Highland-style Strathspey DVD launch
Saturday, 3.30-4.30pm, East Drawing Room

One of the last pupils of the late Donald Riddell, Sarah-Jane Summers was brought up steeped in the old Highland style of fiddle playing. Add to this a love of playing the Norwegian Hardanger fiddle and the result is a uniquesound described as "lush Highland fiddle with a Nordic edge" (Cromarty Old Brewery). A founder member of Nu-Nordic band, Fribo, she has toured extensively and performed at festivals such as WOMAD, Celtic Connections, etc.

Much in demand as a fiddler tutor, Sarah-Jane teaches regularly worldwide. From 2008-2010, she was head tutor at and director of the RSAMD Junior Academy Traditional Music course. Her new tuition DVD focuses on Highland-style strathspey bowing and ornamentation.

Sarah-Jane is now studying for a Masters degree in Norwegian folk music in Oslo

Folk, Jazz etc: Summers transported over North Sea by wind beneath her bow.

CD launch
Sunday, 1:30pm, West Drawing Room
(Please note change of time from programme)

Jenna and Bethany Reid - 'Escape' The Story of Jan Baalsrud and the Shetland Bus.

Shetland sisters Jenna and Bethany Reid (Filska, Jenna Reid Band, Dochas, Deaf Shepherd, TransAtlantic Sessions) combine their talents to present a brand new suite of original music inspired by The Shetland Bus, a secret operation across the North Sea between Shetland and German-occupied Norway from 1941-45.

 'Escape' tells the astonishing account of Norwegian Jan Baalsrud as he fought for survival in the hazardous terrain of Norway. Through this recording, every step of Jan's journey throughout his fight for freedom has been carefully crafted and brought to life

Alongside their fellow band members the suite comes to life through the incredible musicianship of percussionist Iain Sandilands, flautist and piper James Thomson and bassist James Lindsay. Phil Goodlad completes the line-up with his memorable delivery of the story, told in his native Shetland dialect.

Beautiful and sobering tribute to the resilience of 'Shetland Bus' heroes

Book Launch
Saturday, 11:00am, West Drawing Room

Aonghas Grant snr -
"The Glengarry Collection: The Highland Fiddle Music of Aonghas Grant"

The book contains 164 Slow Airs, Marches, Strathspeys, Reels, Jigs and Hornpipes with Stories, History and Photographs. It focuses on the core of Aonghas' music: Highland fiddling, with its links to pipe tunes and Gaelic songs. Some of these tunes have never been published before, while others are available only in out-of-print books or in pipe settings, and the collection also includes a number of tunes composed by Aonghas himself, and tunes composed in honor of Aonghas. The tunes are fully chorded in a style appropriate to Aonghas' band experience. All these are richly illustrated by transcriptions of Aonghas' bowings, grace-notes, stories, and photos of scenes and people from Aonghas' varied life careers, including old family photos.

Included with the book is an accompanying DVD with videos of Aonghas' impromptu and passionate performances of 61 of the tunes in the collection. One of the clips is up on YouTube - click HERE and enjoy the beautiful old Gaelic air, and check back soon for more.