Album reviews and thanks to Friends of Highland Music

It is nearly a year since I released my most recent album and high time I shared some of the lovely things reviewers have said about ‘Release’! I bring this update to you with thanks to Friends of Highland Music (https://www.friends-of-highland-music.org/index.asp) who generously helped to fund the final steps of the production. They recently wrote to me asking for a short write up on how the project is going which spurred me on to gather a few short quotes from some of the fabulous reviews we received. You can buy the album here or listen/buy on band camp. I hope you find some of these quotes to be true.

 'a cathartic cry in the wilderness' Alex Monaghan 

'soundtracks for otherworld movies' Andrew Darlington

'a captivating album’s worth of skilful, atmospheric and powerful harp pieces ' Marc Higgins FATEA

'the composition is varied and distinctive' Adrien Jones 

'Fraya is bang up to date, with current threads, political and ecological, running through the songs' Dave Vaughan

Princess Margaret of the Isles Memorial Prize for Senior Clàrsach: this year's competition is now open for entries!

In his introduction to the 2021 PMIMPSC competition, John Purser gave a short history of patronage for harpers. For him as for me, the competition is a continuation of this tradition. This event, organised by the Clan Donald Society, is an opportunity for top harpers in the country to express their talent and potentially win £3000, which is, to be frank, a gooood gig :-)

I whole heartedly encourage Scottish harpers– including my favourite ones– to take part in it. I would like to thank the Clan Donald Society for their continued patronage of Scottish harp music. Join the competition by registering online at https://www.armadalecastle.com/clarsach-competition-2022-entry/

If you’d like to hear last year’s competition you can do so here: https://vimeo.com/653772110

New Album Artwork Adventure!

Last weekend I boldly ventured off of Scoraig, journeying to the Isle of Skye, to choose a painting and visit friends. The blustery afternoon soaked us to the bone, but did not dampen our excitement about seeing the artwork of the amazing John Slavin. Thanks to our local skipper for revving the engine of the open topped boat, making our salty shower a slightly shorter one! What an overwhelming treat it was to be surrounded by John's work. I have been haunted by the desire to have one of his paintings in my life ever since I watched this film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGf7HxjD0k4 I wonder if you can guess which painting will make an appearance in my upcoming album artwork?


http://www.john-slavin.co.uk