Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival

Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2012

Thursday 24th May 2012
The Lomond Ceilidh Band in The Royal Hotel, Portree at 7.30pm

Friday 25th May 2012

Matthew MacLennan in The Royal Hotel, Portree at 7.30pm

Saturday 26th May 2012

Afternoon - Craig McFadyen Scottish Dance Band followed by the Nicola Morrison Trio in the Royal Hotel, Portree

8.30pm - Ceilidh Dance in the Skye Gathering Hall with James Coutts Scottish Dance Band.

info@skyemusic.co.uk or 01478 612138

If you are looking for accommodation we suggest you contact the local Tourist Information Office on 01478-612137 or online at www.visithighlands.com. Lists of accommodation are also available on www.skye.co.uk and also The Royal Hotel, Portree on www.royal-hotel-skye.com or 01478-612525.

The annual Skye Accordion and Fiddle Festival, which was held recently in the Royal Hotel in Portree was hailed as yet another success with musicians and friends from the length and breadth of the country and further afield flocking to the island to enjoy a few days of the best of traditional music and craic. The event opened on the Thursday evening with a capacity audience enjoying music from local and visiting players followed by a superb performance by the Susan MacFadyen Scottish Dance Band to bring a great evening to a close. The inclement weather on Friday failed to deter the enthusiasts who got the music underway as soon as breakfast tables were cleared, continuing through lunch, evening meal and into the evening when the day’s star attraction was the Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio. Charlie, as well as being a renowned musician, is also a natural comedian and related many hilarious stories to the packed audience before they retired for the night to gather their strength for the following day’s activities. Once again, with breakfast over, the music got underway all morning with two bands taking over the afternoon slots. First on stage was the young Robert Nairn Ceilidh Band who wowed the many listeners with their lively playing. Sadly, due to unforeseen circumstances, the other band due to entertain in the afternoon, the Cnoc Ciuil Ceilidh Band, were unable to appear but their slot was more than ably filled at short notice by the Elizabeth MacKenzie Scottish Dance Band from Caithness who put on a first class performance which was much enjoyed by the audience. Evening entertainment in the Royal Hotel was provided by popular accordionist Ian Cameron of Ballinluig and friends who kept lots of toes tapping while meantime a large crowd danced the night away in the famous Skye Gathering Hall to the music of the Scott Nichol Scottish Dance Band, bringing the Festival to an official close. However, such is the popularity of the festival that many festival-goers stayed on Sunday which resulted in the strains of traditional music being heard in various establishments throughout the village. Although the Festival had been based in the Royal Hotel, other hotels had taken advantage of the large influx of visitors to stage music sessions which had been much appreciated and gave an early boost to the tourist season. The hardworking committee, all members of the Skye Accordion & Fiddle Club, were delighted that once again the Festival had been a success and were pleased that bookings are already coming in for next year’s event which starts on 24th. May 2012, details of which will be posted on the Club’s website at www.skyemusic.co.uk.
John Grundy