Excerpts from issue 53/09 7 February 2026
IHS trad bands' trip to Celtic Connections
Isobel Cameron & Jayla Rozga write:
During the week ending 24 January, members of Islay High School's trad groups travelled to Glasgow's Celtic Connections to see some amazing performances. On the night we arrived, we went to the Old Fruit Market and watched Ali Levack and Sharon Shannon. Ali Levack was an amazing performer, as he has modernised his music as well as using new techniques on the whistle, which stood out and allowed him to incorporate new genres.
Sharon Shannon was great fun, and we loved to see how she and her bandmates had fun on stage.
On the second day, we visited the Royal Conservatoire, where we were given a tour by a student who told us about the trad course. This was great, as were able to see and hear lots of young artists playing. We also learned how the courses are made up, which was good, as it inspired some of the trad group members to look more into the possibilities once we leave school. Later in the evening, we headed to the Royal Concert Hall and saw Canadian band, La Déferlance. We found it interesting to hear our cultural music being developed within their own music.
After their show, we witnessed Capercaillie give an incredible performance, having added a brass section to the more traditional instruments. The band was really inspiring, as we observed the brilliant communication between the members, and it was great to see how much they enjoyed being on stage together.
On the final day, we attended the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland (TMSA), an event showcasing young musicians from across Scotland. It was amazing to see the young musicians play at the Concert Hall, and it has encouraged our trad bands to work harder to be able to play at events like that. It was also great to see some of the Conservatoire students play their original pieces. Later in the evening, we were able to see an American band called Rakish.
Again, it was really nice to see that other countries incorporate Scottish traditional music into their own playing and enjoy it almost as much as we do. The last performance we saw, was the Tom Campbell Trio; an amazing performance on which to end the trip. For a band of only three musicians, they brought so much energy to the stage, incorporating modern techniques into their playing.
Overall, this was an amazing trip, and we are really grateful for the experience. Thank you to Mr Weatherhogg, Mr Anderson and Ciara MacTaggart for taking us, and thank you to everyone who helped and supported us. Hope to see you at the next ceilidh!
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In this week's issue:
New ferry en-route to Scotland, Council's money problems, Islay tourism summit, Vistor Levy raised, Liam's first single released, Ileach's new heating, Council changes to Morrison Court, Islay Quilters' news, IHS trip to Celtic Connections, IHS Traitors evening, Islay Foodbank update, JamDram portable stage, Craig Walker's Walk on the Wild Side, HES Heritage workshop, Mactaggart Leisure Centre's upgrade plans.
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Summit's up
Explore Islay and Jura is to host a Tourism Summit on Islay, bringing together tourism industry representatives from across Scotland.
The event, to be held on 20 February at Kilchoman Distillery, is the second summit organised by the destination marketing organisation. The last one was in 2024.
Beky Logan, chair of the not-for-profit organisation which is funding the event, said, "We're really excited to bring this event back to the island and have a great line-up of speakers, information and inspiration for all those involved in tourism.
"A huge thanks go to Kathy Wills and the team at Kilchoman for hosting the event once again at the visitor centre and providing the catering. We could not do this without them.
"Those attending will have the chance to hear from people who help shape, monitor and lobby for sustainable tourism in Scotland and beyond as well as those who make visits happen by bringing people here.
"Guests will hear from speakers about tourism trends and strategy, the challenges facing the industry and what we can do to meet and overcome them.
"We will find out more about plans by CalMac and Loganair to promote Islay and how the growth of agri-tourism makes rural areas like ours so desirable as a destination," said Beky. "It will also be a chance to ask questions of these industry leaders, to meet up with others involved in tourism from across the islands, and make new connections, and share your ideas on driving sustainable tourism forward."
Speakers on the day include Marc Crothall MBE, CEO of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, CalMac's Chief Operating Officer, Diane Burke, Peter Griffiths, Senior Marketing Manager at CalMac, Loganair CEO, Luke Farajallah, Scottish celebrity chef, restauranteur and face of Loganair, Tony Singh MBE, Gwen Raez from Visit Scotland's strategy team and Caroline Millar, Board Member/Sector Lead of Agritourism Scotland.
There will also be displays by Islay and Jura food and drink producers and a whisky cocktail demonstration for inspiration!
Tickets, which are free, will include a buffet lunch and refreshments, but spaces are limited and bookings restricted to a maximum of two per person. They can be booked via the Eventbrite website
Explore Islay and Jura, comprises over 100 members, all involved in some way in tourism on the islands. They include hotels and guesthouses, self-catering properties, restaurants, island tour companies, activity providers, food, drink and craft producers, shops and more. It is run by a committee of volunteers and will hold its AGM on 2 March at Bridgend Hotel.
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JamDram Portable Stage Project
Fundraising enters the last seven days
Fundraising to purchase a portable stage for community use across Jura and Islay, now enters its final week, with the Crowdfunding campaign closing on Saturday 14 February at 5pm.
Jura Amateur Dramatics Society (JamDram) has raised £3,200 (40% of the £8,000 target, as we went to press) from 127 supporters.
Why Portability Matters
The stage comes in lightweight one-metre sections that fit through standard doors and into vans. This means it can travel easily on the ferry between islands and be configured to any size for different venues and events.
Groups across both islands could use it for the Islay, Jura & Colonsay Show, Fèis Ìle events, Highland dancing events, distillery functions, Jazz Festival performances, weddings, ceilidhs, and community and school performances. The sections pack down for storage and require no specialist tools to assemble.
"Not every village hall or pop-up event has adequate staging, and mainland hire costs are prohibitive once you factor in transport," said Pi Davidson of JamDram. "A shared portable stage that moves between our islands just makes sense. We hope this will be a valued shared resource, and we'd like to thank everyone who has donated already."
The Final Week
With 3,500 people on Islay and 258 on Jura, the campaign needs just 68 people per day to pledge £10 for the remaining week. The 127 supporters who've already pledged represent a strong start, but the final push is critical.
Everyone who pledges via Crowdfunder is entered to win five nights at Bothan Jura Retreat with hot tub and sauna which can be gifted to someone else if the winner wishes to pay it forward.
JamDram operates with transparent, audited accounts. All funds go toward the stage, with any surplus reinvested in theatre opportunities. JamDram welcomes members from both islands, and their next production is 27 - 28 March 2026 ... hopefully on a new stage!!
Seven days left. Enter here or visit jamdram.org to donate without entering.
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