Village Hall, Strathy, 2 September 2006

Jenna Reid

NEVER HAVING been to Strathy before, I had not quite appreciated how long it would take to reach the village at the top of Sutherland, but once there, the setting was perfect for a late summer evening’s concert of Gaelic song and Highland Music, from some of the best young performers on the scene today.

Sutherland is one of the seven areas of the Highlands being covered by this years Blas Festival, and they will be joined by Inverness next year for Highland 2007. Many of the events have been promoted by local area committees, and this concert was promoted enthusiastically by Strathy Village Hall Committee, who are very well known for the ‘best scones at a gig – ever’ – at least according to Julie Fowlis, who headlining this concert entitled ‘An Òigridh’ – The Young Folk.

It is a sign of a good festival that events will cover the whole area and send premier artistes to the remotest of venues as well as the more accessible centres of population. Following the remit of Blas to team younger, less experienced performers with more mainstream performers, local, national and International stars included, this evening began with some tunes and songs from the local young people of Fèis Air an Oir.

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A great night out at the peak of Sutherland – definitely worth the drive

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Their hard work in rehearsals was evident, and it was refreshing to see their confidence grow as the sets carried on. Tutor Carol Ann Mackay (who also made the scones, swept the floor, bought the raffle prizes, boiled the tea urn and made the sandwiches) has obviously worked very hard with these young folk, and giving them the chance to perform at these local concerts is a vital part in the formation of their performing careers.

They were followed by the talents of the Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trailers (Sutherland Ceilidh Trailers). Having worked together for most of the summer, the group had developed a good set list incorporating both Gaelic and Scots song, fiddle sets, small pipes, guitar and keyboards.

Some of these Trailers have been attending the National School of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton, and were able to incorporate some of the skills and material learned there. We will no doubt hear more from some of these young performers in the next few years as their careers develop.

After some excellent scones and sandwiches, The Graham Family from Skye took the stage to give us some inspiring and unusual treatments of traditional and contemporary Gaelic songs. Kathleen, Deidre and Magnus grew up on the island steeped in Gaelic song and music, and they have a great rapport musically on stage. Both Kathleen and Deidre are well known to Highland audiences, being graduates of the BA in Traditional Scottish Music from the RSAMD, and both are accomplished and driven singers of their language, but we are less accustomed to hearing Magnus singing as well as playing guitar.

It was apparent that we will be hearing a lot more from this young singer whose voice is extremely reminiscent of a young Arthur Cormack. Some lovely, and in some cases most unusual arrangements of songs beautifully sung and accompanied on clarsach and keyboard by all three musicians.

The Grahams were followed by the Julie Fowlis Band, comprising Julie herself, with a star line-up of Anna Massie on guitar, Eamonn Doorley on bouzouki and Jenna Reid on fiddle. All of the musicians are, of course, acclaimed and exciting performers in their own right – a band to be reckoned with here.

Julie, who must be having the busiest and most exciting year of her life so far, gave us some of her material from her last album and also a couple of newer songs which will definitely become firm favourites with her audiences, with lovely stories such as ‘An t-aparan goirid’ s an t-aparan ur’ from Julie’s home in North Uist.

The performers are obviously well used to playing together, but you never get the feeling that ‘they’ve been there, done that’. Some fabulous sets of songs and tunes (with Julie on whistle, joined by Carol Ann Mackay on accordion), left the audience baying for more.

With so many youngsters in the audience , I am quite sure they will all have gone away aspiring to become the next Julie Fowlis or Jenna Reid or Anna… or Eamonn…. or Carol Ann. A great night out at the peak of Sutherland – definitely worth the drive. I look forward to the next outing with An Òigridh from Blas.

Blas runs until 9 September in venues in Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh, Ross-shire, Sutherland, Caithness, Nairn and Badenoch & Strathspey.

© Fiona MacKenzie, 2006

Link

• Blas Festival