Taking place across Dumfries and Galloway from the 24th July to the 27th of July, the Ceilidh Trail provides visitors to the region with the opportunity to experience authentic traditional Scottish music in a wide range of settings. Fèis Rois invites visitors to Dumfries and Galloway and locals alike to come and join in for a ceilidh dance in a village hall, a Pub or a local event.
Fifteen outstanding young musicians from across Scotland have auditioned for a paid summer job touring on the Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail. These young people are aged between 16 and 25 and many of them are studying at some of the country’s leading music schools, including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This project provides a professional development opportunity and a stepping stone between studying and launching a career as a performing artist.
Based in Ross-Shire, Fèis Rois is one of Scotland’s leading traditional arts organisations, providing opportunities for people of all ages to participate in Scottish traditional music, song and dance. Fèis Rois offers a busy year-round programme of events: from weekly music classes across Ross-Shire to residential courses for young people and adults alike as well as enabling young musicians to tour across Scotland and commissioning high profile new music.
The Ceilidh Trail project gives young musicians the chance to gain work experience as a touring artist. The participants begin the project with an intensive training week in Cromarty where they hone their skills in stage craft, dance calling and setting up their own live sound system. These workshops will prepare them for the diverse nature of their engagements.
For four weeks, three groups are performing at venues across Scotland, playing at a diverse range of engagements: from concerts in Scotland’s historic sites and Scotland’s finest pubs and restaurants, to showcases in the country’s leading theatres and ceilidh dances in local village halls.
Scots: This year’s Scots Ceilidh Trail features Emily Shields from Stirling on guitar, Steven Stark from Auchtermuchty on drums, Lewis McLaughlin from Edinburgh on fiddle, Josephine de Geer from Orkney on flute and Caitlin Forbes from Caithness on voice and fiddle. The group will highlight Scots songs and tunes on their tour from the very south of Scotland up to the northern Orkney Isles.
Fèis Rois Chief Executive Fiona Dalgetty said: “We are excited to bring this year’s Ceilidh Trail to Dumfries & Galloway with another stellar line-up of young musicians. The Ceilidh Trail is a hugely successful cultural tourism project and we now see visitors to Scotland planning their trips so that they can link up with our concerts throughout the summer. We are pleased to be building on our successful partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage with performances at nature reserves across the country. In Dumfries & Galloway we are partnering with the Stranraer Scottish Week, Craigdarroch Arms Hotel and the Kirkcudbright Scottish Nights to showcase high-quality Scottish traditional music.”
Events in Dumfries & Galloway:
24th July, 7-10pm – Craigdarroch Arms Hotel – Free admission
25th July, 1-3pm – St Ninian’s Priory – Free admission
25th July, 8pm – Stranraer Folk Club, The Grapes – Free admission
26th July, 7pm – Kirkcudbright Scottish Nights – Free admission
27th July, 12-2pm – Cairnsmore of Fleet NNR – Free admission
27th July, 7.30-10.30pm – Stranraer Scottish Week Ceilidh Dance, Masonic Hall – £8
