Exciting line-up for Islay Sessions
The line-up has been announced for this year’s Islay Sessions, which take place from November 23 to 25.
Kicking off the weekend of events on Friday November 23 will be Irish fiddler Gráinne Brady with an intimate concert in the Port Charlotte Hotel conservatory. Joined by Andrew Waite and Innes White, Gráinne will be launching her debut album, The Road Across the Hills.
The music explores the social themes associated with the mass immigration of the Irish to Scotland, particularly at the start of the 20th century. Taking inspiration from Donegal writer Patrick MacGill’s novel Children of the Dead End, the music acts as a soundtrack to the story.
Playing at the Saturday night concert in Bruichladdich Hall will be Dallahan, Josie Duncan and The Dusk, and Brighde Chaimbeul.
Dallahan are among the most thrilling on the international folk music scene, with hugely diverse backgrounds and influences. They call on their mixed Irish, Scottish and Hungarian heritage to create a unique and seamless musical montage, drawing in influences from jazz, funk, pop and classical music.
Josie Duncan is a folk singer from the Isle of Lewis. Having been immersed in Glasgow’s fast-moving traditional music scene for the past few years where she studied at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, her crystal-clear voice is equally at home in Gaelic, Scots or English. Josie was awarded BBC Radio 2’s Young Folk Award in 2017 alongside guitarist Pablo Lafuente. Josie Duncan and The Dusk consist of Innes White on guitar, Megan MacDonald on accordion, Brighde Chaimbeul on whistles and Signy Jakobsdottir on percussion.
Another winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, Skye musician and piper Brighde Chaimbeul is one of Scotland’s fastest rising stars, collaborating with the likes of Ross Ainslie and Aidan O’Rourke. She draws inspiration from a variety of piping traditions such as from Cape Breton, Eastern Europe and Ireland. Brighde will be joined on this occasion by guitarist Innes White.
On the Sunday evening in the Port Charlotte Hotel conservatory, singer Claire Hastings will perform a solo set with English and Scots songs accompanied by ukulele. Winner of the prestigious title of BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Trad Musician of the Year, she has since delighted audiences at home and abroad with her ‘natural, effortless Scots voice’. Claire’s second solo album, Those Who Roam, is due for release next year.
Alongside these many events will be informal trad music sessions in the Port Charlotte Hotel bar over the weekend, as well as a whisky tour for anyone wanting to sample some of Islay’s finest exports.
The Islay Sessions are also involved with The Wayfarers Project run by the Traditional Music Forum. This project engages young people in Kirriemuir and Islay by running workshops before and during the festival, learning local material and creating and sharing new arrangements. Festival workshops are free for youngsters (though book to ensure a space) and will take place on the Saturday in Islay High School, Bowmore. There will also be workshops for adults.
For more, go to Facebook and Twitter (/Islay-Sessions) and www.islaysessions.co.uk
Tickets for all events are available on Eventbrite. www.islaysessions18.eventbrite.co.uk