Two special fiddle events come to Beauly and Inverness in April. Gerry O’Connor, one of Ireland’s most respected fiddle players, performs along with his talented son Donal in Phipps Hall, Beauly on Sat 7 April. Young fiddlers from Shetland lead a Shetland Ceilidh in the Spectrum Centre on Saturday 14 April.

The Beauly concert is collaboration between the Highland Council and the Beauly Arts Group. This is the second event in this joint programme; the first one a concert and singing workshop with Karine Polwart, Annie Grace and Corrina Hewat was a complete sell-out.

"Sparkling … immaculate and …dazzling ability" were words used recently by the national Press to describe the music of Gerry O'Connor, one of Ireland's most outstanding fiddle players. His family has played fiddle for at least four generations and Gerry is able to draw on this wealth of music learned from his mother Rose O'Connor and also from hand-written manuscripts passed down through the family.

Later he came under the influence of Joe Gardiner the great Sligo fiddle player, who lived in Dundalk for many years. Gerry breathes new life and intensity into many long forgotten tunes from his home area in the North East of Ireland. His unique personal style and splendidly fluid bow-hand combined with technical virtuosity have brought him to concert stages throughout the world and have earned him international renown. He is a founding member of the band Skylark and recorded four albums with this highly respected band that had toured Europe for 10 years. The ‘Brighid's Kiss’ album of his own band La Lúgh was voted album of the year 1996.

2004 saw the release of his album entitled 'Journeyman' which traces Gerry's musical development and experiences as a skilled performer in the traditional art of fiddle playing. Each of the twelve carefully crafted tracks celebrates the rich musical heritage of the great master musicians of the last century.

He is joined on stage by his son Donal on both fiddle and keyboards.

The following week (14 April) sees a group of young fiddlers from Shetland perform in the Spectrum Centre as part of a Shetland Ceilidh jointly run by Inverness Fiddle and Accordion Society and the Highland Council’s traditional music programme. The New Traditions Group, four young fiddlers tutored by Bernadette Porter and Jim Leask will be joined by local step dance group Hielan Toe, the rising stars of the TMC Folk group, along with local fiddlers Irene Fraser and Janet Lees and prize winning accordionist Matthew Maclennan. The evening will be compered by Bob Wares.

In addition there will be an open opportunity to take part in afternoon Shetland style workshops with Bernadette Porter and Jim Leask, also a pipe music fiddle workshop with Irene Fraser and Strathspey workshop with Janet Lees. All take place in the Spectrum Centre. This day is supported by Highland 2007, the year Scotland celebrates Highland culture - a’ bhliadhna a chomharraicheas Alba cultar na Gaidhealtachd

For further information please contact Adrian Clark, Arts Officer, Education, Culture & Sport, Town House, Inverness (Tel.01463.724261) or Margo Maclennan, Traditional Music Coordinator (01463 724314).

Sat 7 April 2007 – 8pm

GERRY O’CONNOR & DONAL O’CONNOR

Phipps Hall, Beauly

Tickets £10, £8 (concessions), £5 (Under 18)

From Morison’s, Beauly and www.thebooth.co.uk

Gerry O’Connor is one of Ireland’s most respected traditional fiddle players

01463 724261

Promoted by Education, Culture & Sport and Beauly Arts Group



Sat 14 April – 7.30pm

SHETLAND CEILIDH

Plus afternoon Fiddle Workshop - 2 to 4pm

Spectrum Centre, Inverness

01463 724314

Promoted by Education, Culture & Sport and Inverness Fiddle and Accordion Society