Folk Festivals
listings
Folk Festival listin s compiled by Sue Wilson. Photograp s by Heidi Pearson
SKYE &. LOOIIALSII FESTIVAL/
FEIS AN EILEIN
Mon 7—Sat 19 Jul
Contact Duncan Maclnnes. Seall Community Arts. ()staig House. Teangue. Isle of Skye. (ll-171 844207.
How to get there Take the A82/A87 to Kyle of Lochalsh. Once on Skye. head south towards the Sleat peninsula. The tnain festival base is Sabhal Mor ()staig in Armadale.
Accommodation Tourist information: 01478 612137. For camping information contact Duncan Maclnnes. 01471 844207. Tickets £3426.
The crack Session nights throughout in the bar at Sabhal Mor ()staig itself. or try the Hairy Coo and the lsleornsay Hotel. Eating out Festival Cafe open daily (not Sun) at Ardvasar Hall. with informal live sessions to munch along to.
Other attractions Take your pick. really - this is Skye. after all. Try the Sleat Peninsula. regarded as the Garden of Skye. and the nearby Clan Donald Visitor Centre. set in 40 acre gardens. The Talisker Distillery at Carbost is another attraction.
About the festival Now in its sixth year. this ten-day jamboree. based around the traditional music summer school at Sabhal Mor ()staig. will already be under way by the time you read this. There are plenty of highlights still to come. though. from a diverse range of traditional. contemporary and crossover sounds. Featured artists include leading young jazzy duo Bachue Cafe. all-singing. all- dancing Xiiitbabwean ten-piece Black Umfolozi. traditional Irish trio Dulaman and Afro-Celtic dance crew Bonfire. Supplementing the tnusic is an extensive programme of workshops and talks. plus ceilidhs. children‘s entertainment. and even a smattering of theatre and dance.
9TH STONEIIAVEN FOLK FESTIVAL Fri 11-Sun 13 Jul
Contact Pat Cruse. 56 Brickfteld Road. Stonehaven. 01569 763519.
How to get there Fifteen miles south of Aberdeen. off the A90; main railway lines from Glasgow and Fldinburgh to Aberdeen.
Accommodation Tourist information: 01569 762806. For information on festival campsite contact Charlie West. 0156‘) 765063.
Tickets £44; 10; weekend ticket £25. The crack Sessions at The Bevedere. The Star. The Marine. G's and The Ship. all on or near the central square. Festival club: St Leonard's Hotel.
Eatlng out Plenty ofcafes. chippies and pubs/hotels serving food around the tnain square. or try the old harbour area for a great view with your food.
Other attractions Dunotter Castle. about one mile south of the town - walk in Mel Gibson's footsteps at one of Scotland's most spectacular ruins. where Zefftrelli filmed Hum/e1.
About the festival Friendly. lively festival with a wide-ranging music policy. Appropriately for the ballad-rich north- east. traditional singing features prominently. The Saturday afternoon Arthur Argo Memorial Concert. headlined this year by Jock Duncan and Mike Waterson. among others. is an annual centrepiece. along with many a singaround session. Plenty on offer for those of a more upbeat/instrutnental persuasion. however. including funky young Edinburgh six-piece Seelyhoo (featuring the fabulous Wrigley sisters). wild Russian
gyspy trio Loyko. and lean. mean folk- fusioneers the Old Blind Dogs. Plus Setanta, Loobie, Tannahill Weavers, Tapsalteerie, Mick West Band and Maurice Dickson. Look out for street entertainment. workshops. children‘s shows and the Unique and World Famous Aqua Ceilidh. in the local (heated) outdoor swimming pool.
NEBRIDEAN OELTIO FESTIVAL
Wed 16-Sat 19 Jul
Contact Fiona Morrison. PO Box 9901. Stornoway. Isle of Lewis. 07071 878787. How to get there CalMac ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway. or via Harris from Skye (0990 650000); BA flights from Glasgow or lnverness (0345 22211 1). Accommodation Tourist information: 01851 703088.
Tickets £3.50—£10; weekend ticket £22 (£15).
The crack Designated session pubs are the County Hotel (also the Festival Club). the Crown Hotel and ()‘Neill's Bar. Eating out The restaurant of Stornoway's Park Guest House comes recommended. and many hotels serve meals. Further afield. try Tigh Mealrose at Garanahine. near the Callanish stones. the Copper Kettle at Dal Beag or Galston farm on the wa ' to Ness.
Other attractions Spoilt for choice. really — archaeological sites include the famous Callanish standing stones. Carloway Broch and the blackhouse village ofGarenin. or escape to the island‘s man spectacular empty beaches. About the estival Far-flung but superny located festival. based in Stornoway. It started with a definite bang last year and returns with another top- quality line-up. the tnain concerts taking place in a marquee pitched in the grounds of Lews Castle. The truly magnificent French-Canadian eight-piece La Bottine Souriante head up the bill. after taking this year's Celtic Connections festival by storm.Wolfstone will be dropping in on their farewell tour. along with renowned Scots fiddler Alasdair Fraser. Edinburgh‘s Latin ten-piece party outfit Salsa Celtica and energetic Shetland indie-roots combo Drop The Box. Bear
in mind that Lewis pretty strictly shuts down on Sundays (the festival ends Saturday night). with no ferry sailings until early Monday morning.
6TH ISLE OF BUTE INTERNATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL
Thu 17—Mon 21 Jul
Contact Danny Kyle. 0141 887 999I/Anna Bonnacorsi. 17 Roslin Crescent. Rothesay. 01700 505721.
How to get there CalMac ferry (30 mins) to Rothesay frotn Wemyss Bay (01475 650100/520521). about twenty miles west of Glasgow; connecting trains
It .71
FOLK FESTIVALS
Jonny Hardie from Old Blind Dogs
from Glasgow Central. Accommodation Tourist information: 01700 502151. Festival campsite (£5 per pitch) with security. showers and family areas -— plus the Girl Guides on breakfast dut t.
Tic ets £3—£12; weekend ticket £32.50. The crack Main session pubs include the Argyll Arms (aka ‘the Glucpot' 1. the Golfer's. the Islander and the Esplanade. Eating out Lots of good cafes and pubs serving meals along the tnain street fronting the bay; '/.avarone‘s (young Lena hailed from Rothesay. remember?) for fish suppers and ice-cream.
Other attractions Rothesay Castle.
Stewart Eaglesham and Duncan Chisholm from Wolfstone
l 1~24 Jul 1997 THE LIST]
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HEIDI PEARSON
HEIDI PEARSON