Fèis Rois

🎶 The power of singing 🎶 Did you know that singing in a group for as little as one hour could help boost your immune system? Singing together can have a hugely positive impact on both our mental and physical wellbeing; helping to build confidence, reduce loneliness, ease anxiety, and lower stress levels. It’s also been linked to benefits such as reduced blood pressure, improved posture, better lung function, and the release of 'happy hormones' which can immediately boost your mood. As if we couldn't love singing any more?! 💙 Have a listen to the fascinating podcast, Sing: Just One Thing, with the late Dr Michael Mosley and Prof Daisy Fancourt - you'll find it on @bbcsounds or find the direct link on our Facebook page. We're enjoying Prof Fancourt's new book, Art Cure, in the office - all about the science of how the arts transform our health, check it out! Most importantly, singing brings people together. Why not come along and give it a try at Voices in Bloom or The Big Sing? They’re completely free, friendly, and open to all - whether you think you can sing or not, everyone is welcome! 🎶 Voices in Bloom, Tuesdays, 10:30am - 12:30pm, Perrins Centre, Alness 🎶 The Big Sing, Tuesdays, 10:30am - 12:30pm, Robertson House, Dingwall 📸 Credit Paul Campbell - participants enjoying waulking songs with Margaret Stewart and Rona Lightfoot at Fèis Rois nan Inbheach earlier this month. #mentalhealthawarenessweek #healthbenefitsofsinging #artcure #singingforhealth #communitysinging

Can you believe it is almost two weeks since we arrived in Ullapool for Fèis Rois nan Inbheach?! There were lots of lovely tunes coming out of the instrumental classes this year (and lots of laughter by the looks of these photos!) If you are missing having a tune why not come along to Louise Mackenzie's groups on Friday mornings (slow tunes at 10:30am then fast tunes at 12pm with a much needed coffee break in between groups!) You can find all the details and book here on our website (link in bio).

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re reflecting on the power of music, connection, and community through Tàlaidhean Ùra, our lullaby project. The project brings parents and caregivers together with musicians to create personal lullabies for their children, supporting wellbeing, strengthening bonds, and helping families feel less alone during the early years of parenting. 👶 The parents involved have really felt the benefits of the sessions - have a read of what some of them had to say. 💙 We’re delighted that the project is currently running in Dingwall Primary School for new parents, and our lullaby song resource is also available on our website, where you can listen to, and even learn, the lullabies yourself. You'll find the link in our bio. #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

This day last week, we were in sunny Ullapool @feisrois for the Adult Fèis, setting up a ladder and getting ready to perform Mind How You Go and kick off the Fringe events for the weekend @jamesross_piano It was wonderful to see so many friends and musicians in the audience. I really enjoyed teaching song over the weekend and met some brilliant people along the way. I loved seeing @alisonstepdance and @fynefiddles do their mighty show @deiseilairsondannsa again. It was also really special to see the amazing Rhona Lightfoot being celebrated. Huge thanks to everyone @feisrois especially @fionadalgetty and @gamauf.pipes for such an incredible few days, and all the volunteers who work behind the scenes to make the whole weekend happen, it was magic ✨ 💛 #fèisrois 📸 @ruubbingw

🌟 Mealaibh ur naidheachd, Rona! 🌟 We had a wonderful time celebrating Rona Lightfoot’s recent 90th birthday at Fèis Rois nan Inbheach this weekend. Singer, piper, storyteller, teacher and all-round tradition bearer, Rona Lightfoot is one of Gaeldom’s great characters, a one-woman ceilidh with a treasure trove of music and folklore, and the spirit to take on authority and win! Rona paved the way for women in piping in Scotland, and she has so generously shared her family’s music and songs with many, many people over the years. It was our great pleasure to celebrate Rona in Ullapool on Sunday night. Huge thanks to: 🎂 Olivia Ross who made this incredible birthday cake for Rona! 🎶 All of the performers pictured who played tunes or sang songs that were special to Rona 📸 Paul Campbell for beautifully capturing what was a very special evening. If you were at the Fèis, we hoped you enjoyed the party on Sunday night, and the delicious birthday cake with your coffee on Monday morning! 🥳

One of the most special moments in our @feisrois show in Ullapool was dancing to this archive recording of Ceit NicDhòmhnaill, Bean Eàrdsaidh Raghnaill, with her daughter Rona Lightfoot (now aged 90) watching in the front row. It has been such a privilege to spend time talking to Rona during the making of the show and to have it culminate in this moment. ❤️ Tobar an Dualchais ~ Kist o Riches @tobar_an_dualchais is a treasure trove and has allowed us to weave together past and present - what goes around comes around again. Abair oidhche sònraichte, tha sinn cho taingeil. Thank you to @sophiestepdance for capturing this moment. 🙏🏻 #Deiseil #Gaelic #RonaLightfoot

