by Mike Wade

twitter:@mwislandlife

One of Scotland’s most celebrated young composers and folk musicians is set to play a special concert, as part in a major cultural festival, due to start of the island in little under a week.

Headlining the Wednesday evening of Celtfest, the new name given to the Yn Chruinnaght festival, Hamish Napier is bringing his eight-piece band with him to perform his debut album ’The River’, a tribute to the river Spey that flows through the Highlands, which was nominated for Scottish Album of the year in 2016.

To complement the concert, Hamish, who also teaches at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, has also written music dedicated to the Isle of Man, which he will perform alongside the Manx youth folk group Scran.

Hamish was in the island with Scran to hold a series of workshops to perfect the piece, and also so he could give the young group advice on how they can improve.

The piece which he wrote for Scran is called ’Ned Maddrell’s Whispers’, which refers to the last native Manx speaker.

’The first half of the concert will be called "From the Source". That’s what these guys are,’ said Hamish.

’They are here, they have grown up here and they play music from here. Then I’ve written a piece of music about here too, so that makes the first half of the show. The second half , ’The River’, relates to where I am from.’

The growing appreciation in folk music and traditional culture, whether in Scotland or the Isle of Man, is something that has influenced Hamish and his writing.

This makes the pairing of Scran, who are all around the age of 16, and who have been taught to play folk music from an early age, with a piece of music dedicated to Ned Maddrell, an iconic figure in Manx culture, who died in 1974, and is held as a symbol of language and cultural preservation, such a poignant one.

Also, he sees great value in bringing young musicians into the idea of playing at festivals. They can prove to be a valuable place to learn the craft and to share ideas and influences, which can go onto broaden both ideas and bonds.

’It is a sharing of cultures really. I’m learning so much about Manx heritage, and the language.

’It’s lovely to hear the different styles and this kind of music, especially that played by musicians as young as this.

’I was teaching them a "Strathspey", which is a type of tune from where I’m from and a few of them were looking at me, as if to say "what’s that?".

’They also showed me a couple of tunes, and were laughing at me trying to pronounce the Manx names.

’But that’s what you get where you create a situation for young people to get together and learn from one another. It is all about opening the doors for people.’

Hamish is full of praise for the way Manx culture has been handled and developed, especially with the work carried out by Culture Vannin.

’If you look at Glasgow now, you have Tom Callister and Adam Rhodes, two brilliant Manx musicians that are playing in some of the top Glasgow bands. Also with Isla Callister-Wafer. Their contribution to the Glasgow folk scene is amazing.

’Within three to five years, you will have 30 or so young people coming through and they will all gain a huge respect for their culture, and they’ll take that away with them to other places. Like Tom, Adam and Isla going to different places and playing they way they do, becoming major figures in the Scottish and the British folk scene. You can’t put a value on that.’

Celtfest begins on Tuesday, July 11, with a talk by the TV anthropologist Dr Alice Roberts.

The packed schedule also features Irish group Connla, Talisk, Irish blues-folk singer Rioghnach Connolly and harpist Rachel Hair, along with many workshops and music and dance sessions.

More information can be found at celtfest.im