Artistes
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | I | J | K | M | N | R | S | T |
The Addie Harper Band
Addie Harper Jr has been playing accordion all over Scotland and other parts of the world, doing live & prerecorded radio and TV broadcasts for more than 30 years. Addie has recorded for many different recording companies and also plays with many different bands including the very popular Fergie Macdonald Ceilidh Band.
Performance Dates
Assembley Rooms,Wick, Tuesday 8th September
Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham
Dr Phil Cunningham MBE
Widely regarded as one of the most exciting and innovative accordion players of the times, Phil Cunningham has taken this instrument from strength to strength, setting the standards by which many young players fix their sights today.
Phil’s early work with leading Scots band Silly Wizard (1976-1986) reclaimed a place for the accordion in the traditional music world.
The accordion being only one of the strings to his bow, as a multi-instrumentalist he works extensively in television and film as a composer, musical director and presenter. He is much sought after as a record producer and he manages to juggle all of these diverse commitments enabling him to continue touring and recording with long time musical partner and friend Aly Bain.
Dr Aly Bain MBE
Aly Bain is Scotland's supreme traditional style fiddler. His playing is unique - driving, impassioned and pure - with vibrant, unmistakable tone that has earned him a following of ardent fans throughout the world. Born in Lerwick, Shetland in 1946 Aly began playing the fiddle at the age of eleven. In his early twenties, Aly headed to mainland Scotland. His dramatic playing, with great tone and technical ability brought early recognition as an outstanding musician of the folk music revival, and almost overnight, raised the level of expectation for music lovers throughout the country.
Aly and Phil have toured annually together since 1988 and have recorded six albums together.These ambassadors of Scottish music have both been awarded MBEs and doctorates for their services to Scottish Music. In 2003 Phil was voted Best Instrumentalist in the Scottish Traditional Music Awards. In 2005 they were awarded Best Duo in the BBC Folk Awards and Phil was awarded 'Composer of the Year' at the 2007 STMA awards.
Community Hall, Nairn, Monday 7th September
Assembly Rooms, Wick, Tuesday 8th September
Badenoch Centre, Kingussie, Wednesday 9th September
Anna Murray
Brought up in Back on the Isle of Lewis, Anna learned at a young age to sing in her native language of Gaelic and started playing the Highland bagpipes age ten.
After Early Mod successes, television appearances and requests to perform at ceilidhs all over the islands she recorded her debut recording ‘Out of the Blue’ (KRL/Lochshore) age 20.
'Out of the Blue' offers a contemporary angle on Gaelic song and piping, the Scottish small pipes and she was accompanied on a range of instruments including cittern, button box and African percussion.
In 1997her second album ‘Into Indigo’ was released on Lochshore, following in a similar musical vein with greater song content and introducing many new tunes played on both Highland and small pipes. Guitar and bouzouki form the backbone of the accompaniment, which also features very un-Gaelic blues harmonica and Hammond organ!
Her third album 'Tri Nithean' was released in January 2001 at Celtic Connections. Anna continues to play and sing at festivals, concerts and television appearances. She sometimes performes with the guitarist/singer Brian Ó hEadhra.
Performance dates
Eden Court, Inverness, Saturday 5th September
Barra MacNeils
As a group, the six MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the greatest live acts in the Celtic world. Hailing from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture and history. Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal.
The Barra MacNeils live concert experience brings so much more to the stage than most live acts ever can. Multiple lead vocalists, beautiful sibling harmonies, top drawer instrumental prowess on a wide variety of acoustic, stringed, percussion and wind instruments, dancing, storytelling, Gaelic songs and a journey through an ancient culture. Family entertainment at its highest level.
Steeped in Cape Breton tradition with strong Celtic roots and musical artistry, this diverse and talented family group continues to wow audiences around the world with their captivating vocals, harmonies and extraordinary musicianship.
Multi-award winners, the Barra MacNeils have released numerous recordings including, Racket In the Attic (2002), Christmas Album (1999), Until Now (1997), The Question (1995), The Traditional Album (1994), Closer to Paradise (1993 - Certified Gold in Canada), Timeframe (1990), Rock in the Stream (1989), The Barra MacNeils (1986). In 2001, they released a DVD titled Cape Breton Christmas incorporating music from their live Christmas Concert Special (as seen on television), plus a visit to Cape Breton, interviews with the Barra MacNeils home at Christmas and music videos.
The Barra MacNeils will continue to do what they love to do best, and that is playing their music for the fans. This incredibly talented family group will tour Canada, the US and Europe to spread their distinctive brand of Celtic flavour around the world.
Performance dates
Aros, Portree, Wednesday 9th September
Village Hall, Roybridge, Thursday 10th September
Carnegie Hall, Clashmore, Friday 11th September
Eden Court, Inverness, Saturday 12th September
Blair Douglas
Accordionist Blair Douglas was a founder member of the bands Runrig, Mactalla and Cliar, and has created a series of highly-regarded recordings under his own name. Over a decade ago, along with Arthur Cormack, singer Shona MacDonald and photographer Colin MacLean he collaborated in a project called 'Skye, The Island', a touring exhibition of photographs, song and music inspired by the island's unique culture and landscape. Producing an album and selling tapes as the exhibition toured, they went on to launch the Macmeanmna record label, initially to distribute Blair Douglas' music.
