Monadh Ruadh and Fèis Spè CD 2023

Fèis Spè 30th Anniversary CD.

Performed by Monadh Rhuadh, the Fèis Spè Senior Band, with former members of the band joining.

The group have been regularly tutored by award winning tutor and musician Charlie McKerron from Capercaillie and Session A9.   The young people in the current Monadh Ruadh band range from 14 to 18 and have matured as musicians from their first beginnings with Fèis Spè in primary school, to being the talented young musicians that they now are.  The CD will showcase some of the tunes the group have been developing over the past few years and turning into their own style of Traditional music.

The CD, as well as being a great music CD to listen to, will inspire other young players to continue to practice to develop their skills and encourage other young musicians to take the route from Fèis Spè participant to the Fèis Spè Junior Band and then onto Monadh Ruadh. 

By supporting the production of this CD you will be contributing to the knowledge and education of these young musicians as they not only develop their musical and performance skills, but also those in a recording environment and potentially leading them onto opportunities for employment locally as musicians or musical technicians.

Any additional funds above those which are required for the CD creation will be used to further music education through Fèis Spè.

What is Fèis Spè? / Dè th’ann an Fèis Spè?

Fèis Spè was established in 1990 by a group of local volunteers and musicians and celebrated its 30 th Anniversary last year. The central aim of Fèis Spè is to offer access to top class tuition and performance, through a programme of community-based traditional music tuition, with Gaelic and Scottish Traditional music at the heart of its activities.

A significant number of past participants have forged careers in traditional music and returned to live and teach in the area, including Mhairi Hall, Ewen Robertson and Hamish Napier. 

Fèis Spè’s annual programme / Prògram bliadhnail Fèis Spè

The Fèis Spè programme provides a full rich programme of activities for local children and young people to get involved.  They are as follows:

• Classes throughout the school year in fiddle, clarsach, guitar, whistle and Gaelic song
• An annual Fèis Week during the October school holidays for 5-18 year olds teaching a wide selection of instruments, dance, sport and performance, culminating in a concert by the participants at the end of the week 
• Fèis days in February and May
• Development and teaching of our 2 bands - Fèis Spè Junior band and Monadh Ruadh (who provide musical entertainment at community events, gigs and ceilidhs – particularly their summer tour, visiting venues in the Badenoch and Strathspey area during the first week of August).
• A Gaelic Weekend at the Highland Folk Museum, Newtonmore 

How can you help? / Ciamar as urrainn dhut cuideachadh?

• By donating to the Fèis Spè, either with one of our rewards or as an individual donation you will be contributing towards keeping traditional music and culture alive in Badenoch and Strathspey.
• Fèis Spè is a charitable organisation (run by a group of volunteers), and although we receive some funding from our parent organisation, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, and from Creative Scotland, we rely on our own additional fundraising and donations to be able to keep our programme running.
• We also offer a bursary scheme to families who are unable to meet the costs of the Fèis events, tuition etc so that everyone has the opportunity to be part of Fèis Spè.

The opportunities created by this CD will be huge for the young people involved and will give you years of lasting listening pleasure.  Thank you for reading, we hope you enjoy the music.