The Tannahill Weavers

📍 Where: The Old Orchard (Southbourne Village Hall), First Avenue, Southbourne, West Sussex, PO10 8HN

🗓️ When: Sunday 10th May | Doors 7:30pm, on stage at 8 pm | Unreserved seating

🍻 Bar: Local brews from Langham Brewery & more!

Tickets are selling fast! All profits go back into our community. Get yours at Bookends and Harbour Records in Emsworth village, at The Westbourne Cafe in Westbourne Village, and online at https://wegottickets.com/WemsFest

From Paisley pub sessions to the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Join us for an unforgettable night with the legendary Tannahill Weavers.   

Expect a high-energy blend of “pure old-time Celtic” soul with the drive of rock and roll. Featuring world-class musicians seen on Outlander and Men in Kilts, this is Scottish folk at its absolute finest. 🎻🔥

Formed during a session in Paisley, Scotland, and named after the town’s historic textile industry and its famed poet laureate, Robert Tannahill, The Tannahill Weavers have forged an international reputation for their signature Celtic sound. By seamlessly blending the grace of traditional melodies with the energy of modern rhythms, they have established themselves as one of the world’s premier Scottish folk ensembles.

Their diverse repertoire spans centuries, offering a rich tapestry of musical storytelling:

  • High-Octane Instrumentals: Blazing sets that showcase technical mastery.

  • Topical Songs & Ballads: Original compositions and historic pieces that capture the heart of the Scottish experience.

  • Lullabies & Lore: Gentle melodies paired with humorous tales of life in the Highlands and beyond.

Over the years the Tannies have been trailblazers for Scottish music, and their tight harmonies and powerful, inventive arrangements have won them fans from beyond the folk and Celtic music scenes. In 2011 the band was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, and in 2018 they released their highly acclaimed 50th Anniversary album Òrach (“Golden” in Gaelic) on award-winning label Compass Records, followed by the well loved Celtic holiday celebration Solstice in 2024.  Roy Gullane and Phil Smillie are joined by Iain MacGillivray and Alistair McCulloch – piper and fiddle player Iain is involved in such high profile productions as Outlander and Men in Kilts, and Alistair teaches at the prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland when not on tour.

As they approach their 58th anniversary, the Tannahill Weavers are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to footstomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits.

“Formed from a Paisley pub session in 1968, seminal trailblazers the Tannahill Weavers now also rank as national treasures.” – Glasgow Celtic Connections

“The music may be pure old time Celtic, but the drive and enthusiasm are akin to straight ahead rock and roll.” – Winnipeg Free Press

“An especially eloquent mixture of the old and the new.” – New York Times

Every penny we make from bar and ticket sales is reinvested directly back into our local community.

Accessibility & Support If you require special assistance or have mobility requirements, please contact us in advance at adwemsfest@gmail.com or 07802 500 050. We are dedicated to ensuring your comfort and will do our very best to accommodate your needs.

GNOSS (SOLD OUT)

A welcome back to WemsFest, but to a new venue, for this multi-talented and award-winning Scots band.  GNOSS combines the talents of Aidan Moodie (guitar/vocals), Graham Rorie (fiddle/mandolin/electric tenor guitar), Connor Sinclair (flute/whistles/vocals), and Craig Baxter (bodhran/percussion) – and they have 3 fabulous albums which exemplify their forward-thinking take on traditional music coupled with the warmth of their live shows.

‘Album of the Year’ Nominees, Scots Trad Music Awards 2019 & 2021
‘Up and Coming Artist of the Year’ Nominees, Scots Trad Music Awards 2017
BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Semi-Finalists 2016
Danny Kyle Award Winners 2015

“Gnoss are one of those rare birds in folk: a group you can name after hearing their first notes.” –  Folk Radio UK

Gnoss’ signature sound is a rich tapestry of acoustic layers; outstanding musicianship, deep traditional roots and contemporary compositional flair combine to create songs and tunes brimming with character. Triple Scots Trad Music Awards nominees, the band have built an invested following through their forward-thinking take on traditional music and the unique warmth of their live shows. This has been proven through three consecutive sellout appearances at Glasgow’s world-famous Celtic Connections festival.

Their 2019 release, ‘Drawn From Deep Water’ was met with widespread praise (“a refreshing blast” – RnR) for its exemplary interplay, nakedly emotional playing, and well chosen material. The 11-track album brought Gnoss to entranced audiences across France, Italy and Denmark, not to
mention the length and breadth of the UK.

Their follow-up album, ‘The Light of The Moon’, continued to demonstrate Gnoss’ dedication to their craft that places them firmly at the fore of what’s happening in Scottish folk and earned them a nomination for Album of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards. Described as “an invigorating new direction for the Gnoss boys” by Songlines, this album took Gnoss’ online fanbase by storm gaining over one million streams in 2022.

With the release of their third album, 2023’s ‘Stretching Skyward’, Gnoss reignite their collaboration with producer and engineer, Scott Wood (Skerryvore), further exploring their acoustic roots whilst incorporating new, electronic elements. Launch dates included performances across the UK and Europe, including standout appearances at the Orkney Folk Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Towersey Festival and Denmark’s Tønder Festival.

 

Doors open 7.30pm for an 8pm show.

Licensed Bar helps support WemsFest – As always, we’ll have our licensed bar serving delicious beers from Langham Brewery 🍻 as well as wines, local cider, nonalcoholic beers, and soft drinks.  All profits from bar and ticket sales are reinvested in the local community.

Tickets available now at Bookends and Harbour Records and online here

If you require special assistance or have mobility difficulties, please contact us in advance and we will do our very best to accommodate you so that you are comfortable.