Blair was born and brought up in Skye. On his mother's side he has strong connections with North Uist while his father's people had moved to Skye from the Border country around 150 years ago. When he was 15 the family relocated to Glasgow but returned to their home in Braes after a number of years in the city.
Blair was inspired to buy an accordion after hearing the playing of the late, lamented Niall Cheòis of Lewis. In 1973, having quickly mastered the instrument he teamed up with Calum and Rory MacDonald, fellow Skyemen with North Uist connections. Together they formed the Run Rig Dance Band to play at the North Uist & Bernera Association concert in Glasgow. The band's background was in Gaelic/Highland music though somewhat tempered by exposure to rock so much so that part of their original repertoire allegedly included "gems" such as Whisky in the Jar and Snoopy vs the Red Baron, both classics for 70's cover bands.
During this time the band played mostly at the weekends allowing Blair to continue as a student at Glasgow University where he graduated with an economics degree. A short flirtation with a full time playing career in the late 70's proved unsuccessful and eventually led to Blair and Runrig (the 'Dance Band' tag having by this time been dumped) going their separate ways. However Blair did return to play on Run Rig's Recovery in 1981.
His first solo album, Celtology, came out in 1984 and featured songs rather than his better known instrumental style. It also included a few compositions which were not his own. Subsequent CDs are remarkable because the material is largely Blair's own. Beneath the Beret published in 1990 included Kate Martin's Waltz which became an instant hit with traditional musicians and remains a classic of the genre and Solus m'Aigh a beautifully haunting song which he dedicated to his friend Fr. Colin MacInnes. Blair Douglas's acclaimed 1996 recording A Summer in Skye is as much a delight as it is unprecedented. The compositions are all Blair's, a considerable achievement in itself, but what is so remarkable is his ability to create material which is diverse, imagininative and appealing.Compositions in both the ancient and contemporary idioms of gaelic clture are represented, as are ones which echo some of the world's other traditions.
AIFREANN
Since ancient times man has sought through incantation, blessings, prayer and proverb to seek strength and hope by praising the indefinable mysteries of the universe. The Eucharistic celebration is “the centre of the Christian Community” and is at the heart of the Christian faith and life. It has exercised an enormous influence upon the development of music. Music and singing - Art - is a thing of great beauty and power. It creates an atmosphere of splendour and emotional strength. The Mass is more than vocal music: it is vocal music with a function. As part of a divine service, the standard by which the music of any Mass is judged, is the extent to which it enters into an active and intimate connection with the holy offering. As servants of worship, music and song possess the power to put the soul in devout contact with the Lord, arousing and expressing sentiments of praise, petition, expiation, thanksgiving, joy as well as sorrow, love, trust, peace.
Performance Dates
Inverness Cathedral, Inverness, Friday 4th September
St Mary's Church, Fort William, Saturday 5th September
St Mary's Church, Portree, Sunday 6th September
Blazin Fiddles
Who would have thought that what began as a project for the Highland Festival, 10 years ago, would continue as one of Scotland's top traditional bands? From remote village halls to the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, Blazin' Fiddles have delighted audiences with their highlands and islands tunes and tales. In the past decade no other band has quite captured the excitement, passion and the sensitivity of Scottish music.
During a performance, the audience has a rare opportunity to hear pieces featuring the regional styles of each fiddler followed by all hands jumping in for a wonderful explosion of music. Fiddles and bows blaze away with guitar and piano for one of the most exciting and memorable fiddle ensembles ever to take the stage.
Now aged 10 years, the band continues to provide a robust blend of music that is a delight to any palate, featuring a whole new set of tunes from their latest album, Blazin’ Fiddles Live.
Performance Dates
MacPhail Centre, Ullapool, Wednesday 9th September
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Skye, Thursday 10th September
Nevis Centre, Fort William, Friday 11th September
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Saturday 12th September
Calum MacCrimmon
Calum’s piping began in Edmonton in Canada. He and his family moved to Scotland in 1991 where he made a name in the solo piping competition scene. In 2000, Calum attended the RSAMD in Glasgow, where he excelled not only in piping, but also in whistle, guitar and composition.
Having gained his BA Honours degree in Scottish Music, Calum is presently pursuing a career as a tutor and performer across Scotland and is performing with such esteemed acts as The Unusual Suspects, Na Tri Seudan and The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. Last year, he was a finalist in the high profile BBC Young Traditional Musicain of the Year competition, which is held at Celtic Connections. Calum is also a talented composer and he successfully produced a New Voices commission for Celtic Connections 2007.
Performance Dates
Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, Friday 4th September
Dunvegan Castle, Skye, Saturday 5th September
Calum Stewart featuring Hal and Nikolaj
Emerging as a leading instrumentalist in contemporary European folk and world music, Calum stewart is establishing his unique style along the way, the sound of his wooden flute being fundamental to this.
