The opening concert of the 2007 Fèis an Eilein/Skye Festival will set the standard for an outstanding two week programme of diverse events that, every July, marks South Skye as a leader on the summer festivals’ circuit. Billed as “the biggest small festival in Scotland” Feis an Eilein will welcome two highly acclaimed Gaelic singers, Cathy Ann MacPhee and Kathleen MacInnes to the stage in their eagerly anticipated first stage collaboration.

Born in Barra, Cathy Ann MacPhee grew up a native speaker of Gaelic, singing at ceilidhs from the age of five. Her career as an actress and singer has taken her all over the world and she now lives in Ontario, Canada, where she teaches Gaelic singing from the western seaboard to Cape Breton Island. Her various recordings feature mostly traditional Gaelic song, some with a modern twist.

A native of South Uist, Kathleen MacInnes was also brought up in a Gaelic-speaking home. Her career in television and theatre has seen her in acting and presenting and singing roles. In 2006 she was named ‘Gaelic Singer of the Year’ at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards. On her debut album ‘Og Mhadainn Shamhraidh’ (2006) she sings a combination of traditional and more recent material. She currently lives in Glasgow.

Performing on stage together for the first time (Tuesday 17th July) Cathy Ann and Kathleen are sure to treat the audience to a memorable night of beautiful Gaelic song that will kick-start the 2007 Fèis an Eilein programme of concerts in style.

Their strong connections to the Gaelic language is in keeping with the Fèis’ policy to promote Gaelic.

This concert is part of the Fèis an Eilein/Skye Festival – music, theatre, visual arts, workshops, family events, sessions, ceilidhs and more.

Fèis an Eilein runs from 13 – 27 July in several venues and is based at Sabhal Mor Ostaig near Armadale in South Skye.

Praise for Cathy Ann MacPhee: "MacPhee’s voice remains as expressive as ever, and her interpretations have grown in authority." Kenny Mathieson, The Scotsman

Praise for Kathleen MacInnes: “Her contributions to First Harvest's own debut album suggested she had much to offer, and that is confirmed in her singing on this disc.” The Scotsman
 

ENDS    Duncan MacInnes 01471 844 207
NOTES TO EDITORS

Fèis an Eilein ~ the Skye Festival from Friday 13 July to Friday 27 July 2007

Venue: Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s Gaelic College, and Armadale Castle, Isle of Skye

Information and Tickets from: 01471 844207, feis@cali.co.uk and www.skyefestival.com

Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture, aims to promote the Highlands as a great place to live and to visit through showcasing the unique and special nature of Highland culture past, present and future. The project is a partnership between three principal funding agencies: The Highland Council, the Scottish Executive, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. See www.highland2007.com for full details.

 

Aos Dana Book Festival

Friday 13 July                  4:30 PM       ‘Calum’s Road' - Roger Hutchinson

Friday 13 July                  7:30 PM       ‘Encounters with Gaels’ - Lesley Riddoch

Saturday 14 July              4:30 PM       ‘The Dark Ship’ - Anne MacLeod

Saturday 14 July              7:30 PM       ‘The Unbroken Harp’ - David Craig

Sunday 15 July                 7:30 PM       Reading Ceilidh 'Gaelic is the Loving Tongue'

Monday 16 July                4:30 PM       'Sean agus Ur' - 'Old and New' - Myles Campbell and Andrew Mitchell

Monday 16 July                7:30 PM       ‘Gaelic poems in the Scots Tongue’ - Angus Peter Campbell

Tuesday 17 July               4:30 PM       ‘Soil & Soul' and 'Love and Revolution’ - Alastair McIntosh

 

Main Festival

Tuesday 17 July               2:00 PM       'The Life and Times of John Muir'

Tuesday 17 July               7:30 PM       Cathie Anne MacPhee and the Kathleen MacInnes Band

Tuesday 17 July               9:30 PM       'Sheelanagig'

Wednesday 18 July           8:00 PM       ‘Daimh’

Wednesday 18 July           10:00 PM      The Puffer Club

Thursday 19 July              8:00 PM       ‘Nuala Kennedy’

Friday 20 July                  7:30 PM       'Rachel Unthank and the Winterset'

Friday 20 July                  9:30 PM       ‘The Fred Morrison Band’ and ‘Injuns’

Saturday 21 July              10:00 AM     An Tuireann Open Day

Saturday 21 July              2:00 PM       'Millions' (u)

Saturday 21 July              6:00 PM       ‘Buntata ‘s Sgadan’ Herring and Tattie Supper

Saturday 21 July              8:00 PM       ‘Meantime’

Saturday 21 July              10:00 PM      ‘Box Club’ and ‘Là Luaine’

Sunday 22 July                 7:30 PM       MacDara Theatre

Sunday 22 July                 9:00 PM       'Festival' (18)

Monday 23 July                7:30 PM       Christine Primrose and Friends

Tuesday 24 July               11:00 AM     Family Day

Tuesday 24 July               8:00 PM       'Seikou Susso' Band

Wednesday 25 July           7:30 PM       'Shepheard, Spiers and Watson' / 'Vent du Nord'

Wednesday 25 July           10:00 PM      The Puffer Club

Thursday 26 July              7:30 PM       Comedy Club - The Stand

Thursday 26 July              9:30 PM       Fergie MacDonald Band

Friday 27 July                  7:30 PM       ‘Harem Scarem'

Friday 27 July                  9:30 PM       'Survivors' Ceilidh'

Also Daily workshops for adults and children in singing, drama, yoga, Gaelic and dance.

Daily Charity Cafés with Music session.