hiits over the past few years, he is a hugely popular
festival and club booking at the likes of Love International, Panorama Bar, Glastonbury,
Fabric, Phonox, Houghton and headlined AVA Festival in his hometown of Belfast.
This year, Remmah celebrated its 11th release with a Remmah Rundown compilation
featuring 11 both established and emerging artists, including Optimo’s JG Wilkes, whilst
featuring debut releases from Anna Gram, Kilimanjaro, Stevie Cox and Ysanne. Anna,
Stevie and Kilimanjaro all went on to release huge records on other established labels in
what was a lucrative year for all 3 artists. Following the success of the Remmah compilation
release across the spectrum of the electronic music media – including Mixmag, DJ Mag,
Ransom Note, Electronic Groove and more – the label then released an EP from Rhythm
From Mars and New Delhi’s FILM. Forthcoming on Remmah is an EP from Sonic Juncture,
out 8th December.

What started as a personal label project, has now become a platform to launch new talent
into the industry. Giving space to debut artists from all backgrounds around the world –
including Sublime Sound, Stevie Cox and his release; the hugely successful ‘Sickwave’, a
collaboration with Killimanjaro, after the enormous success of debut EP Muleña EP, a with a
Tornado Wallace remix and Hammer’s biggest self release record so far – the label
continues to go from strength to strength.

Much of his output is road tested on his monthly Rinse FM residency, with shows, mixes and
podcasts for BBC Radio 1, Radio 6 Music, Beats In Space, Insomniac Radio, John
Digweed’s Transitions Radio and Fabric to name a few. Additionally, he has recorded live
streams at the Saatchi Gallery with Feel My Bicep, B2B live stream for Warehouse Project
and Resident Advisor with Sally C, and a Boiler Room show in Vienna.

Hammer will continue creating sell out vinyls on The Hammer Hits white label, like ‘Love
Somebody’ and ‘Strong Enough’. With Hammer, you know there’s always more to come with
a huge new disco edit planned, a track that was tried and tested at Houghton Festival. Plus,
he has created an Italo Hiits label, born out of his fund raising home workouts, giving himself
and his audience a music orientated wellness space that was as high energy as the tracks
he made for it, ‘I Wanna Be Like You’ is a pure slice of Hi NRG nostalgia. With 3 colour vinyl
releases to date, the label is dedicated to his indulgent modern take on Italo Disco.

This year he built his own studio in SWG3, Glasgow, where he continues to make music on
a daily basis and plans to turn it into a space for live sets and radio shows. Hammer’s many
collaborations come from a love of people and creativity. Finishing 2023 strong with
‘Marabou’, a piano led disco track made with Storken and released on vinyl with Running
Back. Hammer’s final release of 2023 was on Permanent Vacation with some big house
sounds on ‘Pearl’. With a vinyl release due out in January on Skylax Records, 2024 is set to
be another big year for the Northern Irish producer, DJ and label head honcho.

Andrew Thomson

Brewing for some time now, we are very excited to finally be launching our weekly tipi pub nights, the ‘Gather Inn’. A space for you to unwind on a Friday evening and kick off your weekend in the right way, we’ll even have cold frothy draft beer on rotation by the brilliant organic Black Isle Brewery!

The tipi has always been the perfect space for gathering together and enjoying a drink around the fire, but to top it off we will be joined (some Fridays) by ‘Highland Slice’ serving up tasty pizzas from his gorgeous horsebox. You will order directly with Andrew through his social media pages or you can order on the night, but may have to wait slightly longer for your order. Then join us in the tipi to dine with a few drinks some good craic and nice tunes. We may even have the occasional live performance.

Our ‘Gather Inn’ nights will be starting from Friday 31st May all the way through summer, minus the odd Friday where we have other events running. We will be open from 5 – 10pm, with children welcome until 8pm.