Performance Dates
The Airport, Inverness, Wednesday 9th September
Mill Theatre, Thurso, Thursday 10th September
Canntaireachd
Two years ago Eilidh Mackenzie, through Fèis na h-Òige, formed “Canntaireachd”, a vocal group of Gaelic speaking youngsters all of whom have gone through Gaelic medium primary education in Inverness and are now in various secondary schools around the Inverness area – Millburn, IRA, Charleston and Fortrose Academies. The teenagers meet weekly and have built up quite a reputation for themselves as leading exponents of Gaelic vocal harmony singing. Their repertoire includes both traditional and contemporary Gaelic songs and as a group Canntaireachd has begun to pen its own compositions.
The name comes from the individual style of vocalisation adopted by pipers passing on tunes to students and other pipers with each piper having his or her own distinct form of canntaireachd. You can still hear canntaireachd today – among others, Rona Lightfoot is a wonderful exponent of this medium.
Fèis na h-Òige is a volunteer led Gaelic medium Fèis for children based in the Inverness area but open to all Gaelic speaking youngsters aged between 8 and 18. The Fèis runs winter monthly Saturday classes and culminates in a week-long tuition festival at the start of each summer.
Performance Dates
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Thursday 10th September
Cèilidh Trails
The various fèisean Cèilidh Trailers consist of bright young musicians and singers from all over the Highlands bringing their fresh talent their own specific areas. Many of the musicians featured in the Cèilidh Trail teams have attended their local fèis for many years. As well as their own regular summer tour, the Cèilidh Trailers also perform annually at the Blas Festival.
There are six different Cèilidh trails taking part in this years festival. One of the six, the Caledonian Canal Cèilidh Trail, is run by the Highland Council. The other five Cèilidh Trails arerun by local Fèisean: Fèisean Lochabair Cèilidh Trail (Lochaber), Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail (Ross-shire), Fèis an Earraich Cèilidh Trail (Skye & Lochalsh), Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trail (Sutherland), and Cairngorm Cèilidh Trail (Badenoch and Strathspey).
Cèilidh Trail projects often begin at the beginning of July with ten days of intense training during which the young performers work with top musicians from the traditional music world to develop their musical and performance skills.
After this intensive training period there is usually a three-week tour of each area which consist of a mixture of formal concerts, sessions and dances in a variety of venues – village halls, community centres, inns, boats and even ‘big sheds’! The idea is to give the musicians a real taste of how it is to be a professional traditional musician today; the versatility in gigs, the constant travelling, setting up an area for concerts and presenting material to your audience.
Performance Dates
Fèisean Lochabair CT, Village Hall, Glenuig, Friday 4th September, Roman Catholic Church, Fort William, Saturday 5th September, Nevis Centre, Fort William, Friday 11th September and Arainn Shuaineirt, Strontian, Saturday 12th September
Fèis an Earraich CT, Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, Friday 4th September, Dunvegan Castle, Skye, Saturday 5th September, St Mary's Church, Portree, Sunday 6th September and Village Hall, Glenelg, Saturday 12th September
Fèis Rois CT, Glen Ord Distillery, Muir of Ord, Friday 4th September, Memorial Hall, Resolis, Saturday 5th September and Village Hall, Lochcarran, Friday 11th September
Fèis Chataibh CT, Carnegie Hall, Clashmore, Friday 11th September
Caledonian Canal CT, Inverness Cathedral, Friday 4th September and Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Saturday 12th September
Cairngorm CT, Dalwhinnie Distillery, Saturday 5th September
Coisir Bunsgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis
Gaelic School Choir
Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, the Council's first designated purpose-built all Gaelic school opened in August 2007. The school, with seven classrooms and associated communal space has been designed for a maximum roll of 150 pupils. The school includes a nursery which incorporates a wrap-around childcare facility. There is also a multi-purpose hall, with retractable seating, a sports pitch and Parental Resource Room as well as accommodation for an ECS Gaelic Development Officer whose remit is to promote community activities. The school is already becoming a focus for Gaelic events and organisations in the local community with Inverness Gaelic choir meeting in the School Hall on a regular basis.
Key features of the school are:-
- Gaelic Medium Education
- Gaelic Nursery Education for 3 and 4 year olds
- Wrap around childcare and Breakfast Club
- After School Clubs
- Parental Resource Room
- Community Facilities for Gaelic clubs and organisations in Inverness
As well as entertaining the First Minister, the Right Honourable Alex Salmond, when he performed the official opening of the new school in January 2008, o musicians representing the school have already made several appearances at Eden Court Theatre. This has included a Fàilte event for the Polish/Gaelic community in Inverness as well as children from the school being part of the programme for the Friends of Highland Music cèilidh which was held in November 2008. The children at Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis benefit from Gaelic music tuition which they receive weekly from Mrs Ellen Jack.
