Island life
PERTHSHIRE-based Ron Lawson, one of the UK’s most sought-after landscape artists, is celebrating 40 years of showing his paintings with his biggest ever exhibition to date.
The Grey Light, at Crieff’s Strathearn Gallery, will feature over fifty new paintings by Lawson, based on a return trip to his beloved Hebrides. It will open at 10am on Saturday, October 13, and will run until November 11.
Lawson’s stark flat (usually grey) backgrounds are set against detailed depictions of the landscape and often feature a solitary cottage or building, or the occasional sheep. Using either long and thin or tall and narrow canvases with a limited colour palette, he captures the remoteness and grandeur of the Highlands and Islands. His paintings have proved popular with collectors worldwide.
He said: “The Highlands and islands have been favourite locations of mine from my early childhood holidays to the present day and I visit the islands regularly sourcing new material. I never tire of returning to the Hebrides. The openness of the landscape and the quite often remoteness of small communities and individual houses very much appeals to me.
“I’m certain that life on the Outer Hebrides can be challenging. It’s been said to me by more than one islander that many people who come to settle on the islands last only one winter. It’s my intention in the not too distant future to spend all four seasons on the Uists. I’d like to get a better feel for the place. Doubtless I’ll prove the islanders correct, though.”
The new paintings will be available to view online ahead of the exhibition opening at www.strathearn-gallery.com.
Beta by far
THE much-loved Scottish group, The Beta Band, is to mark the 20th anniversary of its classic debut compilation, The Three EPs, by seeing it re-released on September 14, on Because Music.Fully re-mastered and released for the first time on deluxe vinyl, it will also be available digitally and on CD.
Purchases of the deluxe vinyl edition through independent record stores will come with reproductions of The Flower Press, the short-lived fan club fanzine designed and put together by the band which was very much in keeping with their aesthetic.
Their debut, self-titled, full album will be re-issued on October 12, followed by Hot Shots II on November 16, and their final album, Heroes To Zeroes, on December 14. Because is also releasing a 2-CD best-of on September 14, including a disc of live recordings from their Shepherd’s Bush Empire show on November 29, 2004.
Gaelic passions
NEARLY 1,000 young musicians will showcase their talents and demonstrate their passion for Gaelic music alongside the top names in traditional music at the biggest event in Fèisean nan Gaidheal’s 30-year history.
With support from the Year of Young People 2018, the Blas Festival, organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with Highland Council, will highlight outstanding young musical talent in a large-scale showcase, Òran Mòr.
It will take place at the Northern Meeting Park, Inverness, on Saturday, September 15, featuring young musicians from Fèisean and various youth initiatives from across Scotland including the Highland Council Youth Music Groups and the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music.
One of the highlights will be a new Gaelic song written by a young songwriter, Glasgow-based Gaelic student, Robbie MacLeòid. His song, Bèo an Dòchas (Living in Hope), was written specifically for Òran Mòr and will be sung under the musical direction of Donald Shaw, led by a young Gaelic singer, Annia MacGillivray, from Tain.
The youngsters will share the stage with the bands they have chosen including traditional music supergroups Skipinnish, Trail West, and Breabach, and BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winners, Gaelic singer Mischa MacPherson and piper, Brìghde Chaimbeul.
* www.blas-festival.com
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