Paisley is going Gaelic
Feis Week is back again in July
Paisley is paying homage to traditional Scottish culture with its annual Gaelic week.
Fèis Week, which takes place in the town this July, offers an intensive course of come-andtry workshops for young people – including instrumental tuition, singing, drama, dance and filmmaking – as well as the chance to work with some of Scotland’s leading traditional musicians.
It ’ s an opportunity for individuals to come together and develop skills in the Gaelic arts – song, dance, drama, and traditional music on a wide range of instruments.
The four-day event runs from July 18- 21 at Paisley Grammar School.
Aimed at complete beginners to intermediate players between the ages of eight and 18, the aim is to give all participants something that suits their ability and the opportunity to perform as part of a larger group.
Youngsters can try their hand at the chanter/pipes, guitar, fiddle, accordion or the traditional clarsach – plus much more.
There’s a tutors ceilidh on the Wednesday evening and an endof- week participants concert on the Friday afternoon, which chairman Grant McFarlane says is one of the major highlights of the week.
He said: “Our 2017 Fèis week has been many months in the making and we’re excited to welcome along so many participants in July. The young people always have a fantastic time and I’m looking forward to hearing their progress across the week at our finale concert.”
The Gaelic week is organised by Fèis Phàislig – Gaelic for Paisley Festival – an arts organisation that provides traditional music experiences for young people across Renfrewshire.
Their aim is to inspire the next generation of children to play traditional music with some of Scotland’s top musicians and tutors.
Since kicking-off with 50 kids in 2015, the Gaelic Festival has picked up speed and last year’s celebration welcomed 100 children thanks to a funding boost from the Paisley 2021 Culture, Events and Heritage fund.
Fèis Phàislig now provides a year- round programme of events, including weekly Saturday classes in three different musical subjects, an annual four-day Fèis event each July and promotional visits to schools providing free music taster workshops to local primary school age children in partnership with Renfrewshire Council.
Applications for Fèis Week close on May 31 – for more information and to sign up, visit www.feisphaislig.com