The Ceilidh Place

Location:  Ullapool
Details:  The Clubhouse has a capacity of up to 65 and the open coffee shop area can seat 100. Both sections are licensed.
Programme:  Music including blues, jazz, classical, folk, traditional and small-scale theatre.

Interview with Director

The HI~Arts Journal put our usual questions to the director of the Ceilidh Place, Jean Urquhart
When was the venue established?

Jean: 1970. The first gig was in the back garden, which was the only space available. Locals climbed over the wall at the back and refused to pay the 50p admission charge… some things never change!

What famous names have taken to the stage?

Jean: Capercaillie when Don Shaw was about 17, Jean Redpath and the Angel Singers (three black gospel singers whom Jean brought over from the USA), Sorley Maclean, Iain Crichton Smith and Norman McCaig, Liz Lochhead, Alasdair Gray, Jim Kelman, Hamish Henderson, Sheena Wellington, Bruce Kent, Satish Kumar, Ali Farka Touri, Jim Hunter, Ness River Rhythm Kings, The Blues Brothers, Aly Bain, Zips for Lips, Eddie Izzard, Croft No 5, Alasdair Fraser and Paul Machlis, Dick Gaughan, Michael Marra, Leonard Friedman and the Scottish Baroque Ensemble,  Bill Kyle Trio, The Clyde Valley Stompers, Rab Noakes, Chic Murray, Scottish Guitar Quartet, Alex Yellowlees, Edinburgh Quartet, Tam White, Phil Cunningham. And we haven’t got on to the actors yet – see what happens when you stay in one place!

What are your big ideas for the future of the venue?

Jean: Get the posters up on time!

Does the venue have a ghost?

Jean: Well, Room 8 has –  we know it does because a number of guests, over a number of years, have told us so.

What was your worst disaster as director?

Jean: Too many to mention fill the ‘worst’ slot.

And what was your biggest triumph?

Jean: Still waiting.

If you could have any artist in the world for a one-off special, who would it be, and why?

Jean: I’d want more than one…massed pipe bands – hundreds of pipers on a really beautiful summers day playing on all of the hills around the village and down Inverbroom.

Why should people look forward to visiting your venue?

Jean: Because it might be a day when great things are going on and their life could be changed, but you can’t plan for that…