Time to get back to your roots again—roots music, that is—with the welcome return of what’s become a major highlight in Stirling’s annual events calendar, The Blend. And this year, it’s spreading into the Trossachs too.

Now in its fifth year, Stirling’s roots music festival ‘The Blend’ takes place this year from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 March at The Tolbooth, the city’s vibrant centre for the arts in the heart of the Old Town area.

The Blend gives audiences the chance to experience some of the most innovative sounds on the Scottish traditional music scene as well as a variety of roots music artists from around the world.

Artists taking part this year include Aidan O’Rourke, named Instrumentalist of the Year 2006 at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards, songwriter Karine Polwart, influential guitarist Davey Graham, and flamboyant New Orleans musician C J Chenier with his Red Hot Louisiana Band.

For the first time ever, the main festival is preceded by a range of superb ‘Rural Blend’ performances and workshops taking place from 3 to 10 March in the beautiful villages of Killin, Balfron and Brig O’Turk.

Alasdair Campbell, Artistic Director, said: “A festival is about much more than putting on a few concerts. It’s about the people who come along and the places it’s held. This is a really special year for the festival and we look forward to welcoming visitors who will enjoy stage performances of the highest quality in some of the most beautiful parts of Scotland”.

Further information about The Blend is available at www.theblendfestival.com