Taking to the Waterways

MARGO MACLENNAN sets the scene for this year’s CALEDONIAN CANAL CEILIDH TRAIL.

HERE WE ARE again back on the road from Monday 19 July until Saturday 14 August, with a big thank-you to our funding partners – British Waterways Scotland and Scottish Arts Council Lottery Funded projects – for coming “on board”. Our partners this year are. “Arts in the Community” is our aim, and the team are hoping that the local communities will come and join in the events.

This year’s team has a slightly different angle to it. Two local professional musicians, accordionist and keyboard player David Bowen from Inverness and whistle player Hugh Marwick of Glenurquhart, are being employed for 5 weeks to act as mentors to the 4 young music students. Both musicians have a vast experience of playing in many prestigious bands groups and with solo performers over the past 30 years. Hugh plays in the local band Dancing Feet, and has tutored for the past 3 years in the Traditional Music Classes project.

Girl power is to the fore this year!  Our four talented young ladies are Catriona Ramsay from Jamestown near Strathpeffer, who plays fiddle and mandolin and has been playing and travelling abroad with the Kiltearn Fiddlers for the past few years.

Hannah Phillips from Beauly on clarsach, clarinet and song, Hannah has been playing with Comunn nan Clarsaich and has been a former winner of the Curtis Craig Trophy in 2002.

Maisie Cowan from Thurso plays accordion, fiddle and piano.  Maisie has had a previous experience in working on a Ceilidh Trail.  Last summer she worked with Fèis Chataibh (Golspie) and has also been a member of the Caithness Junior fiddlers.

Last, but by no means least, is Shona MacFadyen from West Kilbride in Ayrshire.  Shona plays fiddle and sings and has been trying to learn to play the chanter as she comes from a piping family. She is a regular attender at Fèis Tiree where she has spent most of her summer holidays and is a member of the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra under the baton of Alistair McCulloch, Musical Director.  The orchestra were invited to play in Australia and New Zealand in 2003.

“Most of the venues that the team are working in are similar to the past two years.  One new/old venue is the Waterfall Café in Foyers, formerly known as Foyers Tearoom.”

To enhance the team during the four weeks on the road the team have invited guest professional musicians to come along and join them for some of the events.  They are Anna Massie, who was the Young Scots Traditional Musician of 2003; her dad, Bob Massie on guitar, mandolin and song; Irene Rule on fiddle and cello; Jonathon Hill on guitar and storytelling; Selwyn Roberts on bodhran and dance calling; and Gordon Gunn on fiddle.

The Grand Opening Ceilidh on Monday 19 July is a collaborative event with the “Festive Lights for Drum” committee.  This fund raising event is being held in Urquhart Castle Visitors Centre courtesy of Historic Scotland and the Loch Ness Coffee Company.   The committee are hoping to raise money to help towards purchasing some Christmas Lights for the village.  Tickets cost £10 (including Champagne, strawberries and cream), and are available at the Highland Council Service Point in Drumndrochit.

The Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail are sharing the stage that evening with Inverness fiddler’s group Birl and Highland comedian Johnny Bogan, Commun nan Clarsaich, TMC folk with TX Steppers, Scottish Step Dancers and local compare/entrepreneur Willie Cameron.

Tulloch’s Traditional Music Tent is on Saturday 24 July from 1-4pm at the Inverness Highland Games in Bught Park. This will be the Inverness Launch of the Ceilidh Trail.  The team will be working again with Andy Ross and the Moray Firth Radio Team who will record the programme and put it out on 1104 MW the following Thursday.

An Avel from Brittany are offering afternoon workshops. They are a group of some 25 musicians of various ages and instruments who are coming to the Craigmonie Centre on Thursday 11t August.  They are bringing their own French crepes and cider-maker to the Fest Noz/ Ceilidh that evening (8 till 11pm – details from the Craigmonie Centre on 01456 459224 for other events and workshops).

All the details of the easy-to-read itinerary are in the newly designed brochure, courtesy of British Waterways Scotland.  Most of the venues that the team are working in are similar to the past two years.  One new/old venue is the Waterfall Café in Foyers, formerly known as Foyers Tearoom.  Tim McCormick has refurbished the Café and the shop and is running the business in partnership with Graham Ambrose who opens in the evening offering meals in a Bistro-style restaurant.

The Team are working on Temple Pier, the Village Green in Drumndrochit, Fort Augustus Locks and Stratherrick Village Hall. If you would like to find out about the other events log onto www.highland.gov.uk (a-z music) for a full itinerary or contact Margo Maclennan, Traditional Music Co-ordinator, on 01463 724314.

© Margo Maclennan, 2004