EVENT PREVIEW Niel Gow Festival

Various venues, Dunkeld and Birnam, March 20 to 22

The annual celebration of Scotland’s most famous 18th Century fiddler has become one of Highland Perthshire’s prime cultural attractions.

Born in Strathbraan in 1727, Niel Gow started his musical journey at a young age after moving seven miles east to the hamlet of Inver, by Dunkeld, later giving up a promising career in weaving to become a full-time fiddler.

Supported financially by the Duke of Atholl, Gow composed dozens of tunes – including Farewell To Whisky, Dunkeld Bridge and Major Graham Of Inchbrakie – that have become Scottish country dance music staples.

At the peak of his powers, he was painted by the influential Edinburgh portrait artist Henry Raeburn in 1787, with the twice-married father-of-eight eventually dying at Inver in 1807, just weeks shy of turning 80.

Since launching in 2004, the extravaganza in Gow’s name has firmly established itself as a leading showcase of both established and upcoming Scottish traditional music talent. This year’s event opens next Friday evening with a solo fiddles concert at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel from 7.30-10pm featuring Iain Fraser, Ryan Young, Paul Anderson, Gordon Gunn and Charlie McKerron.

The following day has a bumper programme on offer, starting with an hour-long recital by event organiser Pete Clark – playing one of Gow’s original fiddles – and pianist Muriel Johnstone at Little Dunkeld Church, starting at 10.30am. That’s followed by three concerts being staged at Birnam Arts, kicking off at noon with the world premiere of a new tribute to Gow from Kist O’ Musick, led by Alastair Hardie.

Among the highlights of the day’s afternoon show will be Royal Conservatoire of Scotland lecturer Marie Fielding launching her solo album The Spectrum Project, along with turns from such acclaimed talents as Roddy Matthews, Iain Anderson, Hannah Fisher, Graham MacKenzie, Sorren Maclean, Anne Taylor and Chris Amer. The Saturday evening recital from 7.30pm features the likes of Alistair McCulloch, Aaron Jones, Adam Sutherland, Marc Clement and Brian McAlpine.

The festival’s final day boasts performances from young Blairgowrie High, Breadalbane Academy and Conservatoire musicians, plus trad trio Rohallion. Its 2.30-5pm finale includes appearances from Riddell Fiddles, Douglas Lawrence, Maureen Rutherford, Suzanne Fivey, Ruairidh MacMillan and Dunkeld and District Strathspey and Reels.

The weekend also has a series of fiddle workshops aimed at both novice and intermediate players being staged at Birnam Arts. birnamarts.com

David Annand working on his sculpture of Niel Gow. The unveiling of the bronze statue has been postponed.