16/05/07 - John Lennon Northern Lights Festival

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Some of Britain's greatest artists are to travel to a tiny highland village to pay homage to John Lennon in what will be one of the most extraordinary festivals ever to be staged in the country.

The John Lennon Northern Lights Festival has been endorsed by - and will also be attended by several members of the ex-Beatle's family - including his sister Julia Baird.

The three-day festival is being held in Durness, the most north westerly and remote village on mainland Britain, which has a population of just 356.

"John really loved Durness and would be very pleased that his influence was being celebrated with this festival," said Ms Baird, who will be taking part in the festival.

"I am delighted to be involved in what is a high quality event which has taste and respect at its core. We are all looking forward very much to coming again to a place that meant so much to my brother."

Tickets for the festival, which is being promoted by North Highland Tourism, are released today (Sat) on http://www.northhighlandsscotland.com/festival/

Durness was an area that greatly inspired Lennon - he spent his childhood holidays between the ages of 9 and 13 in the village - returned with his son Julian, wife Yoko Ono, and her daughter Kyoko in 1969.

Lennon also asked relatives shortly before his death in 1980 to try and buy Durness! The village is also said to be part of the inspiration for the seminal song In My Life.

Now The John Lennon Northern Lights Festival will be officially highlighted today (Sat, May 19) by the acclaimed Liverpool playwright Alan Bleasdale, who created the iconic tv series The Boys from the Blackstuff.

Mr Bleasdale will make only his fourth public appearance in the last 15 years to travel to Durness to work with local writers based in the North Highlands.

"Having held The Beatles in considerable awe most of my life, especially John Lennon, I am really delighted with this festival, especially knowing John's connections with the highlands," said Mr Bleasdale.

The announcement has been timed ahead of next month's 50th anniversary of Lennon's first public appearance and the 40th anniversary of the iconic Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Despite its remote location, over the last three months some of the country's top artists have committed to coming to Durness and villagers sworn to secrecy - until today (May 19).

And festival organisers are promising even more surprise "major" announcements between now and the festival which will be held between September 28 and 30 - a few days before Lennon's birthday of October 9.

But festival director Mike Merritt confirmed that Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the Queen's Master of Music, will lead lead the classical programme and present a world premiere of a Beatles Prom with the Royal Academy of Music, supported by the quartet Eclipse.

One of Scotland's rising singing stars, Julie Fowlis - who last year won Radio 2 newcomer of the year and is hailed by Sir Bob Geldof and Ricky Gervais among others - and Blazin Fiddles are part of the traditional music section.

Chart toppers Nizlopi, who had the number one hit The JCB Song, the brilliant King Creosote and Mr Hudson and The Library - one of the hottest new bands around - are among the contemporary acts.

Up and coming bands from Scotland, Merseyside and elsewhere will play from noon to midnight in one of the festival's ten venues - one, Rushmore, appear with Simply Red at the Royal Albert Hall for the whole of next week - while Britain's only mobile cinema, Screen Machine will feature Beatles' films!

Some of the country's leading poets including Carol Ann Duffy - described as "Britain's greatest living poet" - rising Scottish star Kevin MacNeil, Michael Horovitz, one of the last legendary Beat poets left who knew John Lennon - and the outrageous punk poet John Cooper Clarke, who inspired The Arctic Monkeys, will all be taking part.

One of Britain's leading painters Peter Howson - the official war artist in Bosnia - will stage an exhibition of Lennon with Frank McFadden, rated Scotland's best young painter.

The Jazz programme on Sunday, September 30, will also feature two of the country's top performers in Joe Stilgoe and Todd Gordon, who will present a special Lennon inspired tribute.

The writer and poet Alastair McIntosh, who has inspired Radiohead's Thom Yorke among others, is also taking part. He will also be rapping with Nizlopi in Britain's biggest sea cave, Smoo Cave.

Authors include Beatles' expert Steve Turner - who is also a well-known children's poet - and has sold over 1 million books.

John's oldest surviving relative, Stan Parkes - who shared his holidays with his famous cousin in Durness - will be taking part, as will other members of his family. In an unique event members of the public will be able to ask Ms Baird and her relatives all about their times with John.

Even the festival's shuttle bus will be driven by Iris Mackay, one of John's old Durness play pals - who will tell passengers about her times with John as she transports festival goers!

Many more artists will be revealed over the next few weeks.

"John would be both delighted and surprised that he had inspired such a great festival in a part of the world he loved," said Mr Parkes.

"This is not about exploiting his fame, it is about celebrating his inspiration - and that is why so many leading artists and John's family have supported and endorsed the event.

"John was more than a musician - he loved painting, drawing and writing in Durness and that is also well reflected in the festival's arts. Few places meant more to John than Durness. It was often when he was at his happiest."

The residents of Durness also hugely welcomed the festival - which has been financed by HIE Caithness and Sutherland - and hoped it would become an annual event.

"The Durness community will make every effort to give a real highland welcome to the many visitors that are expected, and will offer whatever help and assistance is required to make the event a roaring success and hope that it will become the first of many," said Mary Mackay, chairperson of Durness Community Council

The only permanent memorial to John Lennon in Scotland is in Durness in the form of a memorial garden - and the village also has a bookshop which has just published a novel based on John's links to the area. Its author, the politician Michael Russell is also appearing at the festival.

ENDS

PICS OF WEB PAGE RING MIKE MERRITT 07774637768

- PICS OF

(1) JOHN LENNON, YOKO ONO AND THEIR CHILDREN AT DURNESS,

(3) GENERAL SCENERY PICTURES OF DURNESS