Not to wish away the summer days but it won’t be long until the leaves are rustling underfoot and the tea lights start to sparkle!
But this isn’t a time for staying in, especially when SEALL have a tempting autumn line up to make the most of every moment.
Before we even hit September, August ends with Dogstar Theatre bringing us The Fallen Angels of the Moine. (30 Aug Sabhal Mòr Ostaig).
This piece has been described as a miniature epic, a playful, serious comedy taking its audience on an extraordinary journey full of poetry, mystery, humour, music and light.
The bogs of Caithness and Sutherland have been the source of myth, legend, strange events and sightings throughout history with tales of kelpies, faeries and feachs.
The Shee have travelled across the universe through time to reside beneath the great bog of the Moine. But no one will ever know why they have come …
With tickets only £10 - £12 this highland spaceport fantasy by George Gunn boasts some great reviews and provides an enticing start to the autumn programme.
Continuing the theatre theme, Hebridean Treasure is next up and blends Scottish and South Asian music and theatre with skilled Bharatanatyam dance from dancer Kirsten Newell. The story tells a universal and poignant story of suffering, exile and the loss of age old wisdom, set against the historic spiritual background of nineteenth century Scottish isles. Tickets are £7.50 - £15 at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Tue 10 Sep or Skye Gathering Hall on Wed 11 Sep.
Scottish ‘chamber-folk’ quartet RANT are set to perform on 13 Sept at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. With The Herald describing them as ‘Sheer class’ and Songlines describing ‘An irresistible journey through reels, strathspeys and jigs’ you may want to experience four of the country’s finest fiddle players for yourself. Tickets £15 - £17.
Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham make a welcome return on 19 Sep playing Skye Gathering Hall. Tickets available now at £20 - £24. Together Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham have established themselves as the epitome of excellence in the world of traditional music. With their musical magic and quick witted humour they will pull your emotional strings one moment and have you falling off your seat with laughter the next! Join us to hear Phil Cunningham’s astonishing dexterity on accordion and Aly Bain’s impassioned fiddle playing.
Scottish lever harpist, Lucie Hendry, is joined by guitarist Chris Amer (Scotland) and drummer Christoffer Skovhus (Denmark) in folk fusion band, the Lucie Hendry Trio. Together they have crafted a distinctive blend of original folk music infused with contemporary jazz influences. Catch them 28 Sep at An Crubh. Tickets £14 - £16 with under 14s free.
Just announced is Anna Bhàn by Mairearad Green + Rachel Newton appearing at An Talla Mhòr, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Sun 6 Oct. Rachel and Mairearad, both well established and celebrated Scottish musicians, are also cousins. They have come together for an exciting new project to celebrate and remember their Great Great-Grandmother Anna Bhan's involvement in the successful women-led Coigach resistance of 1852 during the Highland Clearances. Inspired by recent community plans to build a sculpture in honour of these women in the area, they composed a body of work together in Coigach and have made a beautiful duo album, due for release in the Autumn of 2024. Expect songs in both Gaelic and English, pipes, accordion, harp and fiddle. Tickets £14 - £16 with under 14s free.
On to October and we welcome Cala to Kilmuir Hall on 12 Oct. This trad band from Inverness fuses elements of Scottish traditional folk with contemporary music of all kinds. The band continues to push themselves creatively and their passion for writing and performing continues to grow. Tickets £15 - £18.
Then to the first band to incite a stage invasion at The Sydney Operas House, the first UK band to play in Cuba and the first Scots to perform in the Borneo rainforest – it can only be trailblazers Shooglenifty. Get on your feet for their electric new tunes and old faves! (18 Oct Dunvegan Hall Tickets £18 - £20)
Talented emerging Scottish musician Lauren Collier, who is making a name for her virtuosity on the fiddle and captivating vocals brings her band with an atmospheric mix of songs and instrumental tracks to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on 19 October completing our autumn line up. Tickets £14 - £16 with under 14s free.
We love our autumn programme and hope you might ‘fall’ for it too …