📣Naidheachd! 📣 Fèis Rois turns 40 this year and we’re celebrating in style! On 8th September, Fèis Rois participants, past and present, will take to the stage at @edencourttheatrecinema for a night to remember! We’re bringing together over 100 musicians and singers of all ages to celebrate four decades of traditional music, Gaelic culture and community. Tha sinn gu mòr air bhioran! This special anniversary concert will feature: ✨ A 40-piece house band of former participants, now some of Scotland’s finest musicians ✨ Performances from artists and groups formed through Fèis Rois over the years ✨ Young people representing the next generation of traditional music Abair tàlant! Over the next few weeks we'll be introducing the musicians taking part. 👀 We’re aiming to raise £40,000 for 40 years to make this event possible and ensure our musicians are paid fairly. Your support will help us: 🎶Pay performers properly 🎶 Cover production, sound and technical costs 🎶 Pay for meals on gig day for all involved 🎶 Support travel and accommodation for artists returning to the Highlands We're incredibly grateful for all the continued support and every donation, no matter the size, makes a huge difference. How you can help 👉 You can buy your ticket now! Link in bio. Thigibh ann airson oidhche air leth! 👉 Donate & support the campaign on JustGiving - you'll find the link in the bio above. /campaign/feisrois40for40 👉 Share this post and spread the word! A celebration of 40 years of creativity, connection and culture, and an investment in the future of traditional music in Scotland #fèisroisturns40 #FR40for40

A reminder that the second of our Spring Gaelic Creative workshops takes place next week - Èist is Seinn le Fiona Mackenzie! @gaelicsinger Learn about the fascinating life of folklorist Margaret Fay Shaw, from leaving America as a youngster, bound for Scotland to her living in Uist and Canna, immersing herself in Gaelic language and culture, and spending the rest of life collecting Gaelic songs and stories, leaving behind an incredible legacy. Seisean socair, gun bhrùthadh – òran no dhà, sgeul no dhà. Thigibh còmhla ri Fiona J NicChoinnich airson seisean de Ghàidhlig, òran agus ìomhaigh! 🎶 📆Wednesday 6 May 2026, 7pm-9pm 📍Robertson House, Dingwall 🎫£10 suggested donation, book now (link in bio) #gàidhlig #cleachdi

🌟Coming up in May 🌟 Another busy month coming up for Dingwall 800! Be sure to stick the dates in your diary, or you can set reminders for the events when we post the countdown reminders on our Insta stories - watch out for them! ✨ @dingwallandhighlandmart Charity Auction Saturday 16 May If you have a lot you can donate, get in touch the Mart team - the charity you select will receive all the proceeds from your lot! 🎶 Dingwall Choral Concert Saturday 16 May, 7.30 pm, Dingwall Town Hall, Check out for more details ☕Old Fashioned Afternoon Tea Saturday 23 May, 2pm-4pm, St Clement’s Church Hall .uk 🎤The Big Sing with @feisrois Tuesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm, Robertson House, free 🎨 @artsinnature with Charlotte Mackenzie Tuesday 19 May, nature art walk, 1.30pm-3pm Visit our website for the full programme (click in the link in our bio), or pick up a programme from the Fèis Rois office at Robertson House or @dingwallmuseum #dingwall800 #whatsondingwall #whatsonhighlands #highlandevents #scottishhistory #royalburgh @dingwallcc @highlandcouncil

Dè na planaichean a th’ agad airson na deireadh- seachdain? Any plans this weekend? As part of our Fèis Rois nan Inbheach fringe programme we've got 3 fantastic concerts on - open to everyone! 🎶 Friday 1st May - Mind How You Go by @michelleburkemusic , with @jamesross_piano (9:30pm, The Ceilidh Place Venue) 🎶 Saturday 2nd May - @deiseilairsondannsa : Dancing in Time by Alison Carlyle and Amy Geddes (7-8pm, @macphailcentre_ullapool ) - Auchies Spikkin’ Auchie by @gracestewartskinner.clarsach (8:30pm, Ullapool Village Hall) Concert tickets are £10 and advance booking is advised to make sure you don't miss out! Book via the link in our bio. Thigibh ann! #livemusic #whatsonullapool

What.A.Day! A huge thank you to everyone who attended a workshop or came along to watch the parade on Saturday - it was quite a sight to see! 🐝🦋 The parade was the culmination of an amazing week of community participation, led by @visionmechanicsleith - thank you! Over 120 people created 45 bee puppets and art student, @eracionzer_art , joined us for the week and created an impressive giant butterfly! You couldn’t miss it! We had people of ages, families, groups of friends, adults on their own, even some 4-legged friends, come along to what was a fun Easter activity for all. And it was fantastic to see people from further afield coming to Dingwall especially for this and then staying to check out our local shops. Here’s what some of you had to say… 💜 As a family we both (Mum + Dad) work fulltime and this is such a lovely way to relax and do something creative as a family. Thank you 💛 We absolutely loved getting stuck in with the community and helping everyone. It was great fun learning new skills. We would love to make this a yearly tradition. 💚 Great to get involved in Dingwall 800 and appreciate things we can do with kids. 💙 This was a fun and creative activity for our family to do together. It brought out the inner child, was great for team building and was fun! 💞 We have come through from Inverness and made a day of it in Dingwall. The local shops are great and we had lunch too. The workshops have been amazing – working with willow is so therapeutic . We’re grateful to support from the Scottish Government's Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund for Adults to deliver these workshops. Highland Third Sector Interface. Watch out for another post later today all about the Great Seed Giveaway! 📸Paul Campbell #dingwall800 #dingwall #whatsonhighlands #scottishhistory #800years #royalburgh #highlands @dingwallcc @feisrois

🌼 It was wonderful to see the great turn-out at the Foulis Castle Daffodil Tea on Saturday. 🌼 Huge thanks to the team at @feisrois and all the lovely Foulis Castle folks! We were delighted to be a small part of the afternoon.