North youngsters join Nashville royalty on Skye bill

THE young north musicians of Feis Rois are to join Nashville star Rosanne Cash, the daughter of country legend Johnny, when Celtic Connections comes to Skye this month.

Joining them at the Celtic Connections Big Top will be Raul Malo, perhaps best known as the frontman of chart-topping country band the Mavericks, who will headline the first night of the two day festival on Friday 23 March.

Fèis Rois, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2011, has taught thousands of budding singers and instrumentalists at its weekly classes and residential courses around the Highlands. Many Celtic Connections performers have also been taught by the Fèis so this will be a great chance to spot their successors on this prodigiously talented bill when they appear at the Broadford show the following day.

They join Rosanne Cash, The Civil Wars, Michael McGoldrick Band, Dàimh, The Deadly Gentlemen, Aoife O'Donovan (Crooked Still) and Mànran, with more special guests still to be confirmed.

In December 2011, it was announced that Celtic Connections would be leaving its Glasgow home for the first time in 19 years to stage a two night music event in Broadford, Isle of Skye from 23 – 24 March 2012.

As the finale to Scotland’s Islands, Celtic Connections Big Top will feature a top line-up of traditional music, show-stopping arts experiences and action-packed workshops on a local and international scale, showcasing local talent alongside top international artists.

Up to 4,000 residents and visitors are expected to flood into the Celtic Connections Big Top to see local performers sharing the spotlight with artists from across the globe.

“With just four weeks to go, we’re very excited to be able to announce country favourite Raul Malo as the Friday headliner," Celtic Connections artistic director Donald Shaw said.

"With such exceptional energy and a string of chart-toppers under his belt, he’ll be sure to start off the two day event with a bang!

“Fèis Rois are long-standing partners of Celtic Connections, and after the brilliant performance at this year’s festival, it’s great that they will join us for Celtic Connections Big Top to add to what is already a stellar line-up.”

Tickets are available online at www.celticconnections.com/bigtop or 0141 353 8000 priced at £40 for a full access, weekend ticket, or £25 for a day ticket. Further info can be found at: www.celticconnections.com/bigtop.