Update 16.00 10th September: The A83 has now reopened with the stretch affected Continue reading
Tag Archives: Lochgoilhead
Top Irish singer, Brian O hEadhra, in gig at Lochgoilhead
On Sunday 22nd March at 3.00pm at Lochgoilhead Village Hall, the Fiddle Workshop presents three stellar traditional musicians.
Brian Ó hEadhra is originally from Dublin in Ireland. He is an accomplished traditional singer in Gaelic and English and an acclaimed song-writer. He has toured the world over with his band Anam playing festivals, concerts, TV & radio. He has also carved out a name for himself as the Gaelic Youth Development Officer for the Highland Region, and as the musical director of the Blas Festival.
Bruce MacGregor, is probably best known locally as the founder and driving force behind the multi award winning Blazin’ Fiddles. He also toured and recorded with the first incarnation of Gaelic supergroup Cliar. Taught by the great Donald Riddell, Bruce’s style encapsulates the finest points of Highland fiddle music – bold and rugged at times, lyrical and beautiful at others. Bruce MacGregor hails from Inverness and is a player equally at home with the rugged strathspey or the tender slow air, he has combined the qualities of both East and West coast styles in an invigorating and expressive individualistic style. ‘Bruce MacGregor has something of the Midas touch. This has nothing to do with luck, it has everything to do with a deep love and affinity for his music and a unique talent.’ (Fiddle On)
Sandy Brechin is one of the most popular accordionists in the country and is best known for his bands: Burach, The Sandy Brechin Band and his electric cèilidh band The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience. Born and raised in the village of Kirkliston, in West Lothian, Sandy is now based in Edinburgh, where, as well as teaching, recording and performing, he runs his own record company.
This trio blend some of the finest musicianship and singing to come out of Scotland and Ireland in recent years. They first performed together as the House Band at Hebridean Celtic Festival 2006 in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis. Individually they perform with their own highly acclaimed acts, but it is as a trio that they are now carving out a high profile. Sue Wilson of the Herald said of their cd: ‘A sparkling array of instrumentals matches drive with delicacy, soul with swing and fire with finesse, potently interspersed with the timeless eloquence of Gaelic song’.
These three seasoned artistes draw on a wealth of tunes and songs from the Gaelic and Scots traditions. Not only are Bruce, Sandy and Brian excellent musicians, but they are also loved by audiences for their witty and entertaining live performance: “Perfectly pitched mix of lively dance tunes, evocative slow airs and Gaelic songs earned both rapt attention and noisy applause, culminating in a fully fledged cèilidh.” (Scotsman)
Tickets: Adults £10, Children 12-18 £5. Booking: Phone 01301 703504. More information on the Fiddle Workshop website.
Reporter: Mark Morpurgo
The photograph above of Brian O hEadhra, Bruce Macgregor and Sandy Brechin is reproduced here with permission.
Play and Stay – traditional and folk music feis weekend at Lochgoilhead
For anyone aged 12 upwards and interested in traditional and folk music there is a new residential teenage fèis (workshop) at the Lochgoilhead Centre from 27th-29th March. This is a weekend of music and fun, combined with outdoor activities.
The music side is at Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop. The outdoor activities are at the Lochgoilhead Centre – the former Scout Centre. The fun is everywhere. Continue reading
Freumhan – Cothrom ùr do dh’ òigridh na Gàidhlig (translation below if you’re not quite there yet)
‘S e Fèis tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig airson clann ann an clasaichean 1-4 anns an Àrd-sgoil a th’ ann am Freumhan. Bidh an Fhèis, a tha air a ruith le Sgioba Leasachaidh Fèisean nan Gàidheal, a’ gabhail àite 6-10 Giblean ann an Ionad Spòrs Cheann Loch Goibhle ann an Earra-Ghàidheil agus gheibh com-pàirtichean bùthan-obrach ciùil agus cur-seachadan air a’ bhlàr a-muigh.
Thathar an dòchas gun tig deugairean bho air feadh Alba, a’ toirt cothrom do na com-pàirtichean tachairt ri daoine òga eile aig a bheil ùidh ann an ceòl traidiseanta. Air sgàth ‘s nach bi ann ach 20 àite aig an Fhèis, gheibh na com-pàirtichean teagasg aig àrd-ire gus an cuid sgilean a shàr-leasachadh.
‘S e prìomh chuspair na seachdain obair-chòmhlain a thèid a stiùireadh le sgioba de luchd-teagaisg agus luchd-aire proifeiseanta. Gheibh na com-pàirtichean cothrom ionnsachadh mu dheidhinn siostaman PA, cruthachadh ciùill agus sgilean taisbeanaidh. A bharrachd air seo gheibh iad cothrom cur-seachadan inntinneach fheuchainn air a’ bhlàr a-muigh, leithid seòladh-churrachan agus sreap.
Thuirt Caoimhin Rodgers, Oifigear Leasachaidh Fèisean nan Gàidheal, “Tha Freumhan ga mhaoineachadh le Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus ‘s e cothrom air leth a th’ ann do luchd-labhairt òga na Gàidhlig na sgilean cànain, sòisealta agus ciùil a leasachadh ann an dòigh spòrsail agus ann an àite air leth freagarrach.”