Performance Dates
Bunsgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis (Gaelic School), Inverness, Tuesday 8th September
Dagger and Neil Gordon
Dagger Gordon is best known as a mandolin player from the Highlands, where he farms near Invergordon. He has released 2 solo albums and recorded with Black Donald and Highland Connection. He plays for ceilidh dances, takes Scottish music into primary schools as a tutor with Youth Music Initiative, teaches guitar and mandolin and works with youthful traditional music groups such as The Kiltearn Fiddlers and Gizzen Briggs. His 1988 release ‘Highland Mandolin’ was the first album of Scottish music to feature the mandolin. He is also known as a composer.
Dagger and his wife Julie (a great singer) have three sons who all play Scottish music. Colin and Donald are both guitarists. Neil plays fiddle and piano and is looking forward to playing in a duo with his dad at this year’s Blas. He has benefitted greatly from Feis Rois, especially masterclasses with such fiddlers as Gordon Gunn and Charlie MacKerron. He has appeared with Iain Fraser at Ceolraidh and played at the Traditional Music Awards in Fort William.
Dagger first started playing traditional music in the early 70’s, when he formed a band with his old friend Duncan MacGillivray and Christine Martin, who now runs a music publishing company in Skye. Few people were playing the kind of music we have come to associate with Blas at that time.
Performance Dates
Village Hall, Glenuig, Friday 4th September
Village Hall, Poolewe, Saturday 5th September
Village Hall, Drumnadrochit, Monday 7th September
Carnegie Hall, Portmahomack, Tuesday 8th September
Darren MacLean
Darren MacLean (23) is one of Scotland’s leading young Gaelic singers. Born into a family of singers – his great uncle Calum Kennedy was an internationally renowned doyen of Gaelic song – Darren began singing as a youngster at home in Roag, near Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye. He competed at his first local mod at the age of four and within a year he had won his first competition, an achievement rewarded with entry into the National Mod, where he came fourth and received the trophy for the highest marks in Gaelic.
Performance Dates
Assembly Rooms, Wick, Tuesday 8th September
Aros Centre, Portree, Wednesday 9th September
Dingwall Gaelic Choir
The Dingwall Gaelic Choir was formed in 1954. Since then it has enjoyed many successes, both nationally and internationally.
They participate annually in Scotlands most prestigious Gaelic Festival, the Royal National Mod, and have won many of the top choral awards, most importantly the Lovat and Tullibardine shield.
The choir have been to the Vancouver Provincial Mod in Canada twice, coming home with outstanding success.
The choir meets regularly at Dingwall Primary School.
Performance Dates
Dingwall Academy, Thursday 10th September
Dougie MacLean
Dougie MacLean is considered by many to be Scotland's pre-eminent singer-songwriter. He is certainly one of the country's greatest musical treasures. Labeled a "Scottish James Taylor" by some and “world music with deep Scottish roots” by others, MacLean is renowned for the uniqueness of his meaningful, haunting and emotion-filled songs and distinctive and dramatic fiddle playing. Dougie MacLean has built an international reputation as songwriter, composer and extraordinary performer on his own terms. This talent has taken his performance to concerts and festivals all over the world and to the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York. His Scottish concerts have included Culzean Castle (alongside Lou Reed and Eddie Reader), sellouts at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the Old Fruitmarket, BBC Proms in the Park, The Castle Esplanade, Stirling Castle and Eden Court Theatre. His songs have been covered by hosts of artists including young Scottish ‘stars’ Paolo Nuttini and Amy MacDonald, Irish singers Mary Black, Dolores Keane and Deanta, and Grammy award winning US country singer Kathy Mattea, and his Caledonia has topped the Scottish charts and become one of Scotland’s most popular contemporary songs. His music has been used in Hollywood films (eg Last of the Mohicans), TV Drama (eg BBC’s A Mug’s Game) and he has been the subject of three BBC TV Specials (The Land-Songs of Dougie MacLean, SongRoads and Clann na Mara- Children of the Sea).
A Dougie MacLean Band concert offers a full, rich and varied musical experience, mixing traditional and modern instrumentation and weaving magic around songs from MacLean’s 18 successful albums including Turning Away, The Gael and the ‘unofficial’ anthem Caledonia. “All members of the band are multi-talented…switching instruments effortlessly…a great concert experience!” (Scotsman)
"...a Scottish phenomenon...with his exquisite guitar style, expressive voice and honest performance, his songs conjure up remarkably vivid imagery of our world"
(The Performing Songwriter, USA)
"Strong yet subtle, hauntingly evocative yet contemporary in feel, this music demands listening to over and over again."(Time Out, UK)
"..a Musical Hero."
(Wall Street Journal, USA)
Performance Dates
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Thursday 10th September
Nevis Centre, Fort William, Friday 11th September
Duncan and Iain MacGillvray
Ex-Battlefield band piper/whistle/guitar player Duncan MacGillivray is no stranger to festival crowds. He currently plays with The Ghillies and as a solo musician. He is a farmer in Easter Ross and has six children, all who play musical instruments. He is joined on stage by his eldest son Iain who plays pipes, fiddle, whistle & bodhran. Has studied Gaelic and music in Benbecula and Sabhal Mor Ostaig in Skye. He currently is studying in Duluth, Minnesota.
