When we spoke to Ron Fraser, director of Fraser Elite, about his family's affinity with music, this year's Under Canvas Stage Sponsor felt like a natural fit.

Ron tells us a bit more about his love of music and getting involved with this year's festival. 

It was a Christmas present of a plastic Beatles guitar that first got me playing when I was about seven years old. I’ve expanded my collection quite a bit since then - I now have at least 22 guitars (including my favourite made by my son Keiran), as well as a cornet, a saxophone and plenty more.

My dad was the one who got me on the stage for the first time. I remember finishing an Under 16s footie match one Saturday - while my friends headed home in their jeans and t-shirts, I was getting togged up in the tartan jacket and bow tie to head off and play for my dad’s country dance band!

I used to gig a fair bit in the late seventies but a career in the Navy (aboard a submarine) made for some significant operational constraints on a second career as a musician.

Our whole family is musical - my wife Julie is a talented singer and guitarist, and our son Nathan is a fantastic musician currently working as a drum tech for the band While She Sleeps. Any family gathering naturally turns into a bit of a hoolie!

After a life of travelling the world in the Forces, we came home to the Highlands where a personal experience of needing care support for our family led us to founding Fraser Elite. We knew the feeling of needing help all too well, not to mention the struggle of finding it, so with Julie’s background in nursing we decided to offer others the care we’d want for our own family. It began with just ourselves but we’ve since expanded and now have a whole team of brilliant care staff.

We are incredibly excited to be part of Under Canvas supporting the festival as Stage Sponsor. I am so proud that the "Fraser Elite stage" will be welcoming and providing paid opportunities for so many amazing musicians. It is quite a feeling to be part of making that happen!

This summer I will be enjoying watching rather than playing, and I’m especially looking forward to getting some of our team and clients along to enjoy some music on the Eden Court lawn.