MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2017: An Lanntair

Congratulations to An Lanntair who have been nominated in Venue of the Year sponsored by Musicians’ Union in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2017. Vote now!

We asked Elly Fletcher of An Lanntair the following questions.

Tell us about yourself

An Lanntair is a multi-arts venue – at one and the same time a concert hall, a contemporary art gallery, a theatre, a cinema, a platform for poetry and literature, a studio – every space is stretched to showcase the arts in multiple forms. Encompassing it all, we pride ourselves in presenting an inspirational programme of excellence that engages and illuminates our audiences.

Our work stretches across a national and indeed international platform, yet our distinctiveness lies in being ‘of the place’, rooted in who we are, and the creativity of Gaelic and the Outer Hebrides takes centre stage. In October 2005, following a ten year campaign, our magnificent, nationally significant new arts centre on the Stornoway waterfront was opened. Our facility includes a 200 seat auditorium, world-class gallery spaces, office space, shop, and café bar facilities. The building was one of the largest ever arts developments in the Highlands and Islands and is of key strategic importance nationally for the arts and culture of the Outer Hebrides.

Why are you involved in Scottish music?

The words ‘An Lanntair’ mean ‘The Beacon’ in Scottish Gaelic, which directly connects with our vision as an organisation, which is: “Together we will carry a torch for creativity and the arts in the Outer Hebrides.”

Our mission statement is: “to connect and inspire people in producing extraordinary, creative programmes, uniquely rooted in the place and reflecting the arts and ideas of our time”.

At the heart of all our music programming there is a desire to promote the very best Gaelic and traditional arts. Recent music programming has included Rura, Session A9, Skippinish, Whyte, RANT, Altan, Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain’s 30th Anniversary Tour, Ballantyne – the Gaelic psalm project commission by An Lanntair and composed by Craig Armstrong and Calum Martin, Blue Rose Code, Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, Fred Morrison and Niteworks. An Lanntair also provides the Gaelic and club stages and produces the opening concert for the Hebridean Celtic Festival each year. We also produce the Purvai South Asian Festival of Arts and Culture, which this year involved an innovative series of events exploring the connectivity between Gaelic and South Asian music and culture.

Any particular career highlights?

Some specific highlights from some of our recent work are:

Ballantyne, Gaelic Psalm Project: This new composition, a collaboration between Gaelic Psalm and classical music entitled ‘Ballantyne’, was led by An Lanntair and created by local musician and composer Calum Martin and internationally-renowned classical composer Craig Armstrong. The resulting concert featured the new piece and a diverse programme which celebrated the spiritual music of the islands. Musicians who took part included members of the Scottish Ensemble, local cellist – and former member of the Ensemble – Neil Johnstone, Highland fiddle player Duncan Chisholm and a host of psalm singers from throughout Lewis and Harris. In preparation for the performance Calum Martin also undertook a series of psalm singing workshops in conjunction with An Lanntair, with a selection of those participants taking part in the actual performance.

Yatra: In 2017, An Lanntair produced a truly exceptional performance of a newly commissioned score: Yatra (meaning, Journey), inspired by the journey of Colin Mackenzie, from the Isle of Lewis to India in 1783. Composer Dalbir Singh Rattan led a diverse collective of musicians to create and perform the score, including Aziz Ibrahim; Asian Blues , Guitar virtuoso, Electronica, Kaviraj Singh Dhadyalla; Vocals and Santoor, Seetal Kaur Dhadyalla – Kathak, Anna Murray; Gaelic vocalist and great highland pipes, Ceitlin Smith; Gaelic Vocalist, Neil Johnstone – Cello, Rhona Johnstone – Violin and Jane H Macmillan – Violin. With contributions from Mary Smith; Gaelic song, vocal expert and folklorist. The music and visuals depicted and charted Mackenzie’s journey through traditional Gaelic vocal songs of islanders travel and seafaring, through to the traditional Indian raag and folk music which Mackenzie would have experienced and encountered during his life of exploration in India. Yatra was the counterpart to the ‘Collector Extraordinaire’ exhibition the first new creative work to come from the collection, bringing to life the story of Mackenzie through music and visuals. It also tells the wider story, a historical journey made alive and present through artists working now, representing traditions in a progressive and innovative way.