Performance Dates
Village Hall, Glenuig, Friday 4th September
Village Hall, Poolewe, Saturday 5th September
Phipps Hall, Beauly, Sunday 6th September (Duncan only)
Village Hall, Drumnadrochit, Monday 7th September
Carnegie Hall, Portmahomack, Tuesday 8th September
Foulis Castle, Evanton, Friday 11th September (Duncan only)
Duncan Chisholm
Duncan Chisholm was born in Inverness in 1968, was taught by the late Donald Riddell for eight years, and joined The Highland Strathspey and Reel Society when he was ten, then moved into the Scottish dance band scene at fifteen and finally got in tow with folk musicians Highland Connection and Norman Stewart at the age of seventeen. After that Wolfstone became his life.
Duncan continues to record and tour with Wolfstone as well as the Orcadian singer-songwriter Ivan Drever. He also works as a session musician as well as going out as a solo artist.
Performance Dates
Jacobite Cruise, Loch Ness, Friday 11th September
Eilidh Mackenzie
Eilidh Mackenzie is a Gaelic singer and songwriter brought up on the Isle of Lewis and now living on the Black Isle, near Inverness, Scotland. As a soloist she is a mod gold medallist and for the past ten years has been performing with her sisters, Gillian and Fiona, in the band Mackenzie.
Over the years she has worked with many musicians including Arthur Cormack, Christine Primrose, Alison Kinnaird, Blair Douglas, Michael Marra, Chris Marra, Ged Grimes, Calum Malcolm and Billy Jackson. She has recorded 5 albums, 1 solo, 1 with the band Mac-talla, 1 with Billy Jackson and 2 with the band Mackenzie. For seven years she was the music instructor at the Gaelic medium unit, Central Primary, Inverness and then latterly at Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhirnis.
As a song-writer, she has been commissioned by events such as The Brahan Seer festival, Lasair Dhe Project and the Sorley Maclean Trust, as well as writing for herself and Mackenzie, the band. In 2005 she wrote (music and songs) and produced the first Gaelic musical - Taigh Mairi Anndra, performed by children from the Gaelic medium school in Inverness to a capacity audience in Eden Court's main auditorium.
www.myspace.com/eilidhmackenzie
Performance Dates
Phipps Hall, Beauly, Sunday 6th September
Foulis Castle, Evanton, Friday 11th September
Ewan Robertson
24-year-old guitarist and singer Ewan Robertson hails from Carrbridge in Strathspey. He was introduced to traditional music at an early age, attending ceilidhs in the village hall and listening to Capercaillie tapes in the back of his mum’s Volkswagen Beetle! He began learning fiddle and chanter at the age of seven, studying both at school and privately, and through the local Fèis movement which provided him with the opportunity to perform with other young musicians and learn from those who inspired him.
Ewan was accepted into the National Centre of Excellence for Traditional Music in Scotland in 2000 where he studied fiddle and pipes. A shortage of accompanists at the school, however, led Ewan experimenting with the guitar, an instrument he continued to play whilst he was enrolled for a degree in Outdoor Education in Glasgow. Here he used the vibrant session scene to develop a very driving style of guitar accompaniment.
Ewan Graduated with First Class Honours in 2005 and helped to form the band Breabach, who won a Danny Award at Celtic Connections in 2005, and were nominated for Scottish Folk Band of the Year at the 2007 Scots Trad Music Awards. More recently Ewan became the first singer / guitarist to win the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award. When not on the road playing music, Ewan works as a part time fire fighter in Carrbridge.
Performance Dates
Glen Ord Distillery, Muir of Ord, Friday 4th September
Dalwhinnie Distillery, Saturday 5th September
Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain, Sunday 6th September
Village Hall, Portnalong, Skye, Monday 7th September
Ben Nevis Distillery, Fort William, Tuesday 8th September
Fèis a' Bhaile and Fèis na h-Òige
The 2
Performance Dates
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Thursday 10th September
Fergie MacDonald
Fergie MacDonald has been Scotland's top ceilidh band leader for almost half a century. He has a whole range of stories, tunes and anecdotes from his long and varied career, starting with his university days in Glasgow. National Service and the years spent touring throughout the United Kingdom and abroad with his band. The 1960s were Fergie's heyday, with the pinnacle of his success occurring in 1966, when 'The Loch Maree Islands' hit number one in the Scottish charts. During the 1970s Fergie slipped out of the public eye when his life was beset by personal problems and he gave up playing. In the late 1980s Fergie the Band Leader was re-born, and, much in demand, still continues to tour with his players today. Fergie's story Is living proof that staying power is a virtue and this book presents a marvellous insight into this uniquely talented man and the world of Scottish folk bands.
Performance Dates
Assembly Rooms, Wick, Tuesday 8th September
Village Hall, Glenelg, Saturday 12th September
Fiona MacAskill
Fiona MacAskill is a fiddle player from the
Performance Dates
Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, Friday 4th September
Dunvegan castle, Skye, Saturday 5th September
Gerry and Dónal O' Connor
Gerry O'Connor is one of Ireland's most outstanding fiddle players. His unique personal style and splendidly fluid bow-hand combined with technical virtuosity have earned him international renown. He is joined on fiddle and piano by his son Dónal O’Connor, who carries forward the family tradition of producing great fiddle players.
