Ullapool to host Fèis Rois musical workshops as star line-up revealed
THE streets of a Wester Ross village will be buzzing over the coming days as a session of traditional music workshops gets under way.
Dingwall-based arts organisation Fèis Rois is holding its annual Fèis Rois nan Inbheach (Adult Fèis) from May 3-6 in Ullapool.
Workshops led by some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians and a series of concerts are planned, including a grand double-bill concert with fiddle quartet, RANT, featuring Black Isle musicians, Lauren MacColl and Anna Massie, and Corrina Hewat and Dave Milligan.
Musicians and singers including Duncan Chisholm, Hannah Rarity, Hamish Napier, Ingrid Henderson and Margaret Stewart, will be heading to Ullapool for the Fèis Rois weekend of Gaelic and Scots music tuition, which is open to adult learners and includes three days of music tuition as well as a full fringe programme.
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This year’s programme features some new workshops including a special strings ensemble led by one of Scotland’s most recognised and accomplished fiddle players and composers, Duncan Chisholm, and assistant principal cellist with Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Su-a Lee. They will teach participants music from Duncan’s latest award-winning album, Black Cuillin. There will also be new workshops in tenor guitar and ukulele for singers, as well as the usual classes in a variety of instruments, song and step dance.
Coinciding with Fèis Rois nan Inbheach is a music day hosted by The Seafood Shack and Rhidorroch Distillery, with music provided by Fèis Rois. The line-up includes musicians and dancers, Mike Vass, Jayne MacLeod, John Sikorski, Peter Macpherson, John Carmichael, and many more, who will perform at the Seafood Shack whilst the audience also gets the chance to taste what local produce is on offer. The free event takes place from 2pm-9.30pm on Saturday, May 4.
Katie Scobie, director and distiller, Rhidorroch Distillery, said: “The Seafood Shack and Rhidorroch Distillery Pop-Up are delighted to be hosting a music day and night with talented musicians from the Adult Fèis performing, coupled with delicious seafood and refreshing drinks.”
Christian Gamauf, creative producer, Fèis Rois, said: “Since first taking place in 1991, Fèis Rois nan Inbheach, has continued to grow and attracts participants from all over the world.This year we are delighted that our weekend coincides with The Seafood Shack’s new music day series. We are always keen to work with local businesses in Ullapool where many of our annual events take place and we are really looking forward to what will be an excellent display of the talent and produce the Highlands has to offer.
“This event with The Seafood Shack builds on our commitment to collaborating with organisations in the village and we always enjoy working with local businesses including The Macphail Centre, An Talla Solais, The Ceilidh Place, and our other partners.”
“There are still a handful of places left for the workshop programme, as well as a limited number of tickets available for the double-bill concert on Saturday at the Macphail Centre, Ullapool, and it would be great to see some new faces – all abilities are very welcome to attend the workshops. There will also be lunchtime recitals at An Talla Solais, with Mike Vass and Mairearad Green, and Margaret Stewart and Ingrid Henderson, which are open to members of the public, as well as Fèis Rois nan Inbheach participants.”
The full Fèis Rois nan Inbheach 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.
Fèis Rois enable people of all ages to access, participate in and enjoy the traditional arts and Gaelic language through a diverse programme of activities in Ross & Cromarty, across Scotland and beyond.
Based in Dingwall, Fèis Rois is widely recognised as a national leader in the arts, particularly in music education and was established in 1986.
There are now more than 40 fèisean in communities across Scotland. However, Fèis Rois is unique within the fèisean movement as it has a team of full-time staff that enable the work of Fèis Rois to take place year-round and extend well beyond the local community.
