Set off early and make the best of what promises to be the busiest Summer Isles Festival yet, writes Susan Welsh
It’s often said that, as a nation, we Scots never get tired of telling others what a beautiful country we live in. Mairearad Green has taken that a step further. She’s so passionate about her local community of Achiltibuie, that she has become something of a one-woman tourist board and put the village firmly on the map of must-see places.
For the fourth year running, she has organised The Summer Isles Festival, a two-day festival celebrating the community spirit, cultural identity and general enthusiasm of the area through top-quality music, food, arts and crafts.
A professional musician who sings and plays the accordion, piano and bagpipes, Mairearad, the festival director, also performs regularly with multi-instrumentalist Anna Massie and is a member of the band The Poozies.
“There have been plenty of good gigs in the village hall, but they’re few and far between. The original idea of the festival was to get some bigger acts, who wouldn’t normally come here, to come to the area,” said Mairearad.
“A lot of my friends are also musicians and it’s been lovely to be able to introduce them to Achiltibuie and highlight what a great place it is and also to showcase what’s happening here.
“There’s a strong music community, but the festival will also showcase local produce and businesses and have plenty of activities for the whole family.”
The festival is aimed at locals, tourists, folk who come back year after year and those who’ve never visited before.
The fun begins on Friday, August 28, with the first-ever local showcase at Coigach Community Hall, when a wealth of talented musicians will provide a platform for up-and-coming locals alongside more-established artists.
Mairearad is on the bill, along with young local musician Joseph Peach and his band Tannara, while Ali Beag Macleod will perform with Kevin Macleod, from ceilidh band The Occasionals.
On the Saturday, the varied line-up includes a visit from the Achiltibuie Highlanders, who will kickstart proceedings with a performance outside the village hall at 12.30pm. Having received funding from the Highland Seashore Biodeversity Project, the festival will have a seashore theme and those attending are invited to design and make a ship, liner or fishing boat using driftwood, scraps, sticks and odds and ends at a Driftwood Boat Building Workshop with local artist Julia Campbell.
“I’m currently composing music for a short seashore film which will be launched at the festival, based around what goes on under our local waters. I’ve seen the film and it’s stunning,” said Mairearad.
Other activities include Garbanimal building with Chapel Croft Creatures and an educational fire extravaganza with Fly Agaric, while emerging Scottish company Play Pieces will present two performances of Warrior Blues, taking a story which is nearly 3,000 years old and retelling it for the 21st century. Eternal themes of love, magic, violence, conflict and revenge infuse the new story, just as they filled Homer’s Odyssey.
Written by Strathpeffer-based author and musician Bob Pegg, and directed by Andy Cannon, creative director of Wee Stories from 1995-2011, it will be performed at 1pm and 3pm on Saturday in the Piping School. Saturday’s highlights also include fiddle with Mike Vass, a Gaelic song workshop with Kathleen MacInnes and guitar workshop with Mark Bruce, from The Elephant Sessions. The spotlight will also be shone on local produce with a meet-the-brewer session with An Teallach Ale Company which makes Summer Isles Festival Ale, while Ockran Oysters, a company based near Ullapool growing Pacific and native oysters, will showcase its delicious products.
Another highlight will be the cookery demonstration by Chinese cookery specialist Yungyung Kan. Yungyung has had a holiday home in the area for years and is not only an amazing chef but a fantastic violinist who has learned all the local fiddle tunes. He’s a real character and will be creating dishes with locally caught seafood.
Saturday night’s concert and ceilidh will start at 5pm and features a cracking line-up including top band Flook, Kathleen MacInnes, the Sorren Maclean Band, The Elephant Sessions, DJ Angus Binnie and the Mairearad Green Ceilidh Band.
Tickets for the Saturday night concert are priced at £25 for adults, £18 concessions and £10 for the under-12s, while tickets for the Friday night show are £10, but all the daytime activities and workshops are free of charge.
“We’re hoping people will come along and spend the weekend here – there’s no shortage of places to stay – then, on the Sunday, join us for a walk up Stac Pollaidh, starting at 11am. There will be talks, debates and poetry session on the way, and some lovely Loch Broom ice cream on the way down. It will be a nice way to finish the festival off,” said Mairearad.
“I’m delighted that, this year, we were able to secure funding to add so many exciting new events. It is definitely worth getting here early to fit in everything that is on offer. I’m looking forward to welcoming everyone to what is sure to be the busiest festival yet.”
The Summer Isles Festival takes place at Achiltibuie on Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29. For further information or to book advance tickets visit: www.summerislesfestival.com