Next month some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians will descend on Ullapool for a weekend of Gaelic and Scots music tuition and performances as part of this year’s Adult Fèis Rois.
Fèis Rois nan Inbheach, (Adult Fèis) is run by Dingwall arts organisation, Fèis Rois, and celebrates Gaelic and Scots music with a weekend of workshops, concerts and sessions. The event is open to adult learners and runs from Friday 28th April to Monday 1st May, including three days of music tuition as well as a full Fringe programme.
This year sees the 33rd edition of the event with a tutor line-up including fiddle players Lauren MacColl, Anna Massie, Chloë Bryce, Charlie McKerron, Gordon Gunn and Amy Geddes, accordionists John Carmichael and Mairearad Green, wooden flute player James Duncan Mackenzie, Dave Milligan on piano, singer and clarsach player Corrina Hewat, Evanton-based clarsach player Cheyenne Brown, guitarists Innes Watson and Jenn Butterworth, mandolin player Laura-Beth Salter, piper Fin Moore, Eddie Seaman and Kim Richards on whistle, Lewis Gaelic singer, Mischa Macpherson and bodhran player Martin O’Neill.
As part of the Fringe programme, there will be several concerts taking place around Ullapool over the long weekend. On Friday 28th April, mandolin player and singer, Laura-Beth Salter and guitarist Jenn Butterworth will perform at The Ceilidh Place and on Saturday 29th April, The Macphail Centre will host a concert featuring well-known Ross-Shire fiddle player, singer and song writer, Olivia Ross who will perform music from her forthcoming debut album, Grace The Blue. During the day there will be a range of lunchtime recitals, which are also open to the public, from some of the tutors including Ullapool local musicians, Mairearad Green and Kim Richards, and piper, Fin Moore. There will also be a Gaelic conversation group from 4.30-5.30pm on the Saturday and Sunday, open to those who wish to use and practice their Gaelic in a friendly and informal setting in The Ceilidh Place Parlour Bar.
Fiona Dalgetty, Chief Executive of Fèis Rois, commented: “Fèis Rois nan Inbheach is one of our key annual events. Since the first event took place in 1991, the Adult Fèis has grown to attract an international audience as well as enjoying lots of local support. We have another stellar tutor line-up this year, featuring several musicians who started their musical journey as children on our youth programmes. We are looking forward to welcoming new faces as well as participants and tutors who have been coming to Fèis Rois nan Inbheach for many years.”
The full Fringe programme can be found on the Fèis Rois website, along with details of how to book a place on the tuition programme or purchase tickets for the Fringe events, www.feisrois.org.
