Impressive line up of artists and events at McLellan Arts Festival
This year’s McLellan Arts Festival begins just as the Arran Open Studios event is winding up so after visiting the studios of the various island artists, a host of entertainment, music, theatre, poetry and art awaits the art aficionados visiting the island for the month long festival.
The Arran Open Studios take place from today (Friday) till Monday, while the Mclellan Arts Festival which starts on the same date continues until Saturday September 17.
The schedule for the festival includes several outstanding visiting artists starting on Tuesday August 16 when Wendy MacIsaac, the talented and internationally-acclaimed Cape Breton fiddler plays in Whiting Bay village hall. Wendy has been described as an inspiration to listen to and much foot tapping – and dancing if you wish – will take place as she masterfully makes her fiddle sing with the traditional music of her Scottish ancestry continued and loved in Nova Scotia.
More amazing rhythms of a very different sort can be heard on Friday August 19 in the community theatre at the Arran High School when innovative musician and composer Ricardo Curbelo takes listeners on a colourful journey through different Latin American countries on harp, cuatro, maracas and vocals.
sibrant, energetic and jazzy pieces contrast with captivating melodies and romantic vocals. The sound of his harps, which he designs and constructs himself, adds to the uniqueness of his performance giving listeners quite a different experience of harp music.
The community theatre will continue to buzz with excitement as the following evening, Saturday August 20, sees an interesting and entertaining production of Shakespeare’s last play, The Tempest, along with excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed by the Durham Shakespeare Company – a tribute particularly fitting in remembrance of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth.
The following weekend brings the McLellan poetry weekend and the super sizzling festival ceilidh held on Saturday August 27, this year in Whiting Bay hall, which will include local artists Tim Pomeroy, The Drambusters, Angus Adamson on pipes and The Buchaneers, with members of the Arran Jazz Band.
Brochure are available all over the island and tickets will be available at the doors on the night and are also available online at arranevents.com and, Saturday August 13 at the Book and Card Centre in Brodick.
Children and young people go free to all events and a supersaver festival ticket can be yours for £40, which allows entry to all 11 performances.