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CEÒL CHOLASA 2010
Can we firstly offer our Colonsay congratulations to 2 musicians who graced our wee Festival last year, namely John McCusker and Heidi Talbot, who have announced that they are to wed. What we can't congratulate them on however is their choice of date - the same weekend as Ceòl Cholasa 2010!!
This clash did not simply upset the Ceòl applecart, it hit at the very core (ouch!) of our planning. With prospective 2010 artistes now invited to a wedding, your intrepid Ceòl organisers were sent home to think again. But here we are, three long and agonising months later, in the happy position to at long last be able to announce this year's line-up.
So, we hear you ask, what IS the line-up for this year? And without further ado, here it is :
DÀIMH
KATHLEEN MACINNES & FRIENDS
THE WRIGLEY SISTERS
GABERLUNZIE
LOWLANDS
About Dàimh
Over 36 feet tall and weighing more than half a ton.... Dàimh, the ultimate Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton, Californian supergroup!
The charging pipe and fiddle led assault that has seen the 'Pirates of Puirt' rocking far and wide (and nominated for best group at 2008's Trad Music Awards) is now joined by the amazing vocals of Mod gold medalist & Trad Music Awards Gaelic Singer of the year nominee 2006, Calum Alex MacMillan from Lewis, adding the depth and power of Gaelic song to an already phenomenal instrumental arsenal. And helping to produce Dàimh's awesomely tight yet thrillingly wild sound is none other than Ross Martin, who of course appeared alongside Kathleen MacInnes at our very first Ceòl Cholasa.
Go and give your ears a treat at : http://www.myspace.com/daimh
About Kathleen
Your organisers never imagined that they would ever use the words "Gaelic singing" and "seductive" in the same sentence. That was however before we heard Kathleen singing. The earthy intimacy of her voice blew Festival-goers away in 2008, and she appears again this year by hugely popular demand.
This year, Kathleen is putting together her own backing band for her welcome return to Colonsay. Alas, at time of writing, details of Kathleen's line-up are not to hand, but we shall of course let you know in due course. What we do know however, is that Kathleen is about to release a new album on Greentrax and that her Colonsay band will feature musicians from that recording. In the meantime, another wee listen to Kathleen is always a joy :
http://www.myspace.com/kathleenmacinnesgaelicson
About The Wrigley Sisters
The Wrigley Sisters; Hazel, who plays guitar and piano and Jennifer who plays fiddle, hail from Orkney from where they launched a hugely successful world touring career in the nineties, and to where they returned in 2005.
Much of their time is now spent running their very successful musical centre in Kirkwall; combining this with parental duties, and performing when possible on the mainland.
During the nineties they made their last, and, I think, only trip to Colonsay, playing as part of a set of musical events organised by previous musical enthusiasts. Their music is a mixture of traditional and contemporary, with many of their own compositions included. While the playing is effortless and accomplished they are hugely entertaining on stage; very, very funny.
THE SCENE, LONDON, ONTARIO - 'Rarely can you say you have experienced true musical magic, but there it was...charm, wit, freshness, and creative sparkle. Tremendous ability all together in one package.'....Jenny's fluid, mellow style is perfect foil for such traditional imagery, shifting from bleak melancholia to vibrant brightness, and lent contemporary fire by some imaginative arrangements and Hazel's lively accompaniments.. The Wrigleys' star is rising fast, I encourage you to catch a glimpse'.
Have a listen at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr9IrXgfqVU
Their website doesn't seem to have been updated since 2004: http://www.wrigleysisters.com/news/index.htm
About Gaberlunzie
Gaberlunzie, Scotland's folk song stalwarts, have been a mainstay of the Scottish music scene for more years than the boys themselves perhaps care to remember. Over their long career, Robin and Gordon's ports of call have included the USA, Canada, Denmark, Belgium, The Netherlands, Ireland and the Middle East. They have even performed in Brussels for members of the European Parliament. But wherever they travel, Gaberlunzie take not only Scottish music and song but that other extra special ingredient, Scottish humour.
The Gabs, as their legion of fans affectionately call them, have combined an emphasis on rhythm and harmony with a warmth of style. And as well as giving full expression to traditional material, the boys have penned many excellent songs which have enriched the continuing stream of Scottish folk music. As singers, instrumentalists and songwriters, their talents and gift for entertainment are unsurpassed, and we look forward to their first ever appearance on Colonsay. In the meantime, you can have a wee listen to the Gabs at :
http://www.emusic.com/album/Gaberlunzie-Freedom-s-Sword-MP3-Download/11195244.html
About Lowlands
Two years ago Pedie received a mystery CD from an old friend, Dinah Gray, who used to farm on Oransay. It transpired to be by a band "Lowlands" led by her nephew Ed who, as a teenager, had spent a holiday on Oransay and a day at Garvard shearing sheep.
Lowlands play what can best be described as "Americana", mainly original songs with an American influence. Although Italian they sing in English so no problem with the language.
We are looking forward to have them play providing a definite and welcome contrast to the very Scottish flavour of Ceòl Cholasa to date.
Listen at : www.myspace.com/lowlandsband
www.lowlandsband.com
TICKET OR LEAVE IT!
With the line-up at last firmly in place, we can now turn our attention to ticket availability and pricing. Taking the latter first, as we have previously mentioned, the seedcorn funding received to kickstart Ceòl Cholasa has now dried up - in other words, we are now ALL ON OUR OWN! To ensure the longer term viability of our fleadh there unfortunately needs to be an increase in revenue, which inevitably means an increase in ticket price. Thus the cost for a Weekend Pass will this year rise to £60.
And so to ticket availability. Can we ask all those who successfully ordered in advance to now send a cheque to the appropriate value to Ceòl Cholasa Ticket Office, Scalasaig, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll, PA61 7YW. Please make your cheque out to CEÒL CHOLASA. Tickets will be despatched by return post. Should you however now be unable to attend, can we ask that you contact us IMMEDIATELY, as there is a waiting list of over 60 desperate souls.
For those of you on that waiting list, we ask you to be patient for a few weeks longer - as soon as we know of the freeing up of tickets from the above process, we WILL be back in touch - hopefully with good news!!
Can we also ask islanders to now confirm their interest by purchasing their tickets at the On Island Ticket Office (otherwise known as Mike's Shop). Mike will have tickets, hot off the press, from Monday 1st March. This process will also allow us to gauge if there are any spare tickets that could go to the waiting needy. Thanks!
And if, despite our best efforts, you still end up ticketless, do not despair. As not all ticketholders go to every concert, access might still be gained at the door on the day. And apart from that, the island will be abuzz with excitement and craic. The Festival Club in the Hotel promises to be even livelier than even last year, with sessions rollicking on until the wee sma' hours. We know, for example, that the Gaberlunzie boys can't wait to finish their set so they can get up to the Festival Club for even more music and song!
Oh, and don't forget to book both accommodation and ferries - last year both were creaking at the seams!
And to whet your appetite until September, here are a few wee reminders of our 2009 event :
 
