The historical links between Scottish, Aboriginal and Maori cultures were celebrated in Stornoway this week ahead of an international artistic spectacle that will be a highlight of this year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival.
Civic leaders joined organisers of HebCelt and representatives of the Hebrides’ artistic community in welcoming performers from the Boomerang Project to a reception at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar headquarters last night.
HebCelt, which starts today, is one of only two venues in Scotland to host the international, cross-cultural event being held as part of this year’s Commonwealth Games celebrations.
Boomerang is a major feature of the nationwide Culture 2014 programme, which has been supported by Creative Scotland to mark Glasgow’s hosting of the Games. It is described as a cultural version of a baton relay, thrown from Scotland and returning to its origins via Australia and New Zealand. It will explore and celebrate cultural links through language, music and dance, including ancient bagpipe tunes and Gaelic waulking corsongs, a newly-written Haka pride chant and pieces for the didgeridoo.
The musical spectacle will be staged at HebCelt tomorrow night (Thursday), ahead of a major concert at Glasgow Green on July 24 as part of the Festival 2014 celebrations for the Commonwealth Games.
During their time in Lewis, the visitors have been immersed in the traditions and culture of a Gaelic-speaking community.
They have been staying at the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village in Carloway where generations of crofting families lived in small stone and thatch accommodation until the 1970s. The style of buildings which survived for centuries almost disappeared but the village was declared a conservation area shortly after the last residents left.
HebCelt festival director Caroline Maclennan said: “We are delighted Boomerang is part of this year’s festival as it is an exciting addition to our programme during the Year of Homecoming. It is a wonderful opportunity to promote our cultural ties with Australia and New Zealand.
“By staying at Gearrannan our visitors have been getting a real feel for our history, traditions and the island culture.”
Comhairle convener Norman A Macdonald said: “We are very proud of the Hebridean Celtic Festival and delighted that it has been chosen as one of only two venues in Scotland to host an international, cross-cultural concert which is being held this year as part of the Commonwealth Games celebrations.
“I feel that the festival’s approach to music, art and culture is very healthy, on the one hand maintaining and supporting the traditional Gaelic culture of the islands, but also pushing the borders to a more modern interpretation of that culture.”
The 19th HebCelt, which runs until Saturday, will be headlined by Levellers, Big Country and Donnie Munro. Rachel Sermanni, Cara Dillon, Duncan Chisholm, Cajun band Magnolia Sisters, from the US, and Canadian outfit Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys will also be among nearly 40 acts featuring on stage