Performance Dates
Village Hall, Glenuig, Friday 4th September
Village Hall, Poolewe, Saturday 5th September
Phipps Hall. Beauly, Sunday 6th September
Village Hall, Drumnadrochit, Monday 7th September
Carnegie Hall, Portmahomack, Tuesday 8th September
Gordon Gunn
One of the founder members of Session A9 and also tours with his own Gordon Gunn band. Gordon is also a respected fidle tutor, composer and session musician. His compositions have been recorded by many artistes including Session A9, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain, Ingrid Henderson and American fiddler Rodney Miller to name but a few.
Performance Dates
Phipps Hall, Beauly, Sunday 6th September
Foulis Castle, Evanton, Friday 11th September
Iain MacFarlane
Iain MacFarlane has become one of the most sought-after fiddlers in Scotland. Best known for his role in the dynamic ‘Blazin’ Fiddles’, Iain has been steeped in traditional music all his days being influenced by ‘greats’ such as his father Charlie, Donald Riddell, Fearchar MacRae and Evan MacRae.Since his teens Iain has played in many musical formations and projects such as Gaelic Drama, Contemporary Dance, Radio and Television. A graduate from the RSAMD BA Trad Music course, Iain is now the principle tutor at the School of Excellence in Traditional Music and does regular teaching stints at Feisean and the Irish World Music Centre.Much in demand as a session player he is equally at home playing for dances,ceilidhs and accompanying singers having worked most recently with Kathleen MacInnes and Margaret Stewart. In the past he has also stood in for the great Aly Bain of "Boys of the Lough.Iain’s other commitments are with the trio, Union Hill (Duncan Chisholm + Marc Clement), the Glenfinnan Ceilidh band and also in a duo with Iain MacDonald (ex Battlefield Band/ Ossian). It was from this duo that the now seminal album “First Harvest” emerged described in the Scotsman paper as the “best traditional album of Scottish Music to emerge in a decade from two of the foremost instrumentalists in the country.”
Performance Dates
Glen Ord Distillery, Muir of Ord, Friday 4th September
Dalwhinnie Distillery, Saturday 5th September
Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain, Sunday 6th September
Village Hall, Portnalong, Skye, Monday 7th September
Ben Nevis Distillery, Fort William, Tuesday 8th September
MacPhail Centre, Ullapool, Wednesday 9th September (with the Blazin' Fiddles)
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Skye, Thursday 10th September (with the Blazin' Fiddles)
Nevis Centre, Fort William, Friday 11th September (with the Blazin' Fiddles)
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Saturday 12th September (with the Blazin' Fiddles)
Ingrid Henderson
Lochaber based instrumentalist Ingrid Henderson has been steeped in traditional music all of her life. With early guidance from music tutors such as Savourna Stevenson, Angus Grant and strong family influences, Ingrid couldn’t help but fall into a musical career and began performing, touring and recording at a young age.
Performance Dates
Glen Ord Distillery, Muir of Ord, Friday 4th September
Dalwhinnie Distillery, Saturday 5th September
Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain, Sunday 6th September
Village Hall. Portnalong, Skye, Monday 7th September
Ben Nevis Distillery, Fort William, Tuesday 8th September
Arainn Shuainert, Strontian, Saturday 12th September
Ishbel MacAskill
Ishbel MacAskill comes from the Point area of the Island of Lewis. She was brought up with the rich heritage of centuries old Gaelic music and song which still survives in Point and indeed all over the island of Lewis. Her music and culture are immensely important in her life and for several years she was very much involved in teaching traditional Gaelic singing to children at the numerous Feisean (festivals of music and song) throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
She fervently believes this approach to be a positive contribution to the revival of the language. She is deeply motivated by the rich beauty of her heritage of Gaelic music and poetry. She is especially moved by the intensely emotive quality of the poetry and, through her unique delivery, manages to convey to her audiences a feeling of involvement in the colourful history and culture of the Gael.Her particular style of unaccompanied, traditional singing, her numerous radio and television performances and countless world-wide live appearances has established her position as probably the best known Gaelic singer today.Regular appearances in her leading acting role in the Gaelic television drama, Machair, has also made her familiar to Scottish television viewers.
Her singing takes her to venues throughout the U.K., Ireland, Europe, The Far East and North America. Her recordings are always in demand at home and abroad and significantly, sell to people who have never before heard the Gaelic language. Whether her audience is Gaelic speaking or not her English introductions to these centuries old songs of love, war, sea and landscape, exile and life itself make each one a memorable experience.
Performance Dates
Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis (The Gaelic School), Inverness, Tuesday 8th September
Badenoch Centre, Kingussie, Wednesday 9th September
Village Hall, Roybridge, Thursday 10th September
James Graham
James Graham is a young man on a mission. The parish of Assynt in the far north west of Sutherland, where James's home town of Lochinver is situated, was once rich in Gaelic song, and gathering as many of these songs and sharing them with audiences around the world has become James's goal. Winning the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2004 award - not only was James the first Gaelic singer he is also the first male winner.
