Traditional musicians from across Scotland and beyond will gather in Ullapool this May for Fèis Rois nan Inbheach (Adult Fèis), a vibrant weekend of music, song and dance workshops, concerts, and sessions, hosted by the Dingwall-based arts organisation, Fèis Rois. Running from 2nd – 5th May, the event welcomes musicians of all levels to learn from some of Scotland’s finest traditional artists.
This year’s stellar line-up of 25 expert tutors features an array of celebrated artists, including:
- Fiddle players, Marie Fielding, Ronan Martin, Laura Wilkie, Louise Mackenzie, Gillian Frame and Deirdre Morrison
- Accordionists, John Carmichael and Karen Tweed
- Award-winning singers including Rachel Walker, Hannah Rarity and Kim Edgar
- Dannsa co-director and step dancer, Caroline Reagh
- Pipers Fred Morrison and Calum MacCrimmon
- Cellist Su-a Lee
- A trio of guitarists including Findlay Napier, Aaron Jones and Mike Vass
- Dagger Gordon on mandolin
- Former Fèis Rois participants Rachel Hair and Kim Richards
- Hamish Napier teaching flute and group work
- Tom Bancroft on bodhran
- Tradition bearer and Gaelic singer, Rona Lightfoot
As well as the workshops, the weekend will feature a series of concerts:
- Acclaimed singer-songwriter, Findlay Napier, will share songs and stories on Friday 2nd May at The Ceilidh Place Venue
- A must-see grand concert on Saturday 3rd May featuring Rachel Walker and Aaron Jones, with Laura Wilkie at the Macphail Centre
- An evening of world-class piping with Fred Morrison on Sunday 4th May at the Ceilidh Place venue
A highlight of this year’s workshop programme is a special collaborative workshop on Gaelic waulking songs; traditional Gaelic work songs once sung by women across the Highlands and Islands whilst waulking tweed. Renowned Gaelic tradition bearer Rona Lightfoot and fiddle player Laura Wilkie, whose debut album VENT is inspired by these songs, will lead this workshop, sharing both the music and the rich stories behind the songs.
Christian Gamauf, Creative Producer, Fèis Rois, commented: “Every year, Fèis Rois nan Inbheach brings together musicians of all backgrounds to celebrate and share Scotland’s rich musical heritage. Whether you’re a seasoned player or picking up an instrument for the first time, this weekend is a place to connect, learn and be inspired.”
“Our Fèis Rois nan Inbheach continues to be a highlight in our busy annual programme, attracting participants from all over the world; from right on our doorstep in Ullapool to as far away as The Netherlands, Switzerland, France and even Australia. This year we are excited to welcome some new tutors to our team as well as tutors well-known to our participants, and even a few former participants who are regular tutors with us.
“Spaces for the workshop programme are filling fast, but there are still opportunities to join the tuition sessions or purchase concert tickets. Additionally, lunchtime recitals by some of the tutors will be announced soon, which will be open to both participants and the public.
It would be great to see some new faces this year and we welcome all abilities, and with a wide range of workshops, we hope there is something for everyone!”
For the full programme and booking details, visit www.feisrois.org.
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