Blazin’ Again in Beauly
20-24 October 2003

GEORGE MACKAY looks at the rise and rise of Blazin’ Fiddles’s music festival in Beauly.

BLAZIN’ IN BEAULY was launched with a bang by the members of Blazin’ Fiddles two years ago, and the third event has already fulfilled the promise of its predecessors. Unclaimed tickets for any of the three public concerts are very thin on the ground, and the quality of both tuition and guest artists is as high as ever.

The latter include the great Irish fiddler Frankie Gavin (with Brian McGrath as accompanist) and Appalachian wizard Bruce Molsky, as well as all but one of the Blazin’ Fiddles crew. The absentee is Allan Henderson, who is following the example set by his sister, Ingrid, earlier this year, and getting married. Charlie McKerron will take his place as tutor and performer – not a bad substitute in anybody’s book.

As Bruce MacGregor explained, the event grew out of their desire to offer a fiddle school that fitted their own concept of how such things should happen, and also add a little extra in the process.

“Everybody in the band has done a bit of teaching at various fiddle schools around the country,” Bruce said. “Most of them are really good, but we all felt that there were a few wee things that weren’t happening as we would like.

“It was really the overall feeling of the events that wasn’t quite what we wanted. We were looking for a community event that was going to be right in the middle of a small town, and the whole town would get involved, so it was more like a week-long festival than just another fiddle school.

“We wanted the people coming to the school to feel that as well as learning the music they would be very much involved in the social aspects of it, and they would also be able to go to the concerts and so on. That was the basic idea, to make it a great school, but also something a bit more wide-ranging.”

The model Bruce had in mind was based on the many stories he has heard and read about the famous Willie Clancy Summer School at Miltown Malby in County Clare. Beauly responded in enthusiastic fashion to the idea.

“The locals really got behind it, and that was really the making of it. The concerts were unbelievable that first year, and it was much the same last time as well. They were just packed out, and it’s heading that way again this year. We had crucial help from Will Fraser in the Lovat Arms and Donald Fraser in his ironmonger’s shop – which also has a fantastic collection of James Scott Skinner memorabilia – and we had some great sessions at the Caledonian Hotel.”

Applications for this year’s course closed on 1 October, and it is well subscribed again this time, while the concerts were either sold out or on the brink of it by that time as well. Bruce is particularly pleased to grab the chance to feature Frankie Gavin, co-founder of the great De Danaan.

“We have been lucky to get hold of Frankie for the Wednesday concert at the Phipps Hall,” he declared. “For many of us in Blazin’ Fiddles, Frankie is THE Irish fiddle player, so we want to make sure he’s got a full house. The gig is billed as the Transatlantic session, and will also feature the great Appalachian fiddler Bruce Molsky.”

Following the Beauly concert, Frankie Gavin and Brian McGrath are on tour in the Highlands, and can also be seen at the following venues:

• The Ceilidh Place , Ullapool, Thursday 23 October 2003
• An Lanntair Gallery , Stornoway, Friday 24 October 2003
• Lionacleit Theatre, Benbecula, Saturday 25 October 2003
• Castlebay School , Castlebay, Sunday 26 October 2003
• Isle Of Harris Inn, Tarbert, Monday 27 October 2003
• Aros Centre , Portree, Wednesday 29 October 2003
• Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Ardvasar, Thursday 30 October 2003
• An Tobar, Tobermory, Friday 31 October 2003
• Corran Halls, Oban, Saturday 1 November 2003

Related links

• Blazin’ in Beauly website

© George MacKay, 2003