Macdonald Highland Resort, Aviemore, 7 September 2007

Donald Shaw.

SO WHAT is there left to say about Donald Shaw’s traditional music extravaganza that has not been said before? Apart from the blue shoes on fiddle leader Lauren MacColl’s feet, that is!

We’ve seen what a fantastic piece of musical tapestry it weaves, we’ve seen the enthusiasm of the young participants, and we’ve heard some truly great European Celtic sound and rhythms since the performance of the first Harvest at Celtic Connections in 2004.

So, on its third outing, are we in danger of becoming complacent about the programme whilst accepting the great talent on offer? A resounding no is the answer. The Macdonald Highland Resort played host for the first time to what really has to be THE highlight of the Blas festival.

A reasonably sized audience was treated to some of the best traditional music on offer anywhere in Scotland, if not the world, and when you consider that the age range of the youngsters performing stretches from 13 upwards, it becomes all the more astonishing that they manage to sustain the level of musical drive and enthusiasm from the first to the last set.

Donald Shaw must yet again be congratulated for managing to marry the best of Scottish youth music with the cream of professional talent from across Europe, in a combination that continues to stun and delight.

Alongside such world class musicians as Mike McGoldrick, fiddlers Aidan O’Rourke and Gordon Gunn, (standing in for Harvest veteran Charlie McKerron, out of action with a broken arm), Capercaillie’s Ewan Vernal on bass, James Mackintosh on drums and percussion, and Ross-shire’s own Anna Massie, more than 20 young music students from Feis Rois presented a programme of sets and songs which would easily sit on any world music stage.

They were joined by Brittany’s outstanding flautist Jean-Michelle Veillon, open-tuning guitar specialist Gille le Bigot (also from Brittany), and Guillermo Fernandez, who accompanied the truly passionate singing of Galician singer Guadi Galego.

Through the sets there was certainly no sense whatsoever of déjà vu – the audience was just drawn into the melting pot of musical melisma, which instantly transforms music into a flowing and fluid art form.

The Harvest ‘pipe band’ of seven young pipers and two snare drums, gave heart stirring performances of tunes such as the traditional Gaelic ‘Tha mi sgith’ and then later the moving ‘Sleeping Tune’ from the pen of the late Gordon Duncan.

As Gaelic is at the heart of the Blas festival it was particularly gratifying to be treated to fine Gaelic vocal performances from three young Gaelic singers, two of whom, Deidre Graham and Katie Mackenzie, are Harvest veterans, now delivering performances of such high calibre and confidence that will stand them in fine stead in their chosen careers, and young Mischa Macpherson, who will assuredly become a firm feature of future events such as Harvest.

In particular, the audience relished the stunning performance of Donald Shaw’s own original Harvest song ‘Luadh an Toraidh’ with the girls being joined by Irish singer Karan Casey and Guadi once more.

The most important and stunning aspect of Harvest is the verve and enthusiasm with which the young players attack their music – playing with passion beyond their years and with incredible skill and control. Without exception, they display commitment to a tradition they are obviously proud to uphold and when led by someone such as Donald Shaw, who brings the wealth of experience and talent of someone who has been leading the way in Scottish traditional music for more years than he would probably care to think about, they can not but succeed once more.

The evening was finished with a set of stunning Gaelic puirt a beul from the girls and Karan Casey, building up to a climactic explosion of driving cross-rhythms on all instruments which left us wanting to dance in the aisles. A highlight was the stunning flute duet between Mike McGoldrick and Jean- Michelle Veillon, then overtaken by the fiddles of Gordon Gunn and Aidan O’Rourke.

Many of the audience were heard to say on leaving that ‘That was the best Harvest yet.’ And may we see many Harvests more. Taing mhòr gu Feis Rois agus Domhnull Seadha ‘son oidhche sonraichte! Thank you to Feis Rois and Donald Shaw for a special evening.

Fiona MacKenzie is the Mhairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellow

© Fiona MacKenzie, 2007

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