Bands join forces for tour of islands
This November, Hecla and Sian are setting sail on a double-header tour of the Western Isles.
The tour sees a new collaboration between two bands who are establishing themselves in the traditional music world.
Audiences in Barra, South Uist, North Uist, Lewis and Skye can look forward to a programme of music from the Gaelic song, piping and fiddle traditions, thanks to support from Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Tasgadh fund.
Three of Scotland’s finest Gaelic singers – Eilidh Cormack, Ellen MacDonald and Ceitlin L R Smith – joined forces in 2016 to create the sound of Sian, a project originally developed for the Blas Festival.
With a powerful collective sound, representing their wealth of individual experience, the band have gone on to perform at the SSE Hydro and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall among other venues, and mostly recently featured on Niteworks’ single Air Fàir an Là, released in July.
Instrumental trio Hecla will perform alongside Sian, bringing fresh arrangements of traditional tunes on pipes, fiddle, flute and guitar. Hecla was formed at Benbecula College UHI and released their debut EP in January 2017. Since then, the band has performed at a range of festivals, including HebCelt, Lorient and Celtic Connections as well as being featured on programmes for BBC Alba and BBC Radio Scotland.
The Hecla and Sian tour dates are: Tuesday November 20, Barra, Northbay Hall; Wednesday November 21, South Uist, St Peter’s Hall, Daliburgh; Thursday November 22, North Uist, Claddach Kirkibost Centre; Friday November 23, Lewis, Woodlands Centre, Stornoway; Saturday November 24, Skye, An Crùbh, Sleat.
Tickets are available from www.sian-music.com/ gigs/, locally in shops and venues, and at the door on the evening.