Traditional music talent tantalises festival-goers
The Mull of Kintyre Music Festival, from which many may still be recovering, caters for a plethora of musical tastes but it always remains true to its Scottish roots. And it seems that is what revellers want, for although every event was well attended this year, the Festival Ceilidh and Traditional Concerts were sell-outs. A capacity audience also packed the Seafield Hotel’s Ceol music venue for the Gaelic Night, which kicked off the five-day extravaganza. BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2017 finalist and Oban girl, Kim Carnie, accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Innes White, headlined the Wednesday night Gaelic event. They were joined by local musicians, including singers Iain MacPherson, Raibert MacCallum and Bethany Kelly, and accordionist Alec MacKinnon. The Festival Ceilidh, on Friday night, featured four top ceilidh bands from home and away – Kintyre’s Rhuvaal and Kintyre Schools Pipe Band, the Grouse Ceilidh Band, with members hailing from across Scotland, and Dalriada Connections Band, made up of a core group of experienced musicians, supplemented by Campbeltown Grammar School students and artists from across the Celtic world. Iconic dances, including the Gay Gordons and the Dashing White Sergeant, quickly got people up off their chairs and on to the dance floor. Saturday’s Festival Club, which moved to the Kirk Street Hall this year, featured songs by one of Kintyre’s newest folk groups, Western Sound, and Hope Strang as well as other artists from across the globe who came together for a jamming session. Saturday Night’s Traditional Concert, headlined by festival favourites Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, who have been dubbed ‘probably the best traditional musicians you are ever likely to hear’, also featured Outer Hebridean four-piece Hecla. The night’s compère, Arthur Johnstone, famed for his clear, strong and passionate voice, returned to keep things running for a staggering 26th time. Sunday’s Dalriada Connections Concert completed the traditional offerings, with acts including folk musicians Eddie Seaman and Luc McNally, Gaelic singer Darren Maclean and Clarsach player Pippa Reid-Foster.