Fèis Week
Our Fèis week takes place in July and welcomes all young people aged 8-18. No previous experience of music is required, just an enthusiastic attitude and willingness to take part. Aimed at complete beginners to intermediate players, we aim to give all participants something that suits their ability and the opportunity to perform as part of a larger group.
New for 2017: Advanced players in S1-S6 should visit our Advanced Fèis Week page.
Following our hugely successful Fèis week in 2015, Fèis Phàislig returns this July. Children aged 8-18 across Renfrewshire will have the opportunity to take part in traditional music, song, and drama workshops across our 4 day event.
Programme
Our classes run 10am-4pm from Tuesday 18th to Friday 21st July. Our fantastic tutors ceilidh takes place on the evening of Wednesday 19th and our end-of-week participants concert on Friday afternoon. The Fèis Week will be held at Paisley Grammar School on Glasgow Road in Paisley.
Instrument/Activity Choices
Click to find out more
Accordion with Gary Innes
Highland born accordionist and one of the founding members of award-winning Scottish super-group Mànran, Gary Innes has been playing Scottish traditional music for over 15 years. Gary picked up an accordion for the first time at the age of 8 and has been playing music professionally since 2003. Gary is no stranger to the world of music and as the newly appointed BBC Radio Scotland presenter for the iconic music show, ‘Take the Floor’ he is becoming further integrated into the Scottish music scene.
Chanter/Pipes with Scott Wood
Born and raised in Erskine, Scott began playing at the age of 12. He is a graduate of the Scottish Music course from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In 2014, the ‘Scott Wood Band‘ was formed. In their first year together they played many festivals and were nominated for ‘Folk Band of the Year’ at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. He has toured extensively worldwide including Europe, America, Australia and South America.
Clarsach with Jessica Burton
Born and raised in Orkney, Jessica immersed herself in traditional music from a young age. She began playing piano at the age of 9, followed by the clarsach at 11. A graduate of the Scottish music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, she was recently a finalist in the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition. As well as teaching at the Junior Conservatoire at the RCS and the Glasgow Academy, Jessica delivers traditional music workshops for Fèis Rois across Dumfries and Galloway.
Dance with Joy Dunlop
Crowned Traditional Singer of the Year & Traditional Dance Champion at the 2015 Pan Celtic Festival, Joy Dunlop is a Gaelic singer from Argyll, Scotland. She is in high demand at workshops and festivals worldwide and a fluent Gaelic speaker, Joy presents shows on BBC ALBA and makes frequent appearances on Radio nan Gàidheal.
Drama with Debbie MacKay
Debbie Mackay is a freelance drama artist from Inverness. She first started running drama workshops in 2007 and has worked at numerous Fèis events throughout the country. Some of her most recent acting work has been with Young Films on BBC Alba’s newest drama, Bannan, where she plays the lead role of Mairi.
Drumming with Martin O’Neill
Renowned bodhrán player Martin O’Neill performs and teaches internationally, most recently touring with the legendary Stevie Wonder on his latest European Tour and working with musical luminaries such as Béla Fleck & The Flecktones. A multi-instrumentalist, though best known for his bodhrán work, Martin has won All-Scotland, All-Britain and All-Ireland titles and is widely recognised as one of today’s leading exponents of the instrument. In 2010, he was voted ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards.
Fiddle with Ron Jappy
A graduate of the RSAMD, Ron is an accomplished guitar, fiddle and piano player. He is currently in the backing band for the NYPBS, part of the Live Music Now scheme and is a member of “Folk Band Of The Year” nominees The Scott Wood Band. Along with numerous gigs overseas, Ron has performed for a number of high profile individuals including Sir Sean Connery, Karen Gillan & Sir Patrick Stewart.
Guitar with Findlay Napier
Findlay Napier was one of the first graduates of the BA Scottish Music course at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. On leaving the RCS Findlay joined Traditional Folk band Back of the Moon who toured extensively in Europe and North America playing at major folk festivals. The band won Best Up and Coming Act at The Scottish Trad Music Awards in 2003 and followed that in 2005 winning Folk Band of the Year category. Findlay also formed The Bar Room Mountaineers, his live band which played a combination of Trad. Scottish songs and his own contemporary songs all sung in his rich Scottish brogue.
Singing with Ainsley Hamill
Ainsley is an experienced songwriter and singer and is quickly becoming one of the UK’s leading and most diverse folk singers, after various nominations at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. Much of her own material is performed with touring band ‘Barluath’ and now ‘Ainsley Hamill and Band’. In October 2013, Ainsley won The Silver Pendant at The Royal National Mòd, held in Paisley and was a finalist in the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2015.
Whistle with Scott Wood
Born and raised in Erskine, Scott began playing at the age of 12. He is a graduate of the Scottish Music course from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In 2014, the ‘Scott Wood Band‘ was formed. In their first year together they played many festivals and were nominated for ‘Folk Band of the Year’ at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. He has toured extensively worldwide including Europe, America, Australia and South America.
Although some instruments will be available for Fèis participants, own (labelled) instruments should be used where possible. The Fèis cannot be held responsible for instruments. Participants are encouraged to have appropriate insurance cover if bringing their own instruments.
Participants will attend workshops in three instruments/activities across the week but will select five choices in the order preferred to allow flexibility with timetabling. It may not always be possible to have your top three, but we will endeavour to try our best. The first choice class will be the main activity for two sessions each day with the other two choices attended once. Please register promptly to ensure the class of your choice.
Cost
£65
for all 4 days
The cost for our 4 day event includes all weekly tuition, activities & admission to the tutors ceilidh. Lunches will not be provided & packed lunches should be brought.