National Celtic Festival Focus: Feis Rois

Answered by: Fiona Dalgetty

Describe your sound in four words: Driving, energetic, authentic, spellbinding.

Give us a brief history of yourself and your music: Feis Rois is not a band, but an organisation founded in the Highlands of Scotland in 1986 to provide transformative opportunities for people of all ages to engage with traditional Scottish music and Gaelic culture. 

Is there a Celtic background in your family history? Last year, 9,000+ people took part in music making opportunities through Feis Rois and the organisation provided paid employment to 600+ traditional musicians! Feis means "festival" in Scottish Gaelic and "Rois" refers to Ross-Shire where the organisation is based. 

Is there one solid definition of Celtic music, or is it a broad church where lots of elements can be incorporated? "Celtic" is a very wide umbrella term often used alongside "folk," "world," "traditional..." It is a very broad genre where lots of elements can be incorporated. Our music focusses very much on the Scottish Gaelic tradition and connecting to dance. 

What album would you offer someone who knew nothing about Celtic music as an introduction and why? I would recommend Fas (meaning "grow"). This is a compilation album featuring songs in both the Gaelic and Scots languages, as well as instrumental music ranging from spellbinding harp tunes to the driving energy of fiddles and pipes. 

Do you experience many Celtic Festivals? Do people hold them regularly? We have lots of major Celtic festivals in Scotland. I would recommend Celtic Connections taking place in Glasgow every January and Hebridean Celtic Festival taking place in the beautiful Outer Hebrides every July. This is the fifth year of partnership with NCF, Australia. 

Do you plan to hang out for the entire festival or only be there for your set? We'll be there for the entire festival enjoying lots of sessions! This year, Feis Rois is represented by staff member and fiddle player, Catriona Ramsay; Robbie Mackenzie (fiddle), Kaitlin Ross (Gaelic song and guitar) and Ailis Sutherland (pipes and whistles). 

What day(s) are you playing the festival? 9-12 Jun. This started as a two-year partnership but has been so successful we're now in year five!

Website link for more info? feisrois.org / feisrois.bandcamp.com/