When visitors head for Skye they look for stunning scenery, good food and traditional music. A delightful surprise is in store over Easter when they find that some of the best World Music currently in Britain is gathering for a weekend of lively concerts in a small venue in south Skye.

Skye’s World Music Festival will feature bands and musicians from Norway, Chile, Equador, Columbia, Cuba and Mexico.  The Festival opens on Friday 25 March with Fribo, a unique and energetic trio who combine Scandinavian and Scottish traditions with an exuberant feel for contemporary sounds and rhythms.  They will be followed by the brilliant Quimantu who bring together some of the leading folk and world music players from Chile, Ecuador and England.

Saturday will see the festival move to Columbia and Cuba, opening with a concert from gifted Colombian guitar-playing singer Carolina Herrera.  The concert will be followed by a Cinema Cafe where the audience can come to chat and listen to Cuban son in the film Buena Vista Social Club.

The Festival closes on Sunday with a concert from Moishe’s Bagel. Based in Edinburgh, the Bagel combines the energy of eastern European folk music with the excitement of improvisation, and boasts some of the best instrumentalists in Scotland from Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Salsa Celtica, Celtic Feet and Mr McFall’s Chamber.

The Festival is being organised by SEALL, one of rural Scotland’s liveliest voluntarily promoting groups.  Steve Heap who is leading the new festival said: “SEALL already runs Fèis an Eilein in July and an annual programme of 20 events.  We do promote one or two World Music events during the year and they encourage some of our biggest audiences. We want to build on that interest, and also help fill a gap in Skye’s festival calendar.”

Skye’s World Music Festival at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig runs from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 March, 2005

Information and Tickets from 01471 844207 info#OBFAT#seall#OBFDOT#co#OBFDOT#uk and online on www.thebooth.co.uk