May – 31st
June – 7th and 21st
July – 5th (pizza available), 12th, and 26th
August – 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd (pizza available all of August)
*note it is best to pre order with Andrew through his facebook or Instagram page – Highland Slice 

Selected by Angels, Shared with Friends

Join us for a complimentary in-store tasting of Angels’ Nectar Scotch Whisky on the 15th of June, the day before Father’s day, at Spey Valley Shopping, Aviemore.

On taste will be our Angels’ Nectar Original and the Angels’ Nectar Cairngorms 4th Edition.

The Original is our Blended Malt created from a selection of speyside and highland malts and bottled at 40%. It’s smooth and sweet with hints of heather honey and lemon on the taste.

The Cairngorms 4th Edition is from our series of single cask Speyside single malts bottled in partnership with the Cairngorms Trust to support environmental and community projects in the Cairngorms. It’s a traditional Speyside dram with hints of dried tropical fruit, brandy butter, and no smoke.

Spoil your Dad with a bottle of Angels’ Nectar this Fathers’ Day!

Join us for a complimentary taste of Angels’ Nectar Scotch Whisky at the recently reopened Aviemore Gift Company.

A chance to taste:
Angels’ Nectar Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – Original 40%.
Our blended malt created from a selection of highland and speyside malts. The Angels’ favourite dram.
Angels’ Nectar Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Oloroso Sherry Cask Edition 46%.
Morish sherry cask elegance.
Angels’ Nectar Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Cairngorms 4th Edition.

From our series of speyside single casks bottled in partnership with the Cairngorms Trust to support environmental and community projects in the Cairngorms. Perfect for those who love the Cairngorms and a dram.

Angels’ Nectar – Selected by Angels, Shared with Friends

The Ghillie’s Larder is Braemar’s Farmers’ Market and will be held in June, August and December in 2024.

Passionate about the amazing local produce available here in Highland Aberdeenshire, Federica Bertolini and Jasmine Sherry connect the best food and drink makers with buyers — creating a thoughtfully curated, unique market experience for locals, day-trippers and tourists exploring this magical part of Scotland.

There’s always something new to try at the Ghillie’s Larder, with regular guest stallholders complementing monthly favourites that keep visitors returning again and again to the village.

The beautiful surrounds of St Margaret’s Braemar provide indoor market space for you to peruse the stalls on a rainy day, with plenty of outdoor space to relax and enjoy a picnic when the sun shines.

The Ghillie’s Larder regularly features live music from local artists, there to serenade you while you shop and you can combine your visit with a walk or cycle around the hills, glens and forests of Upper Deeside — the perfect family day out!

Details of upcoming markets can be found on social media at facebook.com/theghillieslarder

Join us in Abernethy Forest for a behind the scenes masterclass with Cairngorms Connect Venison.

Cairngorms Connect deer stalkers will talk about the methods, equipment, ethics, and sustainability of deer stalking for conservation management and will give a hands on demonstration of lardering the deer.

A local butcher will then teach us about preparing all the different cuts of meat and what they are best used for, and you can even have a go yourself.

We will then relocate to the tepee at the Dell of Abernethy for a live cooking demo over the fire by a local professional chef. Discover creative venison dishes and different ways to incorporate venison easily into our diet. And finally, we’ll share a meal of delicious dishes at a long communal table.


Please note the exact location of the event will be provided upon booking.


It is important that all people have equal access to Cairngorms Connect events.

We don’t want finance to be a barrier to people attending and so have made some tickets available for free or by donation – please take advantage of this if you need to.

Donations go towards our ongoing community engagement work, supporting more people to connect with this landscape. We’re able to offer these ticket options thanks to funding from the Endangered Landscapes and Seascapes Programme.

We are happy to provide for your requirements, wherever possible eg. BSL interpreters, off-road wheelchairs, adapted bikes etc. If have any accessibility requirements, please get in touch.

Blair Castle in the heart of rural Perthshire is the stunning background to our annual Christmas Fair. Join us inside the Banvie Hall, the beautifully atmospheric ballroom and outside will be our tented Christmas village on the forecourt in front of the castle.

