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  • Main Road · Arisaig · Inverness-shire · PH39 4NH

Arisaig Hotel

The Sound of Arisaig

23/06/2022

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Scotland is not only one of the most beautiful nations on the planet, it’s also one of the most musical!  Even the tiniest of villages across the country plays their part in helping Scotland live up to this reputation, and guess what, Arisaig is no exception.  In fact, Arisaig is fast becoming somewhat of a musical magnet!  The village has long enjoyed a rich musical heritage and has always been particularly well-served for incredible musicians, but recently Arisaig has upped its game.

Eilidh Shaw of Shooglenifty lives in the area and has worked her fiddling arm off to put Arisaig on the map.  This year, Eilidh received funding from Scotland on Tour to create new concerts and bring world class music to the area, so now there’s even more music than ever planned for 2022 and beyond.  

Between music venues, the Crofter’s Rest and Astley Hall, so far this year the village has already welcomed the likes of Shooglenifty, Daimh, Ciaran Ryan Music, Arisaig Americana Music Festival, Flook, Budapest Cafe Orchestra, Funkustick and so much more. That’s why we thought we’d write this blog to let you know what’s happening in the coming months.  Here’s what’s in the 2022 diary so far (p.s. there’s lots more to come too):

Fridays & Sundays - Open Music Sessions

Every single Friday from 9pm and Sunday afternoon from 2pm, the Crofter's Rest enjoys an open music session hosted by Eilidh Shaw and Ross Martin where musicians of any level can grab an instrument and join in! 

Saturday 2nd July - Open Mic Night

Whether it's rock, pop, trad, blues, jazz, instrumentals, country, folk, alternative, heavy or ambient, it's your stage so it's your style! Open mic night starts from 8pm. 

Sunday 3rd July - The Great Glen Swing Band

Led by John Whyte, Lochaber's 7 - 17 piece swing band will be playing a Sunday afternoon session at the Crofters Rest from 2pm.

Saturday 9th July - Stina Marie Claire

Stina of Honeyblood will be playing at the Astley Hall on Saturday 9th July. Having been in the middle of recording the fourth Honeyblood album when the pandemic hit in 2020, Tweeddale pivoted her plans and began developing a lockdown creative project under the name Stina Marie Claire in collaboration with fans on Patreon. Returning to her DIY roots, the 4-track EP ‘A Souvenir of a Terrible Year’ was released on 1st October 2021 via Tweeddale’s own label ICEBLINK LUCK; presenting an intimate, vulnerable and tender snapshot of her life as an artist throughout 2020’s lockdown.

Saturday 30th July - Best Dressed Blues Band

The Best Dressed Blues Band have developed their own sound with lesser known classics and their own material, but all with the commitment to playing electric blues with a Chicago feel.

Saturday 13th August - The Ciaran Ryan Band (support by Fras) 

Already a veteran performer having toured the worlds stages for a decade, predominantly as a founding member of world-folk band Dallahan and as a highly sought after session musician, Ciaran Ryan is quietly becoming recognised as one of the foremost tenor banjo players the UK has ever produced. He now brings his prolific writing and stage experience firmly to the front with his own solo show of all-original music, loosely grown out of his traditional Irish music upbringingthat nod towards the idioms of American folk music, rock and EDM.  

Tuesday 16th August - The Quiggs  

“The Quiggs” are a Scottish/Danish duo consisting of the married couple Stephen and Pernille Quigg. The combination of the two voices in close harmony in songs whether traditional or contemporary interspersed with anecdotes and a touch of humour has received much praise from both audiences and organisers. A concert with The Quiggs is a chance to hear folk song in its original form - simple, yet highly expressive, beautiful harmonies and songs that seek the audience's participation.

Saturday 27th August - The Hillaroos 

Get ready to rock your socks off when the rock tribute band, the Hillaroos hit the Crofter's Rest from 9pm on Saturday 27th August.

Saturday 17th September - The Pictish Trail

Johnny Lynch of the Pictish Trail writes and records songs of isolation, and making sense of isolation, often finding comfort in it. A lot of the songs are about engaging with a sense of self, literally being self-aware, but also trying to escape from that. Maybe living on an island accentuates these push/pull existential feelings of belonging, and detachment.

Saturday 17th September  - Open Mic Night

Whether it's rock, pop, trad, blues, jazz, instrumentals, country, folk, alternative, heavy or ambient, it's your stage so it's your style! Open mic night starts from 8pm. 

Weekend of October 7-9th - Feis na Mara 

Feis na Mara is a true celebration of all things trad.  With an absolutely epic line up, if you're into music festivals, you'd be mad to miss this one!   

Saturday 8th October - Open Mic Night

Whether it's rock, pop, trad, blues, jazz, instrumentals, country, folk, alternative, heavy or ambient, it's your stage so it's your style! Open mic night starts from 8pm. 

Thursday 27th October - Dallahan

Dallahan is one of the most distinct forces in the international folk music scene. Forged in Scotland and Ireland's traditional music community, but drawing on the traditional music styles of the Balkans and North America, they create an original and seamless musical montage, blending their contemporary influences from jazz, funk, and pop music. Dallahan take their listeners on a journey, traversing styles and countries of the world in a dazzling live show, creating their own unique brand of World-folk delivered with stunning virtuosity.

Saturday 5th November - Open Mic Night

Whether it's rock, pop, trad, blues, jazz, instrumentals, country, folk, alternative, heavy or ambient, it's your stage so it's your style! Open mic night starts from 8pm. 

Thursday 17th November - Session A9

Session A9 are Adam Sutherland, Brian Mcalpine, Charlie Mckerron, David 'chimp' Robertson, Gordon Gunn, Kevin Henderson and Marc Clement, a band formed through informal music sessions up and down the arterial Scottish road, the A9, culminating in their first ever tour in 2001. 2003 saw the release of the bands highly acclaimed first album 'What Road?' featuring many new compositions by band members and leading Scottish tunesmiths capturing the imagination of the listening public and propelling them into the festival/gig circuit. 

Saturday 3rd December - Open Mic Night

Whether it's rock, pop, trad, blues, jazz, instrumentals, country, folk, alternative, heavy or ambient, it's your stage so it's your style! Open mic night starts from 8pm. 

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