Eden Court shares full programme for Under Canvas as the music returns next Friday for the summer

Eden Court is gearing up for the return of its celebrated outdoor summer festival Under Canvas, which will is set to return next week.

Now in its fourth year, the multi-award nominated festival will take place in the iconic stretch tents on the Eden Court lawns by the picturesque banks of the River Ness from July 1 to August 27.

This year’s family-friendly programme will see the pop-up venue host 42 days of live music, performances and DJ sets, all served by a bar serving delicious pizzas from an outdoor wood-fired oven, as well as local beers, gins and whisky.

Live events will run on the stage Wednesdays to Sundays throughout the summer, with a mix of leading musicians and performers taking to the stage. Contemporary folk and Scottish traditional music take centre stage Wednesday to Friday, while most Saturday evenings see resident DJ Karawane spinning world grooves. On Sunday afternoons the tent will feature an eclectic mix of musical genres and literary offerings, from classical music to blues and jazz.

The tent will open next Friday (July 1) with an opening gig from top Highland fiddler and composer Adam Sutherland, joined by one of Scottish trad's premier guitarists and singers Marc Clement, as well as live music from award-winning four-piece T A Я R A N.

Throughout the summer the Under Canvas programme will also boast a serious of specially curated events and takeovers, which will kick off with an all-day takeover of the tent courtesy of the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival on Saturday July, 9.

From July 20-22 the Under Canvas stage will host Runrig Connections: a series of special gigs tying in with The Stamping Ground, Eden Court Highlands and Raw Material's new musical featuring the songs of Runrig, which will celebrate the incredible influence of the band in today's trad music scene.

Expect new performances of old classics and a stunning line-up of artists who have shared a stage with Runrig or been inspired by their music and message, including Skipinnish lead singer Norrie MacIver; Skye singers Deirdre Graham, Eilidh Cormack, and Innes Watson; multi-instrumental trad musician Malin Makes Music; Skye’s exciting electro-trad duo Valtos; award-winning performers and composers Rona Wilkie and Marit Fält; and a session of ‘folked up’ pop hits courtesy of Folkify.

August 3-7 will see Under Canvas celebrate Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 with Sgeul – a specially-curated week of music and storytelling, supported by EventScotland

This week's programme platforms the diverse stories and voices of Scotland's people and those inspired by the beautiful landscape and natural environment we call home.

Highlights of the week will include family-friendly band Sprog Rock sharing a vibrant live gig experience full of music created with children all over Scotland; Queer-folk collective Bogha-frois supporting performances of new tunes inspired by the stories of Scotland’s LGBTQ+ community, from artists including Man of the Minch, Mischa Macpherson, Malin Lewis, & Laura Wilkie; and live performances from Assynt, Evie Waddel & Friends, and folk duo Iain Fraser & Amy Henderson.

And from 17-19 August local musician and Under Canvas stalwart, Anna Massie, aka The Black Isle Correspondent, has guest-curated a series of collaborative gigs for the tent.

They will include live music from Massie and Lauren MacColl, as well as performances from the Simpsons Brothers, Hamish Napier and The Woods Trio, Hecla, and Hushman.

Rebecca Holt, chief executive at Eden Court, said: “As someone who will be experiencing Under Canvas for the first time, it’s been incredibly exciting to see it take shape out on Eden Court’s lawn over the last few weeks. The tent is up and the festoons are hung. The bar and pizza shack have been lovingly assembled. And we have an incredible line-up of music planned.

“It has been a total team effort and we can’t wait to welcome as many people as possible over the next two months. Under Canvas is a really important addition to the city entertainment offer and a real celebration of traditional music that can be enjoyed by residents and tourists alike. The riverside is the place to be this July and August”

Tickets for the events, and full information about the programme, can be found: eden-court.co.uk/under-canvas

This year will also see Under Canvas continue to develop with the objective of becoming a sustainable festival. All food containers and drinking vessels will be 100 per cent compostable, while the use of electric heaters will be discontinued.

The energy output of the festival will also be recorded and evaluated, so that Eden Court can continue to evaluate and build on the venue’s environmental commitments.

The festival will be supported by local Inverness based estate agent Tailormade Moves as Under Canvas Event Partner. Under Canvas is also made possible with support from Creative Scotland, Highland Council, Black Isle Brewery, Highland Stretch Tents and the Banister family.

Under Canvas 2022

Full programme:

Fri 1 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Adam Sutherland and Marc Clement + T A Я R A N

Sat 2 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Karawane and friends

Sun 3 July | 2pm + 5.30pm | Lewis McLaughlin + Blueness

Wed 6 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Olivia Ross + Ainsley Hamill

Fri 8 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Deira + Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich

Sat 9 July | 1pm – 10pm | Belladrum Takeover Day

Sun 10 July | 2pm + 5.30pm | Emma Martin + Swiss Portrait

Wed 13 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Megan Henderson and Ewan Robertson + The Shackleton Trio

Thu 14 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Dathan + Damien O'Kane & Ron Block

Fri 15 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Andrew Waite + HEISK

Sat 16 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Karawane and friends

Sun 17 July | 2pm + 5.30pm | Smith and McClennan + Olivia Rafferty

Wed 20 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Malin Makes Music + Skye Singers

Thu 21 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Folkify + Norrie MacIver

Fri 22 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Marit & Rona + Valtos

Sat 21 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Karawane and friends

Sun 24 July | 2pm + 5.30pm | Teya-Jean Bawden + Hector Shaw

Wed 27 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Eryn Rae + Eabhal

Thu 28 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail + Naad-Hara

Fri 29 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail + Rachel Walker and Aaron Jones

Sat 30 July | 4.30pm + 8pm | Karawane and friends

Sun 31 July | 2pm + 5.30pm | Man of the Minch + Adam Ross

Wed 3 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Evie Waddell and friends + Assynt

Thu 4 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Iain Fraser & Amy Henderson

Fri 5 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Bogha-frois + Man of the Minch + Mischa Macpherson

Sat 6 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Bogha-frois + Malin Lewis + Laura Wilkie

Sun 7 August | 2pm + 5.30pm | Seanchas: Spirited Storytelling and Song + Sprog Rock

Wed 10 Aug | 4.30pm + 8pm | Iain MacFarlane & Ingrid Henderson + Kinnaris Quintet

Thu 11 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Ailis Sutherland + Staran

Fri 12 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Màiri MacMillan + An Dannsa Dub (DJ Set)

Sat 13 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Karawane and friends

Sun 14 August | 2pm + 5.30pm | Beth Malcolm + North Atlantic Project

Wed 17 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Hecla + Lauren MacColl with Anna Massie

Thu 18 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | The Simpsons Brothers + Hamish Napier 'The Woods' Trio

Fri 19 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Hushman

Sat 20 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Karawane and friends

Sun 21 August | 2pm + 5.30pm | Hannah Taylor + Dorec-a-belle

Wed 24 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Jennifer Port + Mckerron Brechin Ó hEadhra

Thu 25 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Chloë Bryce

Fri 26 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Ryan Young + Josie Duncan

Sat 27 August | 4.30pm + 8pm | Beira + Gary Innes and Ewen Henderson + Special Guest