Performance Dates
Aviemore Highland Resort, Sunday 6th September
Community Hall, Nairn, Monday 7th September
Village Hall, Lochinver, Tuesday 8th September
Dingwall Academy, Dingwall, Thursday 10th September (with Na Seòid)
Aros, Portree, Friday 11th September (with Na Seòid)
Astely Hall, Arisaig, Saturday 12th September (with Na Seòid)
James MacKenzie
James Mackenzie and Friends is a collaboration of highly enthused young traditional musicians. They bring together the vibrancy of James’ highland bagpipe, the dynamic of Robert Nairn’s button box and the energy of Matheu Watson’s driving guitar accompaniment. They are influenced by the music of the West coast and together produce a unique live sound.
Performance Dates
Village Hall, Glenelg, Saturday 12th September
Karen Matheson
After huge demand Scotland’s premier Gaelic vocalist hits the road for some rare solo performances with her band - (James Grant on guitars, Ewen Vernal on double bass and Donald Shaw on piano).
Much of the material will be drawn from her last album release ‘’Downriver’’– a stunning acoustic based project which provided the perfect platform for her typically emotional vocal delivery that has stunned audiences around the world and made her a household name in the UK music scene.
Widely recognised as the haunting vocals of Celtic super-group Capercaillie, Karen was given an OBE in the 2006 New Years Honours list, an astonishing achievement to add to her award of “Best Gaelic singer” from the inaugural Scottish folk awards - just two of many plaudits earned from a career which began with her performing as a child in her local village hall on the West coast of Scotland.
As a solo performer, Karen has been involved in various projects of collaboration including the award winning BBC series Transatlantic Sessions, where she recorded tracks with Emmylou Harris, The McGarrigle Sisters, Nanci Griffith, Rufus Wainright and a host of respected musicians.She has been a regular performer at the sold out live shows of this event at the annual Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow.
With Capercaillie, described as: “the most exciting and vibrant band in the field of Celtic music today” (Billboard), Karen has enjoyed a stellar career. Capercaillie have sold more than a million albums across the world, performed in over thirty countries and written and starred in the blockbuster movie 'Rob Roy', with Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange, in which Karen performed a solo rendition of a Gaelic lament.
‘’..has the ability to inject pure emotion into a song.The kind of voice that can leave you shell-shocked’’ The Sunday Times
“[Downriver is] a gorgeous, understated gem” - HMV Choice
“A glorious capturing of a singer in her prime” - Irish Times
“...remarkable in English but breathtaking when she draws on Hebridean roots to sing in Gaelic.” - The Daily Telegraph
“Karen Matheson has a throat that is surely touched by God’’. - Sean Connery
Karen’s website: www.karenmatheson.com
Performance Dates
Aviemore Highland Resort, Aviemore, Sunday 6th September
Kenna Campbell
As a singer, teacher, tradition bearer, song source and advocate for the language, Kenna Campbell has made an invaluable contribution to Gaelic song.
Her individual successes, including the Gold Medal at the 1959 National Mod and her acclaimed CD Guth a Shnìomhas, have been matched by her nurturing of natural talents, including her daughters, Wilma and Mary Ann Kennedy.
Performance Dates
Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, Friday 4th September
Dunvegan castle, Skye, Saturday 5th September
Kiltearn Fiddlers
Award winning Kiltearn Fiddlers emerged from a Fèis Rois Community class set up in 1990. This exciting youth group has entertained audiences at festivals, ceilidhs and charitable events including Le Festival de Cornouaille, Brittany, Edinburgh International Fiddle Festival and Blas. In 2006/2007 they were winners at the International Eisteddfod, Llangollen, Wales.
Performance dates
Foulis Castle, Evanton, Friday 11th September
Kirsteen MacDonald
Kirsteen MacDonald is from Inverness. She has been immersed in Gaelic language and culture from an early age receiving her education primarily through the medium of Gaelic.
Kirsteen has gone onto win the two highest accolades for solo singing at the Royal National Mod as a senior, winning the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal in Dunoon in 2006 and more recently, the Traditional Gold Medal in Falkirk in 2008.
Performance Dates
Inverness Airport, Wednesday 9th September
MacGregor, Brechin & Ó hEadhra
Bruce MacGregor, Sandy Brechin & Brian Ó hEadhra blend some of the finest musicianship and singing to come out of Scotland in recent years. The trio first performed together as the House Band at Hebridean Celtic Festival 2006 in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Individually they perform with their own highly acclaimed acts; Bruce in Blazin’ Fiddles, Sandy in Burach and Brian in Anam.
These three seasoned artistes have drawn on a wealth of tunes and songs from the Gaelic and Scots traditions, as well as each being acclaimed composers in their own right. Not only are Bruce, Sandy and Brian excellent musicians, but they are also loved by audiences for their witty and entertaining live performance.
