Alasdair White creates special commission for HebCelt Festival

HebCelt Fest 2015

Wednesday 15th to Saturday 18th July 2015
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, HS1 2BW, Scotland MAP
£79 for a weekend ticket

Daily capacity: 16,000

Alasdair White, fiddle player with the Battlefield Band and a musician with a long association with HebCelt, has been commissioned to write 'An Iuchar' (The Key) to celebrated the 20th anniversary, and will be premiered at the four-day 20th Hebridean Celtic Festival.

Alasdair, who grew up in Stornoway, first appeared at HebCelt as a 13-year-old in 1998 when he was invited on stage with celebrated fiddler Alasdair Fraser to perform before the festival main stage audience.

The commission involves creating an entire suite of new music and the performance will bring together a mix of celebrated musicians with whom Alasdair has collaborated over the years, including Seonaidh MacIntyre (pipes); Aaron Jones (bouzouki); Alan Kelly (accordion); Martin O'Neill (drums); Jarlath Henderson (uilleann pipes) and Ewan MacPherson (guitar, banjo).

'An Iuchar' will be showcased on the opening night of the festival arena on 16 July, will be an hour-long piece featuring about 30 tunes. It will draw on Alasdair's experience and explore the influences that have shaped him as a musician.

Alasdair, said: "This is a great honour and I feel very proud and privileged to be given this opportunity by HebCelt which is held just a few miles from where I grew up..

"I have not done anything on this scale before so it's rather daunting. But this project provides me with the opportunity to express my Hebridean heritage and draw on a myriad of influences that have shaped my musical career whilst showcasing my home festival..

"Part of the reason I'm a musician is down to seeing and hearing high-calibre acts at HebCelt. When you're learning about music, seeing great performances puts things in context and inspires you."

Caroline Maclennan, the HebCelt director, added: "Alasdair White is one of our foremost home-grown musicians and he was a natural choice for this commission coming from Lewis and having grown up with the festival.

"This project will provide Alasdair with a fabulous opportunity to stretch himself musically and further develop his skills through leading this project..

"The presentation of 'An Iuchar' at HebCelt 2015 will bring the story full circle. Staged within the main arena during the opening night, this will offer a unique insight for our international audience."

Expect a line-up of music featuring top international artists set against the backdrop of the Gaelic culture and Hebridean heritage.

Acts confirmed are Afro Celt Sound System, Treacherous Orchestra, Chastity Brown, Le Vent du Nord, Shooglenifty, Idlewild, Salsa Celtica, Niteworks, Manran, Sorren Maclean, Have Mercy Las Vegas, Vincent Cross, Scott McWatt, Raghu Dixit, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, Jamie Smith's Mabon, Karen Matheson, Siobhan Miller, Iain Morrison, Between Islands, Shinty's Heroes (Curaidhean na Camanachd), Na h-Òganaich, Siiga, Eleanor Nicolson, Alyth McCormack, Shine, Halcyon, Malin, Sunshine Social, Earths, Bella and The Bear, and The Elephant Sessions.

Many complementary events are also hosted by community groups around Stornaway and the islands of Lewis and Harris catering for a variety of tastes both musical and otherwise. There are also workshops often given by many of the festival's performers, which includes masterclass sessions. Also included are the ever popular Gaelic language tasters, lectures and children's entertainment plus numerous pub sessions in Stornoway and the surrounding area. Art workshops will be given a historical twist, there's a fire show finale on Saturday.

The 20th HebCelt, based in Stornoway in the island of Lewis, Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland from Wednesday 15th to Saturday 18th of July 2015.

buy tickets now >

Tickets are being held at the 2014 prices of £79 for the weekend (£61 for concession and £19 for children under 14) for the main arena events.

discuss this news on the Festival Forums