Beautiful art and crafts will tempt and delight with individuality and flair, wood work, metal work, antler art, textiles, art illustrations, pet snacks, decadent cushions, throws, ceramics, silk scarves. Locally designed jewellery featuring silver, beads, gemstones, resin and glass. Differing styles of art, exquisite wood turning, children’s clothes and exquisitely beautiful knitwear. Organic and vegan soaps & skincare, candles, reed diffusers and wax melts and a host of bee products – all lovingly created in Scotland.

A glorious selection of tempting foods awaits you at the Blair Christmas Fair. Fabulous confectionary from Kilted Fudge and delightful home bakes from Rabbit Hole Cakes. Delicious preserves from Spice Harmony and charming pickles from Zingy Tingy Beetroot and together with fresh game in the form of steaks, pies or sausages, appetising salmon and seafood and a wonderful selection of cheeses we have enough we hope to entice all foodies.

Our alcohol producers include a spectacular range of gins, rums, vodkas, craft beer and liqueurs.

Nae Bad with their delightful horse box will be in attendance with hot and cold refreshments, pancakes, paninis and cakes, Seasonal Flavour will be bringing their tasty range of artisan street food suitable for all ages, Henderson’s fine food has their spit roasted pulled pork and Auld Smokey with their range of wood fired pizza.

A full list of exhibitors will be available on social media prior to the event.

Credit Paul Booth

Below the castle, a tented village will surround the side of the Castle, the mews, café, Balmoral gift shop and stable buildings with exhibitors from near and far vying for your attention with a wide range of beguiling Scottish crafts, food and drink.

A wonderful range of refreshments will be available from Balmoral’s newly refurbished cafes, alongside several street food vendors will be artisan tarts and cakes from the Highland Pâtissier and superb range of homemaking from Rabbit Hole Cakes.

There will be a fine selection of locally produced craft beer, wickedly tempting rum, gin, liqueurs, cider and vodka and the beautiful botanical spirits of Highland Boundary.

For the food enthusiasts amongst us there will be a fine range of home baking, delightful patisseries, exquisite macaroons, a sublime range of salmon, seafood and accoutrements, fresh game in the shape of sausages, steaks, loin cuts and pies. Surprisingly different home made meals, divine Deeside honeys, fabulous cheeses, any amount of mouth watering fudges, bespoke chocolates together with old fashioned confectionary and not forgetting truly delightful pickles.

With the Christmas season just around the corner, this would be such a delightful way to start exploring all the gift options our exhibitors have to offer.

This will be one of our largest events to date with a tantalising collection of artisan art and craft. The ranges will include aromatic candles, antler art, skincare and soaps, captivating ceramics and artworks, a fine array of beguiling jewellery, luxurious textiles, awe inspiring photography, charming stationery, recycled homeware, enticing stained glass, the loveliest of children’s clothes and the cutest of wooden gifts and toys to name just a few.

A full list of those taking part will be available on social media in the weeks leading up to the event.

We are so excited to be welcoming Harry Bird back to the tipi! Drawing on British folk, Americana and other world music genres, his live performances are an intimate cabaret of finely crafted songs, freewheeling anecdotes and good humour. Original, entertaining and thought provoking, his feel-good shows are not to be missed.

Harry Bird is an internationally acclaimed songwriter and has spent the last 15 years touring hundreds of venues all over Europe and beyond with his guitar, multilingual vocals and a passion for connecting with audiences of all kinds. Now based in Glasgow, after many years in the Basque region, his touring band is made up of bluegrass maestros Rain of Animals and Dundee favourite Sinderins’ Gavin McGinty.

Doors open at 7pm with music starting around 7.30pm and the bar will be open serving a selection of drinks and snacks. This is a standing gig, but please do let us know if you require a chair.

Live Entertainment in the Lounge Bar with Scott Ramsay Singer Guitarist