Resolis Hall, 10 September 2005

Lauren MacColl.

Resolis Hall on the Black Isle was the venue on Saturday night for one of the last gigs of this year’s Blas Festival, and the hall was packed to the gunnels for what was to prove to be one of the highlights of the festival, for this reviewer at least.

This concert was subtitled the “Cuirm na h-oigridh” or “Youth Concert “ by Brian Ò hEadhra, the fear an taigh for the evening, and it was a particularly sobering thought to realise that none of the featured performers were older than 22.

Culloden Academy pupil Graham Mackenzie on fiddle, the youngest of all at 13, was the first to take the stage, accompanied on piano by his mother, Alison. He delivered sets of the most beautiful fiddle playing, his musical maturity far belying his tender years. His assured and confident stage presence was a delight to behold in someone of his age and we can only wonder what he will be performing in years to come.

Jenna Cumming from Inverness was next on stage, giving the audience some fine Gaelic singing ranging from the beautiful ‘Domhnall nan Domhnall’ to waulking songs and laments. Jenna, who won the Traditional Gold Medal at the Mod a few years ago, is a student of Gaelic at Glasgow University and will no doubt go on to become one of the new generation of Young Tradition bearers of the culture today.

Jenna was followed by the Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trailers, giving their last performance of this year’s Cèilidh Trail, and it is very clear from both their singing and playing that they are all experienced performers. Coming up through the fèisean obviously bestows on these young people a confidence both in their musicianship and their stage presence, something which is not always evident in otherwise talented performers and singers of a similar age.

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The future of Blas should have little to fear, given musical contributions such as these.

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Despite changing line-ups, the Trailers performances in general become much more assured and technically ‘tight’ with every year which goes past, and one audience member was heard to remark that she felt that ‘their performance had gone up to a whole new level’, particularly at this concert.

The less assured members will no doubt gain in confidence as the years progress. It is particularly pleasing that Gaelic song has such an important part to play in their sets – the songs are delivered in refreshingly new arrangements and styles – testament no doubt in part to the tutelage the Trailers receive from the likes of Iain Macdonald, Maggie Macdonald and James Ross.

Lauren MacColl, on home territory from Fortrose, was our solo fiddler in the second half, and she demonstrated exactly why she was voted BBC 2 Young Folk Musician of the Year at the end of last year. I have heard Lauren play many times, but Resolis was witness to one of the finest performances I have ever heard her play anywhere.

The exposure and opportunities which she has been given in her year of reigning as Young Folk Musician have obviously had a huge influence on her style and stage presence, never mind her technical prowess. She was accompanied sensitively by James Ross on piano and Barry Reid on guitar, and the trio delivered blistering reel sets, beautiful Norwegian airs and stunning Shetland tunes. What is so nice about Lauren’s fiddle playing is her totally unpretentious manner on stage, and may that never change.

Last on stage was Gaelic singer (and Young Scots Traditional Musician of the Year in 2003) James Graham from Lochinver, accompanied by James Ross once again and Neil Johnston on cello. James is a performer of great unpretentiousness and this coupled with the lovely songs he gave us, produced a gentle and relaxed performance, enjoyed by all the audience, Gaelic speakers or not.

His rendition of ‘Mo Shuil ad dheidh’ is a personal favourite and was delivered most effectively and emotionally. The cello accompaniment was very pleasing, a sensitive and exciting contribution to many of the songs, and James Ross’s superb piano accompaniment is always a delight to listen to.

All of the performers came together at the end for a spontaneous set of puirt a beul led by the singers, Katie Mackenzie (of the Trailers), James and Jenna, and tunes from the players.

Youth is a key point of the Blas ethos – rightly so as these performers are the Festival’s future – and Resolis was the perfect venue for this evening of first class entertainment. Whilst these performers are all young and will still have much to learn about stagecraft, they all display great promise for the years to come. The future of Blas should have little to fear, given musical contributions such as these.

Fiona Mackenzie is the Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellow.

© Fiona Mackenzie, 2005