Show will go on as Fèis Rois takes workshops and festivals online
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A DINGWALL-based arts organisation is harnessing technology to press ahead with a music festival – online.
Fèis Rois has already seen two of its popular annual events cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It bwas forced to cancel its adult fèis next month on what would have been the 30th anniversary event. The junior version, a week-long residential for Primary 4 – S1 pupils, which usually runs during the Easter holidays, was also axed.
Now, in a bid to cheer up those who were looking forward to the events, Fèis Rois has organised an online event which can be enjoyed by people of all ages around the world.
The very first Virtual Fèis Rois will take place from Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 3 via Facebook Live with the likes of Highland-based fiddlers Duncan Chisholm and Lauren MacColl, Ali Levack and Scots singer Siobhan Miller leading music and song workshops during the day.
Each night there will be a different concert, as there would be during the actual events.
The first night will see singer-songwriter duo Brian Ó hEadhra and Fiona Mackenzie perform. On the Saturday, Lauren MacColl and Ewan Macpherson will play Highland fiddle melodies and sing-a-long songs.
Ms MacColl has also written a tune and will offer people logging in the chance to bid on it to name it.
The popular Fèis Rois tutor concert with a line-up featuring some of the best duos around will become an online three-hour special, kicking off with Capercaillie’s Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw followed by fiddlers Adam Sutherland and Emma Tomlinson, former Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail participants Mischa Macpherson and Kim Carnie, Siobhan Miller and Euan Burton, Glenfinnan fiddle and clarsach pairing, Ingrid Henderson and Iain MacFarlane, and singer-songwriter Findlay Napier with fiddler and singer, Gillian Frame.
The group's chief executive Fiona Dalgetty said: “Like so many other organisations and festivals, we were devastated to have to cancel our junior and adult fèisean, which are key events in our calendar. Fèis Rois is in the business of bringing people together; we are about building community and friendships, as well as passing on tradition and teaching music skills to people of all ages and abilities and we didn’t want the current situation to stop that from happening this year. Using the technology we have at our fingertips, this is a way that we can still achieve these things in the virtual world, allowing even more people to get involved.
“The workshops will provide people, both participants and tutors, with the unique chance to peek in on other classes they might not have usually got to enjoy – fiddlers can join the pipe workshop and learn some good Highland pipe tunes. Usually our residential events are aimed at certain age groups, however this online format allows all ages to enjoy the same workshops and concerts and we are hoping that people from all over the world will join us for the first time!
"We wanted this virtual weekend to represent the breadth of work we do here at Fèis Rois and I think the range of workshops, calibre of tutors and performers participating does just that.”
Lauren MacColl, fiddler and Fèis Rois tutor, said: “Gatherings such as Fèis Rois, whatever the age group, are such amazing social occasions and they celebrate everything that is positive about community. Many of my best friends are those I met through the Fèis over the years. It’s brilliant to be involved in this virtual weekend, to be able to connect with people at this time, and hopefully bring some cheer and a little bit of Fèis spirit into folk’s living rooms.”
All workshops will be pitched at approximately an intermediate-plus level but everyone is encouraged to get involved. A suggested minimum donation of £5 for each workshop or concert you view can be made on the Fèis Rois Just Giving page, https://www.justgiving.com/feisrois, or via Paypal, https://www.feisrois.org/get-involved/support-us/.
There is no obligation to make a donation.
If you would like to find out more about the timetable of workshops and concerts taking place throughout the weekend, please visit www.feisrois.org. Updates will also be posted on Facebook, where all the events will take place at www.facebook.com/feisrois.
