Highland games & music

Subject: Highland games
From: Gordon Jackson
Date: 14 Aug 24 - 09:09 AM

Hi all,

My partner and I are thinking about attending a highland games in Scotland in 2025.

Although the sports may be fun, we're particularly keen on the music: pipes, fiddle and harp, perhaps sessions as well.

Can anyone recommend the best games to attend?

Thanks,
Gordon

Subject: RE: Highland games
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Aug 24 - 02:21 PM

Jim & Susie Malcolm took our tour group to the Highland Games at Braemar. I understand it's one of the most significant venues for Games. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip and Prince Charles attended, which made it more interesting. Braemar is not far from Balmoral Castle. It's a lovely town.

We didn't experience any music there, other than the usual bagpipes, so I can't comment on that. We had our own ceilidh at another location, and a good time was had by all.

Subject: RE: Highland games
From: GUEST,Lang Johnnie Mor
Date: 14 Aug 24 - 02:56 PM

You will certainly find competitive piping and Highland dancing at Highland games, but fiddles, harps and sessions are not usually [ ever ? ] part of an official programme, in my life-time experience, anyway.
The only exception I have ever come across is the Aboyne Highland games where Paul Anderson judged a fiddle competition. That was about 4 years ago. If you do come to Aberdeenshire, post here when you are coming, and I will let you know what, if anything, is going on at that time.

Subject: RE: Highland games & music
From: GUEST,Rossey
Date: 14 Aug 24 - 05:04 PM

The Highland Games in Inverness, has expanded to include ceilidh music at night (only piping is part of the games). Inverness is also a good base for various pubs that have music sessions, depending on what days you stay.
https://invernesshighlandgames.com/big-top-evening-ceilidh/

Subject: RE: Highland games & music
From: Gordon Jackson
Date: 15 Aug 24 - 10:09 AM

Thanks for your responses, guys.

Inverness looks the most promising but alas we can't go. Perhaps I should have mentioned that, because we're both involved in education (I'm a tutor, she's a teacher), we won't be free till the end of July.

Subject: RE: Highland games & music
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 18 Aug 24 - 12:36 PM

There will be a Highland Games programme listing all the meetings
for the year/season?-
Cowal Highland Gathering in Dunoon has a ceilidh tent so I expect some of the others will have similar?
In Inverness you will find MacGregor's Bar, it is a traditional music session venue owned by Bruce MacGregor of Blazing Fiddles.
There are a good few folk festivals pm around the country - maybe check the TMSA website (Traditional Music and Song Association) for listings?
Quite a few festivals are over a weekend....
Edinburgh Festival Fringe is on for I think 3 weeks in August (and maybe start of September?) BUT - Edinburgh will be jam packed with people and performers at many venues in and around the city - also accommodation will be hard to find!

There are also some week long festivals dedicated to fiddle or harp or bagpipes etc - often in smaller places like Blazin'in Beauly, Sabhal Mor Ostaig on Southern Sleat peninsula of Skye, other 'schools' can be found on Mull, some of Hebridean islands, Orkney, Shetland etc