 
 
 
 
And of course, who could ever forget that wonderful Finale, cobbled together by the musicians themselves minutes before the end of proceedings :
Should you have any queries concerning the Fleadh, an e.mail to :ceolpedie@yahoo.co.uk or ceolkeith@yahoo.co.uk could (if you hit us on a good day) elicit some semblance of an answer. Phones might even sometimes be answered if you call 01951 200336 (Keith) or 01951 200157 (Pedie). Please note however that it is the norm to find us operating on island time...
In addition to the webpage you are currently reading, Ceòl Cholasa also has it's very own Blog, (and soon it's very own website!) and this, (the Blog), complete with breaking information, can be accessed here :
ceòlblog
In addition, here is a link to blogs and more on Pedie's personal 'myspace' :Donald Macneill
Finally, if you have come directly to this page via a link, please explore the Colonsay website by following the menu above, and find out more of the secret that is Colonsay. More importantly, you will be able to find out about accommodation for an intended visit. This too is already becoming VERY scarce for 2010 and must be booked NOW to avoid disappointment!
ROLL ON CEÒL CHOLASA 2010 !!
CEÒL CHOLASA
"Leis an eilean, air sgath an eilein" "By the island, for the island"
The organisers would also like to convey grateful thanks to our major sponsors :
AND
We would also like to thank MacLennan Motors for their continued financial support.
OTHER LINKS:
For a bigger and more accessible island with a Festival, the Isle of Arran might be worth a try http://www.arranfolkfestival.com
A good site to visit to find out about music around Scotland is http://www.musicinscotland.com
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