Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail returns as two groups of musicians get tuned up for summer of dates across Scotland
Two groups of talented young musicians will take to the road again this summer for three weeks of musical performances throughout Scotland.
For the first time since 2019, the Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail will see young musicians from all over Scotland come together to form two bands to perform at a variety of venues throughout the Highlands, Borders, Dundee, Dumfries & Galloway and Lanark.
The live dates go from family ceilidhs in village halls to concerts in the woods and informal sessions in national nature reserves to tunes in museums, cafes and garden centres.
The ceilidh trail, which was established by Dingwall-based Fèis Rois, is a professional development opportunity for outstanding young traditional musicians, providing them with the chance to take part in a summer tour, with support from a team of professional musicians and specialist tutors.
The musicians spend a week rehearsing and participating in workshops, including performance skills, sound engineering and dance calling, whilst also preparing for life on the road. Then they will spend the summer playing music at venues throughout Scotland.
This year the ceilidh trail will also perform at several well-known festivals including Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Under Canvas at Eden Court, as well as Cambridge Folk Festival and Sidmouth Folk Week in England.
Fèis Rois is also delighted to continue its partnership with NatureScot to feature performances at six of Scotland’s National Nature Reserves: Knockan Crag, Loch Fleet, Forsinard Flows, Beinn Eighe and Falls of Clyde, and Cairnsmore of Fleet.
The programme celebrated its 21st anniversary last year.
Unable to go on tour as planned due to the pandemic, the organisation released an album to mark the milestone.
Past ceilidh trail participants have included Rachel Newton, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Kim Carnie, Conal McDonagh, Mischa Macpherson, Ali Levack and Josie Duncan
The first ceilidh trail was coordinated by multi award-winning Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis, who provided the theme song for Disney Pixar’s Brave.
Participants this year include Eoin Cumming, Sheena Peteranna, Anna Scott, Freya Taylor, Charly Curry-Brown and Cassie de St Croix.
Charly will be joining the ceilidh trail thanks to Fèis Rois’ partnership with Cambridge Folk Festival and Cassie is an exchange musician from Welsh arts organisation, Trac Cymru.
The second group features Jamie Clarke, Matthias Hamilton, Calum Mackinnon, Kate Macleod, Elissa Hunter-Dorans, and Iain Hyslop.
Christian Gamauf, Fèis Rois creative producer, commented: “We are delighted to be able to run our ceilidh trail once again. The programme gives young musicians a taste of what being a professional musician is really like."
“The ceilidh trail, which is funded this year by Creative Scotland and NatureScot, is also a hugely important cultural initiative, delivering a high standard of traditional music in places where you might not usually hear it and introducing tourists to our musical culture and traditions.”
A full programme of this year’s performances can be found on the Fèis Rois website, www.feisrois.org
Ceilidh Trail 2022 participants
Group One
Eoin Cumming, Gairloch
Sheena Peteranna, Uist
Cassie de St Croix, Wales
Anna Scott, Skye
Charly Curry-Brown, Newcastle
Freya Taylor, Black Isle
Group Two
Jamie Clarke, Invergordon
Matthias Hamilton, Inverness
Kate Macleod, Inverness
Calum Mackinnon, Skye
Elissa Hunter-Dorans, Inverness
Iain Hyslop, Avoch
Ceilidh Trail dates
Highland
Tuesday July, 19, 9pm, The Old Inn, Gairloch
Wednesday July 20, 12-2pm, Knockan Crag NNR, Ullapool
Wednesday July 20, 9pm, The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool
Thursday, July 21, 12-2pm, Loch Fleet NNR-
Thursday, July 21, 7:30pm, Invershin Hotel (Sutherland Sessions)
Friday, July 22, 12-2pm, Rosemarkie Beach Café
Friday, July 22, 7:30pm, Seaboard Centre, Balintore
Saturday, July 23, 3:30pm, Evanton Woods
Saturday, July 23, 7:30pm, Victoria Diamond Jubilee Hall, Evanton
Sunday, July 24, 12-2pm, Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre
Wednesday, July 27, 2-4pm, Highland Museum of Childhood, Strathpeffer
Wednesday, July 27, 9:30pm, Hootananny, Inverness
Thursday, July 28, 12-2pm, Simpsons Garden Centre, Inverness
Thursday, July 28, 4:30pm + 8pm, Under Canvas, Eden Court Theatre
Friday, July 29, 11am-1pm, Dalmore Farm Café, Alness
Friday, July 29, 4:30pm + 8pm, Under Canvas, Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
Saturday, July 30, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
Thursday, August 4, Black Isle Show, Muir of Ord
Thursday, August 4, 9:30pm, Hootananny, Inverness
Friday, August 5, 12-2pm, Forsinard Flows NNR
Friday, August 5, 7:30pm, Rosebank Playing Fields, Wick (Lyth Arts Centre)
Saturday, August 6, Unexpected Garden, Alness
Sunday, August 7, 12-2pm, Highland Farm Café, Dingwall
Wednesday, August 10, 12-2pm, Beinn Eighe NNR
Wednesday, August 10, 9pm, Bo & Muc @ The Torridon
Thursday, August 11, 8pm, Applecross Community Hall
Friday, August 12, 2-4pm, Gairloch Museum
Friday, August 12, 7:30pm, Gairloch Community Hall
Saturday, August 13, Unexpected Garden, Alness.
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Margaret Chrystall