Gaelic choral singing will be front at centre at the GG’s annual concert at Maryhill Community Central Hall (Friday 8) including performances from soloists and The Voice’s Jeremy Levif.  In Edinburgh, the Sutherland Society’s annual ceilidh will feature Sandy Brechin on box and Mòd Gold Medallist Emma MacLeod at Loanhead Miners’ Club (Friday 15). MacLeod will join Double Medallist Ruairidh Grey, and over 70 others including Ceitidh Campbell, and Kerrie and Lyle Kennedy, at St Aloysius Church (Thursday 21). 

The North Atlantic Song Convention returns to Edinburgh’s Scottish Storytelling Centre (Friday 22–Sunday 24), including keynote speeches, panels and presentations from Gaelic-language singers Eilidh Cormack (Scotland), plus Bláithín Mhic Cana and Mairéad Nic Craith (Ireland). In Glasgow, join Ian MacDonald and Rob Ó Maolalaigh to discuss the work of poet Derick Thomson and celebrating the publication of a brand new critical volume at the Gaelic Books Council (Thursday 7), hosted by Michel Byrne.

Further afield, In Lewis, Acair launches Ban-eileanaich Innse Gall, Uig-native Joni Buchanan’s illustrated volume foregrounding island women. Celebrate International Women’s Day with them at Stornoway Town Hall (Friday 8). In Inverness, Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Drama Officer Angus MacLeod will lead a training day at Eden Court, for those wanting to integrate Gaelic theatre skills into their creative practice (Saturday 16). At this year’s StAnza, a Gaelic highlight will be a reading from Skye-based Irish poet Rody Gorman (Sunday 10). Gorman is one of the Gaelic tradition’s great innovators and will read from Sweeney: An Intertonguing, a retelling of the ancient Sweeney myth in English, Irish, Scottish and Manx Gaelic.

If you’d rather stay in, then check out Rachel Walker’s ‘Song Of The Week’ performances on social media, featuring her repertoire gathered across Celtic traditions. Supported via workshops led by traditional icons Màiri MacFadyen, Ceitlin Lilidh Smith and Gillebrìde MacMillan, Fuaran 2023 performances are now available online through Fèisean nan Gàidheal. Stand-outs include Eilidh MacPhee (Inverness) and Mirren Ward (Glasgow). But if you do venture out, you can give your own songs an airing at Seinn Còmhla at Skye’s Breakish Hall (Saturday 9) alongside box-player Ishi Strachan.

Get involved by enrolling for Fèis an Earraich this month, ahead of its early April kick-off. Children and young people can develop their clàrsach skills with Mischa MacPherson, or try Gaelic songs with Anna Martin, drumming with Andrew MacPherson or art with Catherine Tinney amongst a host of other opportunities. You can also register your interest for Fèis Obar Dheathain in the north east, with both fèisean catering for everyone from P1 to S6. And finally, if you’ve got a sing to sing, a poem to recite or a digital masterpiece under your belt, as we look towards Mòd 2024 in Oban, An Comunn Gàidhealach’s online entry system is open now.

Main picture of Eilidh Cormack by Kris Kesiak.