Stories of courageous Manx women, told through music and a performance from a top Scottish folk band will all feature in the line-up of a festival of folk music and culture.

The Yn Chruinnaght Celtic Gathering festival takes place later this year, from Monday to Sunday, 20 to 26 July, and will also welcome a nine-piece Cornish male voice choir, a performing family of Breton musicians and a concert from a former national folk award-winning musician.

The feature concerts all take place at the Peel Centenary Centre and begin on the Wednesday, July 22 with a night of music with the 2012 BBC Radio 2 folk musicians of the year, multi-instrumentalist Tim Eady.

The Friday night will hear a set of traditional Cornish songs and sea shanties from the Bryhers Boys.

Having only formed in 2017, the Bryhers Boys have already performed at the Lorient Interceltic festival and bring a sound reminiscent of the famous Cornish vocal group, the Fishermen’s Friends.

The week’s concerts will be brought to a close by a headline concert from Scottish trad folk group Deaf Shepherd on the Saturday evening.

Having spent more than 10 years apart, following their previous appearance at the Yn Chruinnaght festival in 2008, the group, which features Peel resident Malcolm Stitt on bouzouki, reformed last year for a well-received concert at the Celtic Connections festival.

They have released three best-selling albums and have won praise for their modern and vibrant interpretations of traditional Scottish folk music.

The most intriguing night of music comes on Thursday, when fiddler player Isla Callister returns to her home town of Peel to unveil a specially-commissioned piece of music.

Now living in Glasgow, where she is currently in her final year of music studies at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire, Isla has been commissioned by Culture Vannin to create ’Creeaght’, which translates as ’Courage’.

Backed by an all-female ensemble, including Scottish pianist Anna Garvin and local musicians Kirsty and Katie Lawrence, ’Creeaght’ will tell the lives and experiences of women who have shaped the history of the Isle of Man.

’I have loved learning and writing music about some of the courageous women of Mann,’ said Isla.

’They have shaped the history of our island, and it’s time for their stories to be explored, shared and celebrated.’

There will also be a programme of free music sessions, family ceilidhs and dance and cultural workshops throughout the week, along with performances from visiting and local folk dance groups.

More information is available at ynchruinnaght.com

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers