Belladrum

Belladrum is a small community in the Mahaica-Berbice Region of Guyana, on the Atlantic coast, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) east of Mahaicony.

Geography

Belladrum is a rural area close to the sea wall on the northern coast of Guyana. It is below sea level and is rich with lush vegetation, rice fields, and wildlife. Due to frequent seasonal flooding, it is particularly good for growing rice.

Housing and employment

Housing is traditionally made of wood and stands on stilt-like columns. Recently houses made of concrete and breeze bloc are becoming more common. The people of Belladrum are very friendly and walk long distances in search of work. Historically the men of Belladrum would walk for miles daily to "dig shovel", digging canals and waterways in the cane fields or "cut cane" at the Bath or Blairmont sugar plantations.

Like many villages on Guyana's coastal plain Belladrum is laid out as a ribbon settlement with house lots on either side of the two-lane highway. Paved roads with shallow canals on either side are situated perpendicular to the public highway at the ends and middle of the village. Located south of the village is an area of land called the "backdam", consisting mainly of coconut trees and a variety of fruit trees interspersed. The trees are badly managed but very productive and serve as a source of income and food for many villagers. The coconuts are used for cooking or making oil. Some residents transport mangoes and other fruits from this area to the city, where they are sold at the Bourda or Stabroek market. In the backdam any particular plot of land and its vegetation is generally thought to be the property of the person or family directly north of the plot.

Tartan Heart Festival

The Tartan Heart Festival is a music festival, held on the Belladrum Estate near Inverness, in Scotland. It is normally held at the start of August. Founded in 2004, the festival has rapidly grown in popularity.

Background information

The festival is well known for its wide ranging musical scope, as well as its family friendly atmosphere, with a large dedicated family camp-site, as well as free entry for children under the age of 12. Previous acts that have played at the festival include Embrace, The Automatic, The Proclaimers, The Wombats, Travis, Tom Jones and many more.

As well as the main stages, there are a wide range of stalls and fringe acts, including one-man bands, alternative therapy tents, barbers, yoga and dance tuition, and the Miniscule of Sound, presenting itself as The World's Smallest Niteclub.

Fringe

As well As the festival itself there is also a Festival fringe which centres around the 2 weeks surrounding the festival. This usually finishes in the early hours of Hootananny's on the Thursday prior to the festival. The fringe's gigs have no entry-fee in some bars/pubs however others may charge, the fringe showcases a variety of Acts and Music Genres. The Fringe sets the mood in the run up to Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival on 8 and 9 August 2008, offering a musical trail around the Highlands for the intrepid music lover.