NEWS RELEASE

Issued: Wednesday 20 May 2009

For immediate use

CELTIC TEEN BANDS TO PERFORM SHOWCASE CONCERT AT EDEN COURT

Next month three young bands from Scotland, Ireland and Wales are to perform in their own languages at a showcase concert at the One Touch Theatre in Eden Court, Inverness.  The concert is on the 19 June and acts as the opening event to the Nòs Ùr Celtic & Scots languages song competition which has 10 musical acts hoping to win a place at the pan-European minority language song competition – Liet International, in Friesland, Netherlands in October.  

“The teen event, called Nòs Òg – meaning 'young style' in Scottish Gaelic aims to encourage young people to perform in their own languages as well as expose their music to a wider audience” states event director Brian Ó hEadhra.  “There is a wealth of talented youngsters out there making music and we hope that this event will demonstrate that writing & singing in your indigenous language is a positive, worthwhile experience for young artistes.”

The three bands chosen to play at Nòs Òg are Fionnar from the Highlands of Scotland singing in Scots Gaelic, The Stilletoes from north Wales singing in Welsh and The Temporary from the west of Ireland singing in Irish Gaelic.  Each act has written their own music and hope to impress the audience with their contemporary approach to writing songs in their own languages.  

Fiona J. Mackenzie who has been developing the Scots Gaelic group Fionnar for the past few years says “the group are really looking forward to performing at Nòs Òg and meeting the other acts.  If fits in well with a project we are currently working on called Sgoil Roc which encourages young singers to write their own new and contemporary Gaelic song.”

To augment the Nòs Òg and Nòs Ùr events, there will be a music industry panel discussion on the Saturday morning of the 20 June at Eden Court which will talk about the practicalities and possibilities for groups performing in their native tongue.  

Brian Ó hEadhra concludes “We are encouraging students from schools, colleges and anyone interested in languages and new music to attend these exciting events.  Last year's event was a great success and we anticipate this year to grow even bigger through both a local and live internet audience.”

Entry into Nòs Òg and the panel discussion is free of charge.  Under 16's get free entry to Nòs Ùr; over 16's entry is £8.00.  Tickets can be booked from Eden Court Box Office 01463 234234 or online at www.eden-court.co.uk

Ends.


Note to Editors:

Nòs Ùr and Nòs Òg are staged by goEvents (in association with Anam Communications) which promotes and develops creative arts in the Highlands and Islands.
It is supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Highland Council, Colmcille, Scottish Arts Council, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, MG Alba, Inverness Common Good Fund, Udaras na Gaeltachta.


See sites:
www.nos-ur.eu
www.anamcommunicaitons.com
www.goevents.info
www.eden-court.co.uk