The wide-ranging programme of this year’s Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival includes Lady Nairne – Scotland’s Secret Songstress. Composer of around a hundred songs, including such classics as Charlie is my darling, Will ye no’ come back again  and The Rowan Tree, Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne (1766-1845, pictured) maintained such a strict anonymity that Robert Burns was sometimes believed to have composed her songs. In exploring the life of this mysterious songstress, Wendy Weatherby as Lady Nairne performs her songs on ‘cello and voice with narration and musical accompaniment (26th May at Easterbrook Hall).