TRIBUTE will be paid to the late Frightened Rabbit singer Scott Hutchison at this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, the organisers have announced.
The band were due to headline the Hot House stage at the event which will take place in Beauly in the Highlands from August 2-4, performing their seminal album The Midnight Organ Fight in full.
However, the band has not performed since Hutchison took his own life in May.
Frightened Rabbit appeared at Belladrum in 2008, 2012 and 2014, while Hutchison also gave an impromptu solo acoustic performance at the 2012.
Organisers say that rather than find a replacement band, Belladrum will play the album with a video tribute to Scott in the headline slot.
There will be a collection for SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health), the charity chosen by Frightened Rabbit.
Festival promoter Joe Gibbs said: “A donation will also be made by Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival and we will be working alongside the Frightened Rabbit team to partner with their chosen charity to become our official Belladrum 2019 charity, details of which will be announced shortly.
“Following suggestions from fans and our own deliberations, we felt that a tribute to Scott and the band would be more appropriate than any other course of action. Playing the album live will be a chance for everyone to come together to pay tribute to and remember both Scott and the band’s outstanding contribution to Scottish music.”
SAMH director of external affairs Jo Anderson said: “A huge thank you to Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival for raising money for SAMH. All of us at SAMH were really sad to hear of Scott’s death. The outpouring of support we have received from the public in memory of Scott has been hugely inspiring.
“Scott’s lyrics have clearly resonated with many, and we hope Frightened Rabbit fans attending Belladrum will be encouraged to open up and talk, something Scott did through his music.”
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