Ma tha ùidh aig duine sam bith ann am Freumhan, nach tèid sibh chun an làraich-lìn againn airson foirm-iarrtais – www.feisean.org – no cuiribh fios gu Nicola Marshall air 01463 225599 no nicola@feisean.org.
Feumaidh com-pàirtichean a bhith eadar 11-16 bliadhna a dh’aois agus iad comasach air an ionnsramaid a chluiche aig ìre eadar-mheadhanach. ‘S ann tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig a bhios an teagasg air fad.
Freumhan – a new opportunity for young Gaelic speakers
Freumhan is a new Gaelic-medium fèis for young people in 1st to 4th year at secondary school. The fèis, being run by the Fèisean nan Gàidheal development team, will take place from the 6th to the 10th of April at the Lochgoilhead Centre in Argyll and will combine musical workshops with outdoor activities.
It is hoped the fèis will attract teenagers from across Scotland, giving participants the opportunity to meet other young Gaelic speakers with similar interests. Places will be limited to twenty in order that participants will receive intensive, high quality tuition and will really develop their skills.
The main subject on offer during the week will be group-work which will be led by a team of professional tutors and supervisors but participants will also have the opportunity to learn about PA skills, composition and performance. Unlike other fèisean, Freumhan will give participants the chance to experience the outdoors as well through a variety of activities from kayaking to climbing.
Fèisean nan Gàidheal Development Officer Kevin Rodgers said “ Freumhan has been made possible with funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig and it will be a fantastic opportunity for young Gaelic speakers to develop their language, social and musical skills in a relaxed and fun environment.”
Anyone interested in attending Freumhan should download an application form from www.feisean.org or contact Nicola on 01463 225559 or nicola@feisean.org.
Participants must be aged 11-16 and play their instrument at an intermediate level. All tuition will be though the medium of Gaelic.
Argyll & Bute joins four other councils to develop waterbus service on the Clyde
Five local authorities with territory fronting on the Clyde waterway system have joined forces to develop a waterbus service focused on Glasgow. They are Argyll & Bute, Inverclyde, Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire.
Some trialling was done with a hovercraft service last year and now a major £100,000 study by MVA Consultancy has shown that such a service could succeed as demand to add additional destinations would grow quickly as soon as it began.
The MVA report recommends that the scheme shoud go ahead with expressions of interest being sought now to operate a waterbus system and invitations to tender being issued if enough interest if shown.
Looking at similar operations in Amsterdam, Hamburg, London, New York and Sydney, the report concludes that a waterbus or ferry service between Glasgow and Rothesay in Bute would attract business commuters and leisure traffic.
The study has identified an existing ‘core demand for waterbus services’ and, with good reason, is confident that this would grow as the initial routes came into service and matured. Braehead Shopping Centre, the SECC and the Springfield Quay development in Glasgow would generate more demand.
The report envisages responding to the physical constraints of the river by using three different vessel types in the operation. These are:
- a large catamaran downstream
- two different types of smaller catamaran upstream
Hovercraft capable of both upstream and downstream operation could also be deployed although their utility is restricted by noise concernes and other limitations.
The thinking is to link waterbus operations into an integrated transport network with a range of supporting measure: integrated ticketing, park & ride and bus services to subway and rail stations.
The plan includes possible extensions to Loch Long, including Arrochar – although the building of a pier there would be essential – and bringing new energies to Clydeside towns like Bowling.
Bowling has been identified as an interchange for a network of routes. It has existing facilities to support this and is also capable of accommodating maintenacne and overnight berthing.
For Argyll would suggest that the authorities concerned look at adding Lochgoilhead to any Loch Long routes. This has a long-standing link with Glaswegians through the use of the lochside lodges at the Drimsynie Estate and a waterway route out of this beautiful but landwise remote village would be exciting and constructive.
In total, the report sees 13 vessels as necessary for an effective sustainable service.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is now to lead a working group with representatives from the five local authorities involved and is starting discussions with Clydeport, the Marine & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Queen’s Harbourmaster.
There is no doubt that this development of connections in the extensive Clyde Waterway system has the potential to contribute to very significant economic and social regeneration in the waterside towns and villages, bringing both banks of the river into a new association. And it is a promising initiative for Argyll & Bute.
The photograph above shows one of New York’s water taxi catamarans on the Hudson River and is reproduced under the Creative Commons licence.
Traditional Music Concert, Strathlachlan
At 7.00pm on 6th February 2009, Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop is hosting a traditional music concert at Strathlachlan Village Hall in Cowal.
Acclaimed Gaelic singer Anne Martin and clarsach player Ingrid Henderson will just have completed an Argyll schools tour on the afternoon of the concert, but have kindly agreed to stay on to give parents and local residents a taste of what the children had been enjoying all week.