The trio performed again at the Blas Festival 2007 where they received a five star review from the Scotsman newspaper:
“Perfectly pitched mix of lively dance tunes, evocative slow airs and Gaelic songs earned both rapt attention and noisy applause, culminating in a fully fledged cèilidh.” *****
With their phenomenal track record and years of experience, it’s no wonder that festivals and audiences return again and again to see this great show.
Performance Dates
Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis (The Gaelic School), Inverness, Tuesday 8th September
Mary Ann Kennedy & Na Seòid
Mary Ann Kennedy & Na Seóid have quickly established themselves as a tour-de-force within the current Gaelic and Scottish music scene. The group comprises seven formidable male voices, wonderfully wrapped around a single female voice, all of which is further augmented with a multi-instrumental approach into the bargain. A stunning sound.
Performance Dates
Dingwall Academy, Dingwall, Thursday 10th September
Aros, Portree, Friday 11th September
Astely Hall, Arisaig, Saturday 12th September
Margaret Ford
Margaret Ford (Maclellan) was brought up on the small island of Eilean Shona in Loch Moidart, and in Mingarry which is a small village in west Lochaber. From a young age she was surrounded by music - her father was an excellent piper and her mother a fine Gaelic singer. She began singing at the age of 5 and sung at many ceilidhs, at local and National Mods as a soloist and with choirs including Mingarry School choir, Lochaber High School Choir and the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association. She won the Oban Times Gold medal in 1994, the Mod Gold Medal in 1995, the Traditional Gold medal in 1996 and the International Traditional singing competition at the Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland in1997. She has sung at numerous ceilidhs and festivals throughout Scotland, and has also travelled as far as Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, Italy and Ireland to perform. She has also appeared on many television and radio programmes including, ‘Seudan a chuain’, ‘Fàilte’, ‘Aig cridhe ar ciùil’, ’Togaidh sinn fonn’ and ‘Brìgh an òrain’. She is particularly interested in learning and performing songs from her own native part of West Lochaber. With her family of four young daughters (and patient husband!) and a busy career in teaching in a Gaelic medium class at Acharacle Primary School, Margaret has less time available to concentrate on singing, but enjoys performing when time allows.
Performance Dates
Arainn Shuaineirt, Strontian, Saturday 12th September
Melvich Gaelic Choir
Melvich Gaelic Choir arrived home from the Royal National Mod 2008 in Falkirk with an abundance of prizes and are looking forward to taking part in Blas 2009.
Performance Dates
Assembly Rooms, Wick, Tuesday 8th September
Michael Marra
To Dundonians, he's the troubador poet who has sculpted from the rhythms and accents of their city a songbook so comprehensive it should be required listening for anyone venturing over the Tay Bridge. To football fans he's the author of Hamish the Goalie, an ode in song to Hamish MacAlpine, the legendary Dundee United stopper. And to connoisseurs of Scottish music he shares status with people like Bert jansch and Davy Graham.
Performance Dates
Resolis Memorial Hall, Saturday 5th September
Aviemore Highland Resort, Sunday 6th September
National Youth Pipe Band
The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland is a non-competing cutting edge performance pipe band for 10-25 year olds in Scotland. Launched in 2002, the National Youth Pipe Band is the first and only organisation of its kind to bring together Scotland’s most talented young musicians at a national level. Membership is drawn from across Scotland’s 32 councils, and young pipers and drummers come from an array of different competing pipe bands and musical backgrounds, brought together as a collection of the very best chosen to play for their country. The National Youth Pipe Band provides unique development opportunities for its young members and an exceptional musical experience for its audiences. The NYPB is a dynamic, exciting, and modern spin on the traditional pipe band experience, and performs both at home and abroad.
Performance Dates
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Saturday 5th September
Northern Constabulary Pipe Band
Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band (Pipe Major : Kenny Watson) was set up in 2002 and debuted in 2003. Membership comprises Police staff members, extended family, and members of the public. It is supported by the City of Inverness Common Good Fund and is registered as a Scottish Charity: SC033704.
Performance Dates
Eden Court, Inverness, Saturday 5th September
Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson
Ross Ainslie (Scottish bagpipes, whistles) and Jarlath Henderson (uilleann pipes, whistles) first started playing together in 2003 at Armagh's William Kennedy Piping Festival, and have since joined forces to create a pipe sound that pushes the boundaries of what both Irish and Scottish instruments can achieve together.
Jarlath has been a three time All-Ireland Champion Uilleann Piper at only 19 years of age. In December 2003 he became the first Irish musician to win the prestigious BBC Young Folk Musician Of The Year. Ross hails from Perth and is a former member of the Grade 1 Vale Of Atholl pipe band. He has since toured with his tutor, the late Gordon Duncan, and was involved in Ivan Drever's band Clueless before more recently playing with Flook!, Dougie MacLean and Salsa Celtica.
The have recorded an album together called Partners In Crime which features many new compositions, along with traditional tunes as never heard before. Guests include Paul Meehan, Caomhin Vallely, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh, Ali Hutton and Rick Standley.
Performance Dates
Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, Saturday 5th September<