The line-up for the third Celtic Chaos Traditional Music Festival has been announced and it looks set to be the best yet. Organisers are promising the best talent from Skye and Lochalsh and right across Scotland for the festival which takes place over two evenings, September 10 and 11 at Talisker Distillery in the scenic village of Carbost on Skye. Two evening concerts and a dance will be held with all the ingredients to ensure a top-class festival with loads of great music and crack.
The Friday night opening concert features Skye's own multi-talented Graham Family who have been described "Individually they are great; together they are brilliant! Skye talent at it¹s finest!" plus RSAMD graduates, Hector Henderson on pipes and whistles, and Andrew MacPherson on pipes and drums. Gaelic singer and Lewis megastar Ishbel MacAskill will also be present
to dazzle the audience with her beautiful voice. And as if that wasn't enough, Còisir Ghàidhlig An t-Sratha (Strath Gaelic Choir) will also be present to raise the roof on Talisker's atmospheric Store No.2 location. The Friday night concert should blend nicely into Saturday with a dance to local band Harris Tweed Brogues.
The family theme continues on Saturday night with the famous piping brothers from Glenuig, Dr Angus and Iain MacDonald taking the stage with Rona Lightfoot and Allan Henderson. Rona, one of the culturally rich MacDonalds of South Uist, brings Gaelic song and pipes. Allan, originally from Mallaig and best known for his leading role in Blazing Fiddles, is a talented multi-instrumentalist, which will make for a rousing night of music and song. The four individuals have specially come together for this festival and will provide a quite unique celebration of traditional Gaelic music and song.
That would be enough for most festival Saturday nights but Celtic Chaos brings you the world-class Gaelic 'supergroup' Cliar as well. They've been described as "one of the most beautiful sounds in 21st century Scotland" combining traditional songs with a fiddle-led powerhouse for a fresh contemporary approach. That's two supergroups on the same stage, same night!
And there's more! With a free dram courtesy of Talisker you won't need warming up but on stage to start the show will be yet another junior MacDonald. Young Allan leads his band Inflatable Haggis, fresh from their success at Edinbane Festival¹s new bands forum Àrd Urlar 1 - Stage 1.
Celtic Chaos has been brought together by An Drochaid, the Skye and Lochalsh Traditional Music Project. Co-ordinator, Louise Mackenzie said "This is one of the major events of the year for An Drochaid and a huge effort has been invested by many people to ensure that this festival is a success. As with previous Celtic Chaos Festivals, we have secured top quality artists from Skye & Lochalsh and other parts of Scotland. It is also a perfect opportunity to showcase some of the excellent young talent who live in the area. This is the third Celtic Chaos festival and the second year of it being hosted in Store No. 2 at Talisker Distillery. The setting in Carbost, overlooking Loch Harport, is arguably one of the finest in Skye."
One of the main sponsors for the event is Talisker Distillery one of the Classic Malts of Scotland and Skye's only malt whisky distillery. The distillery will provide the venue for Celtic Chaos and Graham Logie, Site Operations Manager of Talisker Distillery said "We are delighted to be
able to assist in presenting so many talented musicians for the benefit of local people and visitors alike. This will be two memorable days of the best in traditional music."
Rapsons Coaches are also sponsoring the festival this year by providing a FREE Bus Service from Kyle of Lochalsh Slipway & Dunvegan stopping en route as required at 18.00 hrs per evening. Contact An Drochaid to reserve seats.
To find out more about Celtic Chaos, contact Louise Mackenzie on (01478) 614003, e-mail louise@feisean.org or visit the website for An Drochaid www.skyemusic.org
