
Under Canvas, Eden Court’s outdoor summer festival co-curated with Fèis Rois, is back! From 1 July – 30 September 2021 a three-month programme of music will take place on the lawns at Eden Court, next to the beautiful banks of the River Ness.
Under Canvas began showcasing traditional and contemporary Scottish music in 2018, in 2019 it was nominated for Event of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, now in its third year, the event has been redesigned to maintain the spirit of socialising, whilst mitigating the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout July contemporary folk and Scottish traditional music take centre stage Wednesday to Friday with artists Mairearad Green, Anna Massie and Project SMOK, among others. Resident DJ Karawane spins world grooves most Saturday evenings. Sunday afternoons feature an eclectic mix of musical genres and literary offerings, from performance poetry and author panels to classical music, blues and jazz.
In addition to the monthly programmes, there are a number of specially curated events throughout the summer:
Bogha-frois (14-18 Jul) a celebration of queer voices in folk curated by Pedro Cameron (aka Man of the Minch). The collective, fuelled by love and inclusivity, aims to encourage creativity and collaboration which reflects the queer experience.
Càirdeas (25-29 Aug) brings together global Gaelic communities, showcasing artists and music from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and the Isle of Man, and the kinship that has existed between these cultures over hundreds of years.
Uisge (12-19 Sep) features a series of critically-acclaimed compositions and performances, which all evoke the might and mystery of rivers, oceans, lochs and waterways.
James Mackenzie-Blackman (Chief Executive, Eden Court) said: “I am delighted that Under Canvas is returning this summer thanks to the generous support of some key Eden Court supporters. We’ll be providing world-class music throughout the summer, in turn providing hundreds of employment contracts to independent musicians and our new tent, double the size of previous years, will provide a safe and welcoming environment for our audiences. We can’t wait to welcome them back.”
Audiences can secure tickets to sessions from 4pm to 7pm or from 8pm to 11pm each week from Wednesday to Saturday. Sunday sessions run 2pm to 4.30pm and 5.30pm to 8pm.