Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions

Subject: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 03:38 PM

Anyone out there with local knowledge or experience can tell me of any clubs or sessions or singing that's happening on a regular basis on the Isle of Skye or that part of the NW Highlands of Scotland? (All I came across when on holiday there a few years ago was a series of concert gigs at the Aros Centre near Portree and one at the Clan Donald Piping Centre. And the usual Google etc searches just come up with the boring tourist ceilidh stuff.....)

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 04:18 PM

Send a PM to Mudcatter Strupag, real name Andy Mitchell, he lives near Portree and should be able to help.
Giok

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 04:24 PM

Forgot to say there is a good venue in Ullapool, called the Ceilidh Place, more concert venue than club, but a nice place.
Giok

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: GUEST,fiddle
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 05:08 PM

Seems to be a shortage of folkie friendly venues all over Scotland. All I`ve ever found is the usual tourist orientated pre packaged tat that is fast becoming the expected product of what used to be a unique culture. Pity realy, because some of the performers are realy tallented, but as there is nowhere else to perform , are being channeled into the tourist venues. I`ve noticed this particularly on Skye.

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 05:27 PM

Thanks all so far. Yes I know the Ceilidh Place at Ullapool, as you say it's a concert venue really. Also I've been to gigs at a pub near Gairloch, mainly putting on visiting US s/s and alt-country but good stuff all the same. But Lochalsh and Skye seem to be thin on the ground. I'll take up your suggestion then, Giok, thanks.
Anyone else with experiences to share?

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: GUEST,John from Tarneybackle
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 06:04 PM

Take a look at http://www.skyelive.com/ as this lists venues for music. You will need to contact them to check what is happening.

If you fancy seeing a live performance of Scottish folk song then check us out www.tarneybackle.co.uk. We'll be on tour at the end of July in the highlands and Skye.

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: GUEST,Pete
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 07:28 PM

I believe there are regular sessions at The Strathcarron Hotel by Strathcarron Station and, occasionally, in The Lochcarron Hotel and the bar at Shieldaig.

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: GUEST,Domnull
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:01 AM

Along the same lines, I'll hope to be up on Lewis late July/Aug. Any Mudcatters in Lewis at all? Any sessions on the island around that time? The Hebridean Celtic Festival (10th anniv) Jul 13-16 looks promising. These may be of interest -

http://www.hebceltfest.com/contact/links/

http://www.hie.co.uk/calendar.htm

http://www.lanntair.com/Events/default.htm

http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/en/cursaichean/cg/index.php

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:18 AM

I've always found music, both concerts and ceilidhe or sessions, in Skye and in Stornaway, Lewis. (Elsewhere in the Western Isles it isn't as easy to find the music as there isn't the pub culture.) Check the Stornaway Gazette and the West Highland Free Press (and "Lochaber News" etc, the appropriate local papers according to which area you are in) for announcements and adverts, also local radio stations. There's often music around the Gaelic college, Sabhal Mór Ostaig in the Sleat/Teangue area of Skye (near the ferry at Ardvasar)

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: GUEST,John Barden
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:25 AM

I was in Ullapool a couple of years back and I think the Ferry Boat Inn were holding sessions every Wednesday - might be worth ringing them and finding out - great B & B too.

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: GUEST,HughM
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 08:22 AM

Someone told me that singers from Sabhal Mo/r Ostaig can sometimes be found in the pub on Isle Ornsay.

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: GUEST,folkiefrank
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 06:49 PM

Have a look at the Footstompin' website, there's a forum for just this sort of info, and a gig list. Just google it.

Subject: RE: Skye/NW Highlands - Clubs/sessions
From: GUEST,Rob
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 03:50 AM

Having seen Tarneybackle perform I can strongly recomend seeing them.

There is a Festival on the Isle of Rum with Shoolenifty ,Peatbog Faeries amongst lots of others May 13th - 15th.