Hebridean Women: This project focused specifically on songs for and about women, and featured some of the finest traditional female vocalists from throughout the Hebrides. It was designed to encourage collaboration, promote the music and song from the area, but also, and importantly, to provide a “master and apprentice” style of working, with singers chosen from all generations. Julie Fowlis, Kathleen Macinnes, Cathie Ann Macphee, Isobel Ann Martin and Mary Smith took part in both the concert and an associated Gaelic song workshop, and the event also celebrated the ongoing partnership with the Hebridean Celtic Festival and as part of their 21st Anniversary celebrations.

Between Islands: An Lanntair has produced the opening show for the Hebridean Celtic Festival for a number of years, and in 2017 the focus was on the second musical outing of the Between Islands Project. This time it was based on the fiddle traditions of the three Island groups and featured Jane Macmillan (Lewis), Louise Bichan (Orkney) and Maggie Adamson (Shetland) with support from an inter-island cast of musicians. The event explored the similarities and differences between the fiddle styles of the three areas and gave the musicians an opportunity to work together for the first time. Plans for the project now include further performances in the Northern Isles later in the year. In addition the concert was recorded live and is to be the next release on An Lanntairs record label.

What are your plans for the future?

Going forward into the future we intend to continue to promote the very best of Scottish traditional and Gaelic music across our programme. We will also be leading on a number of significant commissioned projects. A few major highlights from our upcoming programme are mentioned below.

100 Years Iolaire Commemoration: We will be leading on major, world-class Gaelic projects taking place on the theme of the Iolaire disaster in 2018.

Hebridean Celtic Festival: We will continue and expand upon our partnership with the Hebridean Celtic Festival, working with internationally-significant traditional Scottish artists.

Winter Festivals 2017-18 and beyond: This year’s season of Winter Festivals at An Lanntair will include a new initiative based around St Andrew’s Day. Our main event will be on St Andrew’s night itself, which is a concert by Scottish indie artist Blue Rose Code, and the café bar will be providing a full supporting menu of Scottish food and drink including a special Scottish gin tasting event. Other activities include a themed quiz night followed by a traditional session led by local musicians, and throughout the week we will be playing the best of Scottish traditional music in the café bar.

Over the festive season local band Horo will be providing our family ceilidh night, and our annual gathering of local musicians – Willie Campbell and Friends – will bring together members of traditional Scottish music, Gaelic, classical and rock bands from the island for a one-off concert.

And to complete the season, following on from our ‘alternative Burns night’ pilot project last year, this year’s event will once again be a specially commissioned concert. Cellist, Neil Johnstone, will arrange the music of Burns for strings, accompanied by Jane Macmillan (viola), Rhona Johnstone (fiddle) and Andy Yearly (piano) with Gaelic versions of the songs performed by Ceitlin Smith. Our café bar will once again provide a fully supporting menu of modern Burns night cuisine for the occasion.

If you would like to come along to the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in Paisley’s Lagoon Centre call 0300 300 1210 or to buy online visit www.paisley2021.co.uk/events/the-mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards. Tickets can also be purchased via Paisley Arts Centre. Bands performing on Saturday 2nd December include Elephant Sessions, The Shee Big Band, Siobhan Miller, Tidelines, Paisley Fèis, Snuffbox, The Seamus O’Sullivan Experience, Lori Watson, Jenna Reid and Harris Playfair, Songs of Bàrd Phàislig (featuring Gillebrìde MacIlleMhaoil, Sìneag MacIntyre, Màiri NicAonghais, Seonaidh MacIntyre, Ewan MacPherson, Mhairi Hall, Màiri Nic a Mhaoilein and more to be announced. There will also be a late night ceilidh after the Awards till 1am.