Anne is an ideal singer for non-Gaels as she regales us (in English!) with the stories behind the songs. She, and multi-instrumentalist Ingrid, have made regular appearances on Gaelic TV and radio, and their CD was said to have ‘found another level of energy and creativity, producing a recording that is dynamic, flowing, even gushing, with life’. It is nothing short of a joy to listen to a singer who craves the song, who sings with animation and feeling whilst enunciating with clarity. There are songs on this CD the words of which cover the spectrum of emotion and that is what you get. Anne’s singing is firmly grounded in the Gaelic tradition, truthful and engaging, assertive and sensitive.
Ingrid’s clarsach playing has everything you could hope for – melody, rhythm, colour, resonance, pluck, introspection when needed: ‘here the clarsach is no demure, caged song bird fit only for brightening the domestic realm with softly spoken confidences, it soars and flutters like the lark above the croft.’ Ingrid is a musician of quite outstanding calibre, a virtuoso in terms of sensibility and it is little wonder that she is the accompanist of choice for so many contemporary traditional Gaelic singers.
Anne and Ingrid will be joined by Sarah Naylor, who teaches fiddle in five local schools, and is tutor to Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop, with Douglas Millar on keyboards.
Sarah attended Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic college on Skye, and her assured and technically accomplished playing saw her win the prestigious 2005 Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship at Blair Athol Castle. Sarah graduated with First Class Honours from Strathclyde University, and she was a finalist in the Young Traditional Musician of the Year Awards. Her performance has been described in the Scotsman as ‘a rewardingly varied mix of traditional material and classic composition, displaying admirable control and assurance across the full gamut of pace and mood.’
Douglas Millar is in great demand as a session musician and has played on albums by, amongst others, Stuart Cassels, The Tannahill Weavers, and Rachel Hair. He has been an active member of the prestigious music charity ‘Live Music Now’ for three years and has performed across the UK.
To encourage all schoolchildren to bring their parents and families all children will get in free – and a line up of fiddle, keyboards, clarsach and song will attract a strong audience to this attractive community hall.
Strathlachlan Village Hall. Friday 6th February at 7.30 p.m. ALL SCHOOLCHILDREN FREE.(Adults £7.00) Tickets from 01301 703504 or email administration@fiddleworkshop.co.uk
There are more details on Cowal/Argyll music and other events at Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop.
Reporter: Mark Morpurgo
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Cowal Schools Gaelic Music Tour from Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop and Fèis Cheann Loch Goibhle
The month of February will see a tour of Cowal schools by Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop and Fèis Cheann Loch Goibhle.
The schools will be Dunoon Grammar School and ten Argyll Primary Schools, including Strachur, Tighnabruaich, Kilmodan, Innellan, Sandbank and Lochgoilhead and the tour will involve them in Gaelic music and storytelling.
It is rare that school recitals are arranged for our schoolchildren, but more than 700 Argyll children will be involved in this innnovative project. The idea behind this tour is to explore our inheritance of Gaelic culture through music, song, and stories.
Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop and Fèis Cheann Loch Goibhle has already given more than two thousand five hundred local children opportunities to play and hear music at its Schools tours, free Come and Try sessions, its regular classes at local schools, fèisean events and its concerts at community venues around Cowal and Argyll.
The success of last year’s tour was enormous, with schools and children clamouring for more. ‘Part of the difficulty is that such events fall between what is seen as a responsibility of the education departments and cultural funders”, Elizabeth Bain, the tour organizer said “ but we are pleased, on behalf of all the local children who will benefit, that Fèisean Nan Gaidheal is supporting us to tour again’.
The performers on the schools tour will be acclaimed Gaelic singer Anne Martin and clarsach player Ingrid Henderson. Their performance at Celtic Connections was reviewed as: ‘The bards and tunesmiths of Skye have been chronicling the march of clan Donald for centuries, and in Anne Martin and Ingrid Henderson, the island’s lore is in good hands and voices, indeed’.
In the experience of the Workshop, such recitals play a vital role in the cultural life of the area, and in inspiring the next generation. ‘Over the last five years we have tried, wherever possible, to encourage parents to attend concerts with their children. Most of our public concerts are free to schoolchildren; we vary the venues to minimise travelling time, and we have put on a series of Sunday afternoon concerts, which have been very popular with families’, Elizabeth continued, ‘but the best way we can ensure that the culture is passed on is to go direct to the schools’.
Reporter: Mark Morpurgo
Photograph: by Derek Prescott – of musicians playing on a previous Gaelic Music Tour to Cowal schools
Lochgoilhead 50th Burns Supper
On 7th February at 7.30pm, Lochgoilhead is holding its 50th Burns Supper in the Village Hall. This event is included in Argyll’s Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme.
Session from 11th January RSAMD concert at Lochgoilgead Fiddle Club
Click on the title to see the viewing screen.
This was the RSAMD concert at Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop
Eleven third year music students from Glasgow’s Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) gave a concert on Sunday 11th January at Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop. Read about it, see and hear it here with a series of edited videos of the event added below.
The concert was a gift and a celebration – a ‘thank you’ to their commuity for enduring support and a celebration by the Fiddle Workshop of accolades recently – but not newly – received. Continue reading