Mining disaster will be marked with music
The team behind unique acoustic music afternoons in New Cumnock are getting ready to celebrate their second anniversary.
And organisers of Sweet Afton Water want to ensure a bumper crowd as they toast beating the odds to make it their second birthday.
The second anniversary show takes place on Sunday and will feature singing at the Town Hall from Graham Carter of Tananzie.
And after the singing, there’s an open floor music singing session and a raffle.
Jeff Crolley said: “We’ve had good musicians but the shows have just started to take off.
“Now we just want to get the crowds in so that we can keep it going.”
Sweet Afton Water have been putting on their performances every month in the Town Hall, building a loyal audience.
And as they celebrate the landmark they are looking towards the past, with an event to mark the Knockshinnoch mining disaster.
The accident happened in September 1950 when a lake flooded pits trapping more than a hundred miners underground.
A rescue effort took place over a number of days and eventually most men were pulled to safety – but 13 miners who were close to a heading died.
The 1952 film The Brave Don’t Cry, starring actors from Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre, was made about the disaster.
Now Sweet Afton Water will commemorate the disaster with a special afternoon of displays, talks, recital on Saturday, September 9.
Jeff said: “We’re going to do a special show for the Knockshinnoch disaster. We’re going to show the film, The Brave Don’t Cry.
“We’ll do our commemoration on the 9th and then the memorial service is later in the month.”
Sweet Afton Water returns to New Cumnock Town Hall with Graham Carter of Tananzie on Sunday from 2pm.
For more on SAW and information on the show to commemorate the Knockshinnoch disaster, search ‘ SAW Acoustic Music’ on Facebook.