Fèis Chataibh air delighted to launch a new Cèilidh Trail CD with support from the Kilbraur Windfarm Community Benefit Trust.
The Cèilidh Trail is a cultural heritage project which gives young traditional musicians and singers the opportunity to take part in a professional summer tour. Fèis Chataibh is one of eight fèis Cèilidh Trail projects running in Scotland each year with support from Fèisean nan Gàidheal.
There were seven members in this year’s Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trail – Scott Celli, Helen Gordon, Jo Maclean, Ross Macleod, Johan Mearns, Ailsa Murray and Douglas Murray. The group spent a very busy three weeks touring Sutherland and Caithness in July and August 2016 performing at ceilidhs, concerts, sessions and even appeared at the popular Highland festival Belladrum.
After their tour was finished the group set up a portable studio in the Fountain Road Church Halls in Golspie where they recorded a five track CD with acclaimed musician and sound engineer Gordon Gunn at the helm. Amongst the tracks are a Gaelic song by the famous Sutherland bard Rob Donn Mackay and a Scots song by Robert Burns. It was fitting then that the CD was launched at a Burns Supper in Golspie at the end of January.
Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trail Co-ordinator Mhairi Mackinnon said,
“We’re delighted with our young band and all the hard work and effort they’ve put in to this project and I think these efforts are evident in the high quality CD they’ve produced. The Cèilidh Trail is a great opportunity to develop musical and performance skills with help and training from professionals, and I think recording a CD enhances these skills even further, giving the group even more of an idea of what it is like to be a member of professional band.
We are very grateful to the Kilbraur Windfarm Community Benefit Trust for their support with the CD, to Fèisean nan Gàidheal for their help with the scheme and to Gordon Gunn who made the recording a rewarding experience for all involved.”
The Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trail CD 2016 is now on sale in local shops for £6, or directly from the fèis through their Facebook page or email: feischataibh@yahoo.co.uk.
