The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Niel Gow Festival
Various venues, March 17-19
In the melee of the Scottish music festival scene, there are a few gems that provide followers with an experience that exceeds expectations year after year.
For enthusiasts of traditional Scottish music, and particularly that played on the fiddle, the annual Niel Gow Festival is a chance to not only come together in beautiful surroundings to hear great playing, but also to celebrate one of Perthshire’s most famous sons.
Taking place in Dunkeld and Birnam, the festival attracts music fans from across the world to celebrate the life of Niel Gow (1727-1807), regarded by many as the patriarch of the Scottish fiddle tradition.
This year’s event begins with a solo fiddle concert at the Royal Dunkeld Hotel. Performers will include Jennifer Wrigley from Orkney, Archie McAllister from Argyll, Alistair McCulloch from Ayrshire, Caoimhin MacAoidh and Peter Campbell.
Tomorrow morning Pete Clark and cello player Ron Shaw will give a recital in Little Dunkeld Church, a few yards from Niel Gow’s last resting place.
Organisers are keen that the festival encourages new talent and as such the Perthshire schools’ stage session kicks off tomorrow morning in the main auditorium of the Birnam Institute with free admission.
Across the weekend there will be various events with many of the weekend’s performers giving the opportunity to learn from the best.
The three concerts at the Birnam Institute will showcase diverse fiddle styles.
Tomorrow features Perthshire musicians Karys Watt and David MacFarlane, fiddlers from the Donegal tradition Caoimhin MacAiodh and Peter Campbell and Ayrshire duo Alistair McCulloch and Sean Gray.
Orcadian duo, Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley, headline tomorrow night’s concert, plus with west highland fiddler Archie McAllister accompanied by Sileas Sinclair on accordion and keyboards.
On Sunday the afternoon concert features feature festival director Pete Clark, accompanied by piano maestro Muriel Johnstone.
The grand finale will be a performance by the Northumbrian-Scottish combination of Roddy Matthews and Iain Anderson.
Guided walks by David Martin (10am, Saturday) and Pete Clark (11am, Sunday) will provide an insight into this corner of highland Perthshire for visitors who would like to learn a bit more about Dunkeld, its history and its wildlife.
Tickets for all events are available from Birnam Arts (01350 727 674) and further information about the concerts and workshops can be found online at www.niel-gow.co.uk