Plans for a three-year long celebration of traditional music and culture in Ross and Cromarty can become a reality now that the final pieces of funding for the event are in place.

Feis Rois, which has been promoting and developing young people's involvement in traditional Highland music and culture since 1986, has successfully attracted funding to stage Feis an t-Samhraidh - Summer Festival. 

The project, which will run during the summer months for the next three years, has received a £63,000 grant from Ross and Cromarty Enterprise and has also secured £20,295 from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and £3,000 from the Scottish Arts Council.

With all the funding now in place, the festival organisers can begin their ambitious programme of events to entertain residents and visitors.  Feis an t-Samhraidh is an extension of Feis Rois' lively year-round programme of music events and classes, which has proved to be a hit with the area's young people. It will have around 500 performances staged over 20 weeks and will employ 100 musicians and 50 performers over three years.

The summer festival will be composed of two main areas.  One strand of Feis an t-Samhraidh is a programme of traditional music that will take place in many venues throughout Ross and Cromarty.  A host of talented local traditional musicians will stage live performances every night for six weeks during the summer in various venues throughout the area.

The festival will also ensure the continued cultural development of the area's young people.  They will have the chance to hone their traditional music, dance and singing skills at performance masterclasses led by some of the Highlands' best-known musicians.

These training sessions will focus on the use of microphones, Gaelic song and language, setting up sound systems, calling for dancing, arranging sets of music, preparing to perform, and will be led by a line-up of Highland stars.  This year's students will then be given the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of live audiences throughout Ross and Cromarty from 21 July until 15 August. 

Programme manager Rita Hunter from Feis Rois believes performing to an audience is an important part of young musicians' development: 

"Feis Rois has been going for 18 years and has grown steadily in popularity," said Ms Hunter.  "Our teenagers are now emerging as entertainers in their own right and we hope that by giving them a first class training and rehearsal programme and preparing them to perform in front of audiences, they will grow in confidence and perhaps set off on a successful music career of their own.  They make excellent cultural ambassadors and present visitors with a terrific show of Highland culture."

The success of training young people in performance skills is well-illustrated by Cloud Nine, a new young band sprung from the roots of the Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail 2002.  Feis Rois is offering the band a unique tailor-made training and rehearsal week during Feis an t-Samhraidh with top stars Iain MacFarlane and Marc Clement of Blazin Fiddles, Eilidh MacKenzie and Annie Grace.

Plans are also in place for a series of performance ceilidhs - a Ceilidh Trail - with emerging players Eilean Green from Achiltibuie, Katie MacKenzie from Dingwall, Colin Gordon from Invergordon, Adam Taylor from Inverasdale and Rhona Amos from Culbokie making up one group.  Ellie MacGregor and Alex Urquhart-Taylor will act as musical mentors and make up another group with Fiona Dalgetty, who will also co-ordinate the Ceilidh Trail project.

"It is a brilliant way to spend the summer," said Fiona.  "We will all learn so much and then be able to try it all out immediately.  It is great to be in the Highlands doing what we love doing best."
 
Gordon Cox, chief executive of Ross and Cromarty Enterprise recognises the considerable economic and cultural benefits a programme like Feis an t-Samhraidh will bring to the area.

"Feis Rois has blossomed since its beginnings as a small local festival and they are to be commended for their efforts to stage such an ambitious programme," he said.  "It should go a long way towards meeting the demand for good cultural entertainment in Ross and Cromarty over the next three years as well as being an excellent magnet to draw visitors to the area."

Details of all Feis an t-Samhraidh events are available from the Feis Rois office on 01349 862600.