There were great celebrations as the Fèis Spè show went on in Aviemore having survived the threat of an unwanted early curtain call.

In an absolutely brilliant week culminating on Friday, 93 children, 11 tutors, a fantastic team of volunteers and a whole load of wonderful tunes, singing and dancing explained just why the strath’s own music festival deserved to go on, and on, and on...

Fèis Spè chairwoman Elspeth Blackshaw was in ebullient mood after the success.

She said “As result of the wonderful support Feis Spe received through the publicity given to us in the Strathy, and from the huge response to our online petition on Change.org – more than 500 responses, with messages of support and appreciation of what Feis Spe does – Highland Council changed its mind and allowed us to hold our annual Feis Week in Aviemore Primary School as we have done for the past 10 years.”

But even then, it wasn’t all good news, she said. “Unfortunately the charge for the school let has gone up by £2,000 to £4,600 which was a bit of a shock.

“But otherwise we were delighted and very pleased to be back in the familiar surrounds of Aviemore Primary School.”

Bookings had opened the moment the organisation heard the news that it would be allowed to use the school after all.

“It gave us just under two weeks to book participants, instead of the usual eight weeks. Emma Wright, the Highland Harpist, and our regular clarsach tutor visited primary schools to tell the children about the Feis and, miraculously, by the time bookings closed, 93 children had booked a place, 40 in Feis Bheag (five to seven-year-olds) and 53 in Feis Mhor (eight to 13-year-olds).

“The week went like a fair with fiddle, clarsach, dance, Gaelic song, guitar, whistle and pipes classes, as well as group playing with the fantastic Charlie McKerron our regular Feis Spe fiddle tutor.”

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As usual there were two great concerts.

Last Thursday night for the tutors’ concert in Carrbridge, the hall was full and as well as the current tutors featured three well-known former Feis Spe participants Cailean McKerron, Kyle Powell and Finlay Beange.

On the Friday afternoon the concert was held in the hall at the Aviemore primary school where the participants were able to show case what they had been doing and what they had learnt over the week.

Ms Blackshaw said: “As usual both concerts were inspiring and made us all appreciate what a wonderful and important organisation Feis Spe is, in giving the young people of this area the opportunity of being taught traditional music by top class tutors in a week of music, fun and games – and continuing what they have learnt in the weekly classes in fiddle, guitar and clarsach which Feis Spe provide through the rest of the year.

“But to carry on we still need all the support we can get from volunteers and with money.”

• Anyone who would like to help can contact organisers by email at feisspe@feisean.org or via the Fèis Spè Facebook page.

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