Isle of Man: Manx Musician Heads for Hebridean Celtic Festival

As the twentieth annual Hebcelt Festival gets into full swing, local traditional musician, Adam Rhodes, will be heading to the Isle of Lewis as part of the highly successful Welsh band Jamie Smith's Mabon.

The popular festival, which has clinched an international reputation as a showcase for both Celtic performers and those influenced by the genre, has attracted a spectacular line-up of more than twenty performers, including Shooglenifty, Salsa Celtica and Karen Matheson of Capercaillie.

This multi-award winning event is held in the grounds of Lews Castle in Stornoway, on the picturesque Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, where visitors from around the world can soak up the atmosphere and experience a different way of life.

Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Outer Hebrides) and the Minister for Scotland's Languages, has praised the HebCelt organisers for using the festival as a venue to promote the Gaelic tongue. He said, "This is another fine example of the good work being done by HebCelt to promote Gaelic to a large audience. It means the language will be prominent during the festival and will encourage people, even those not familiar with the language, to see and hear it being used in everyday situations. That kind of exposure and experience is vital to Gaelic's sustainability. Hearing Gaelic being spoken and used in traditional and contemporary songs at the festival, adds to the character and appeal of HebCelt."

Jamie Smith's Mabon is known to many as Wales' finest purveyors of original Inter Celtic music, bursting into life in 1999, with their exploration of dynamic, traditional Welsh and Celtic dance music.

These days their output is largely based on Jamie Smith's own compositions, influenced by both traditional music and contemporary Celtic artists.

Adam, who plays bouzouki, was latterly a member of the Manx based band King Chiaullee, but now a familiar face in a new line-up called Mec Lir.

www.hebceltfest.com
www.jamiesmithsmabon.com

(Photo courtesy of www.justsimon.com)

Valerie Caine
© July 2015