Westray Connections 2017 – Taster sessions around the Village

Westray is a small island but it’s big enough to have a school and a care home, a doctors and a hotel. The care home is called Kalisgarth and it opened in 2005. It’s got a great community feel to it. It’s the starting point for a series of free music events around the village of Pierowall as part of Westray Connections 2017 this morning.

Firstly it’s Jenny Keldie and Brian Cromarty:

Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

They enjoy it as much as the audience does:

Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Here’s my review of their album:

First Light

It’s wonderful.

Up next are the band called Jake, Megan, Aileen, Alice and Steven. I’ve decided not to use flash for my photographs and made things very difficult for myself because of that. The light is very poor and comes through tiny intense windows directly from behind. Their singing is a lot more crisp than my photographs:

Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I loved the harmonies. So did all the generations:

Westray Connections - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Then we’re all outside in fine weather for the Kirkwall City Pipe Band who have managed to introduce a really groovy feel to their playing while still pleasing the crowds with traditional favourites. They play in the brand new garden of Kalisgarth:

Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

It’s heart-stirring stuff:

Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
Kirkwall City Pipe Band - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

It’s a great start to the day’s music. There are only two more venues, a grand parade through the Village and an entire night of music to come – and that’s just today!

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