Traditional Scottish music orchestra Aberdeen Strathspey & Reel Society is celebrating its 80th anniversary this month and has a variety of events planned for the coming year to mark the occasion.

The events start with a 10 hour fundraising music marathon which is being held on Saturday 2 February 2008 at Grampian Society for the Blind, 21 John Street, Aberdeen from 9am to 7pm.

The music marathon is raising funds primarily for the Society's planned trip to Stavanger in June. There will be teas, coffees, snacks and other stalls throughout the music marathon. Entry is free and you can sponsor the Society on the day or via their website at www.aberdeenstrathspey.org.uk/marathon.

April sees the Society jointly hosting the popular Fiddlers' Spectacular at HMT Aberdeen. This will be the first time the Spectacular has returned to HMT since it was refurbished. In addition to the massed fiddles and accordions the guest line up includes internationally renowned vocal group Caledon and accomplished local comedy group The Flying Pigs.

The Society's conductor Graham Reid said "The show is shaping up to be a Spectacular that's been worth the wait and we're looking forward to being back at HMT". Tickets are on sale now at Aberdeen Box Office, Tel 01224 641122.

For June the Society is planning a weekend trip to Stavanger - one of Aberdeen's twin towns. You may well know that Liverpool is celebrating European City of Culture in 2008, but it is holding the title jointly with Stavanger.

The Society has already established a link with a Stavanger group that plays Hardanger style (traditional Norwegian) music. The trip to Stavanger aims to strengthen those links and broaden the members' experience of different traditional music styles, as well as contributing to the activities that Stavanger is organising as part of their cultural events in 2008.

In between the larger events there will be several smaller concerts. The orchestra regularly entertains or helps groups raise funds at various nursing homes, sheltered housing, hospitals, schools and churches.

After taking a break over the summer holidays rehearsals will start again at the beginning of September. The successful annual Fiddlers' Rally at Aberdeen Music Hall is in planning at the moment and provisionally booked for November. Keep an eye out for more details on the Society's website or via the Music Hall.

Aberdeen Strathspey & Reel Society President Graeme Henderson concluded "We've got a great year of activities ahead of us. The orchestra members are enthusiastic about our plans and new fiddle or accordion players are always welcome to our Monday evening rehearsals. We may be 80 in 2008, but we're not showing any signs of slowing down."

You can keep up to date with all the news and events of the Society on our website at www.aberdeenstrathspey.org.uk, or contact Secretary Karen Gill on 01224 676482.