Caledonian Canal Cèilidh Trail

Now in its 8th year, the Caledonian Canal Cèilidh Trail brings together a group of talented young musicians playing a variety of locations around Inverness, Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal. The Cèilidh Trail is organised by The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Service, and is partly funded by British Waterways Scotland.

Held in July and August, this year’s Cèilidh Trail kicked off with a Grand Opening Cèilidh at Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness, and you can check out a short video of the Opening Cèilidh at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtTfjADueKg.

The 2009 Cèilidh Trail is led by accordionist Cameron Kellow, and trainee lead musician Rachel Campbell on fiddle. Student musicians in the band are Alasdair Taylor who plays guitar, mandolin and banjo; Rachael MacDonald on Highland pipes, Gaelic song and whistle; and Ewan MacDonald who plays fiddle and guitar. The team are also joined this year by TMC Folk and their MD David Bowen as well as Fèis Lochabair Ceilidh Trailers and young musicians from Fèis a Bhaile.

Details of the Cèilidh Trail events along the Caledonian Canal can be found at http://www.waterscape.com/features-and-articles/events/3847/caledonian-canal-ceilidh-trail-2009 where you download the 2009 programme and find out where to buy their CD! The team also have a page on Facebook!

If you have managed to catch the Cèilidh Trail on tour this year, or perhaps you have seen them before, make sure you drop us a note on the blog to tell everyone what you thought!