Christine Primrose and Margaret Stewart are to appear in concert with Neil Campbell and Blair Douglas as part of the 2007 Fèis an Eilean/Skye Festival in July.

This concert features two of the finest Gaelic performers in Scotland today - both singers, who are native Gaelic speakers, hail from the IsleofLewis and are amongst the rare few who still sing in the highly ornamental style once so prevalent on Lewis and Harris.

Christine has an international reputation, has been singing in public since childhood and was at the forefront of the folk music revival in Scotland. She was a member of supergroup MacTalla and regularly performs with harpist Alison Kinnaird as well as her many solo performances worldwide. She has made her home in Skye and has for some time been on the staff of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

Margaret Stewart has also been singing since childhood, but did not become known to the public until she won the Mod Gold Medal in 1993.  A few years later she recorded the critically acclaimed CD 'Fhuair Mi Pòg, with piper Allan MacDonald, which set the standard for future recordings throughout Gaelic Scotland.  After living in Venezuela for six years, she is now settled in the seaside town of Nairn.

Christine and Margaret's reputations as two of the finest Gaelic singers in Scotland are richly deserved. Their passion for the songs, their extensive repertoire, crystal clear diction, fluent Gaelic and the beauty and purity of their voices is evidence, if indeed it were required, that traditional Gaelic singing is safe in the hands of such outstanding tradition bearers.

Joining Christine and Margaret on stage for this performance will be renowned musicians Blair Douglas and Neil Campbell. This event is certain to be one of the highlights of the 2007 Fèis an Eilein programme.

This 16th Fèis an Eilein runs from 13 – 27 July in several venues and is based at Sabhal Mor Ostaig near Armadale in South Skye. It is packed with concerts, theatre, workshops, book events, family events and much more. For further details and the full programme, see www.skyefestival.com

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 and J. Derrick                                                        McClure

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

Monday 23 July                6:00 PM       “Soirbheas” – Meg Bateman

 

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.