John Lennon arts festival set for Scotland

The Scottish village of Durness is planning a major festival to be held in honor of John Lennon later this year. Lennon's first cousin Stanley Parkes is involved in the John Lennon Northern Lights Festival and told 24dash.com that, "John would be both delighted and surprised that he had inspired such a great festival in a part of the world he loved. This is not about exploiting his fame, it is about celebrating his inspiration -- and that is why so many leading artists and John's family have supported and endorsed the event."

The John Lennon Northern Lights Festival will run from September 28th through the 30th. Among the notable guests will be Parkes, Lennon's half-sister Julia Baird, and Paul McCartney's former publicist Geoff Baker.

Parkes explained that Durness is the perfect home for an arts festival celebrating Lennon's life: "John was more than a musician -- he loved painting, drawing and writing in Durness and that is also well reflected in the festival's arts. Few places meant more to John than Durness. It was often when he was at his happiest."

Lennon's half-sister Julia Baird said, "I am delighted to be involved in what is a high quality event which has taste and respect at its core. We are all looking forward very much to coming again to a place that meant so much to my brother."

Lennon often spent childhood holidays there while visiting relatives between the ages of nine and 13. In July 1969 he, wife Yoko Ono, her daughter Kyoko Cox, and his son Julian Lennon returned there.

For more information log on to northhighlandsscotland.com/festival.
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