Tional Gaelic Music Weekend Launches Online

Hands Up For Trad announce Tional, the first Gaelic Music Festival weekend, featuring a whole host of stars from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th September 2020, broadcasting online with funding support from Bòrd na Gàidhlig's COVID-19 Support Fund.

In the latest of a series of highly successful digital events and broadcasts during Lockdown, from Tinto Music School to Stonehaven Folk Festival and Concerts, Simon Thoumire of Hands Up For Trad, organisers of the annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards & Scots Language Awards, is now launching Tional (pronounced Chew-nul).

Tional translates as a Gathering, act of gathering or collecting. Presented by Joy Dunlop the weekend will encourage speakers and learners to use and celebrate Gaelic language and culture.

Set to entertain new audiences via live broadcasts on Facebook and YouTube from 8pm on Friday 18th September, Tional is a fun and highly accessible experience, thanks to the innovative flexibility of online digital entertainment. It will feature workshops, cèilidhs and concerts from a host of Gaeldom's finest, including Norrie McIver, Kathleen MacInnes, Whyte, Mary Ann Kennedy, Ingrid Henderson and Iain MacFarlane, and more.

Organising body, Hands Up for Trad funded by Creative Scotland, was formed in 2002 and exists to increase the profile and visibility of Scottish traditional music through information, advocacy and education to artists, participants and audiences. Christine Halsall, Creative Scotland confirmed: "Tional is the latest in a series of fantastic trad music events which have adapted to these challenging circumstances to bring musicians and audiences together digitally over the past months. This Gaelic Music Weekend will showcase some of Scotland's finest Gaelic musicians to a global audience in what is set to be a vibrant and packed weekend."

Hands Up for Trad's Founder & Director Simon Thoumire said: "It has been an exciting challenge to take an entire live music year online, and reach our audiences, industry and even deliver education programmes, fundraising to help offer support to the industry and ensure Artists are still being paid for gigs and performances in the digital space. I'm really excited to work with Bòrd na Gàidhlig on this new Gaelic Music Weekend, which is set to be a fun, vibrant and lively evening for everyone online in 2020."

Daibhidh Boag of Bòrd na Gàidhlig added: "We established our COVID-19 fund to support the use of Gaelic when it hasn't been possible for people to get together as usual. We are also very aware of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the livelihoods of musicians. We warmly welcome Tional as an opportunity to support Gaelic usage, to bring people together and to support Gaelic musicians."

Thuirt Daibhidh Boag às leth Bhòrd na Gàidhlig: "Chuir sinn a' mhaoin COVID-19 againn air dòigh gus taic a chumail ri cleachdadh na Gàidhlig aig an àm seo, far nach eil e comasach do dhaoine tighinn còmhla mar a b' àbhaist. Tha sinn cuideachd gu math mothachail air a' bhuaidh a th' air a bhith ann do luchd-ciùil ri linn COVID-19. Tha sinn a' cur fàilte bhlàth air Tional airson cleachdadh na Gàidhlig a chur air adhart, cothrom a thoirt do dhaoine a thighinn còmhla agus gus taic a chumail ri luchd-ciùil na Gàidhlig."

Crowned Traditional Singer of the Year & Traditional Dance Champion at the 2015 Pan Celtic Festival, Tional's Presenter Joy Dunlop's singing career is the result of a life-long fascination with Scotland's traditional music and has led her all over the world; from major Celtic festivals, to touring the UK, Europe, Canada, USA, Japan and New Zealand.

Joy said: "I'm thrilled to be curating and hosting the first virtual Gaelic music festival on behalf of Hands Up For Trad. In these uncertain times, it's more important than ever to celebrate the language and music that unites us as Gaels and I can't wait to join musicians from throughout the country for this virtual celebration."

Through her singing, Joy showcases Gaelic music and song in a contemporary way that always remains true to its roots, and she also conducts the Alba Choir, Scotland's first ever Eurovision entry in the 2019 Eurovision Choir of the Year finals in Gothenburg, Sweden. Nominated as Gaelic Singer of the Year 2016, 2011 & 2010, she has also won both the coveted Royal National Mòd Gold Medal and the Oban Times Gold Medal and released two highly acclaimed solo albums, Dùsgadh and Faileasan. She is also the driving force between 'Gaelic/Gaeilge supergroup', LAS and has released collaborative albums with Twelfth Day, Music Makes Me and Melody & Derrick Cameron, amongst others. A popular television & radio presenter, Joy presents the weather on both BBC Scotland & BBC ALBA, in addition to frequent appearances on Radio Scotland and Radio nan Gàidheal.

Visit www.TionalGaelicFestival.com for all the information.

Watch live Friday 18th to Sunday 20th September on Facebook or YouTube.

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