Psalm

30Sep09

.
In Presbyterian Free Church’s across Lewis you can hear some of the finest examples of spiritual Free Heterophony in the world, where worship and praise is sung in Gaelic a cappella (without musical accompaniment), and led by a precentor (literally ‘one who sings beforehand’).
In Gaelic psalm singing, the precentor leads the praise by commencing the [...]

Filed under: Community, Gaelic, Nature, Tradition   |  7 Comments

Re Dun

29Sep09

In case, like me, you missed the international press release back in May, the Dun Ringles‘ classic album Re Dun, consisting of re-recorded tunes from 1992-1997, is out on iTunes.
Meanwhile we await their new album Tales From The Minch with bated breath. It’s probably out already but we’re a little behind here on the mainland…

Filed under: Culture, Music   |  Leave a Comment

Watermark

29Sep09

.
The Boy Who Trapped the Sun is a wry, alt-folkish singer-songwriter from the Isle of Lewis.
The pseudo-offspring of Cash and Drake, if he could, he’d groom himself a Dylan ‘fro, transcribing a perfect three-quarters of a circle. He is currently on Geffen, right on it, all over it. Straddling it in fact, and riding it [...]

Filed under: Culture, Living, Music   |  Leave a Comment

Lambs To The Slaughter

29Sep09

Image via John Maclean Photography
.
It’s that time of year again.
The season in which (some of) those wee lambs seen gamboling on crofts across the island back in April, now fat on heather and grass, are whisked away after a happy summer to meet their maker.
Look out for Scottish lamb in your supermarket, none of the New [...]

Filed under: Agriculture, Crofting, Food, Livestock, Living, Nature   |  3 Comments

Garynahine Tweed

25Sep09

.
Located in the village of Garynahine, Isle of Lewis, local weaver/designer John R MacLean produces double width Harris Tweed of the highest quality.
A native of the island, and in addition to being a producer of tweed, John is also an active crofter. He has expertise and knowledge in all areas of the production of Harris [...]

Filed under: Community, Crofting, Culture, Design, Textiles, Tradition   |  5 Comments
Tags: isle of lewis, harris tweed, tweed

Tweed

22Sep09

TheCroft’s tweed.
.
BBC 4’s three part documentary on Harris Tweed ended tonight.
Thank God.
It was easily the worst beeb four doc I’ve seen from the channel, usually head and shoulders above the rest. It looked and sounded like a Channel 5 production.
I’m all ranted out for the evening have spent the last hour shouting at the TV. [...]

Filed under: Clothing, Community, Crofting, Culture, Design, History, Living, Textiles   |  16 Comments
Tags: brian haggas, haggas, harris tweed, tweed

Island Top Trumps #8: Brian Haggas

20Sep09

.
Yorkshire businessman Brian Haggas, 75, owns textile firm the John Haggas Group and in December 2006 bought the Stornoway-based KM Group, which produced about 95% of Harris Tweed.
At the time, industry representatives hailed the move as a new era of stability for the business which had been for sale for four years. Mr Haggas also bought [...]

Filed under: Crofting, Culture, Design, Living, Reference, Textiles, Tradition   |  3 Comments
Tags: brian haggas, haggas, harris tweed, tweed

Meades

17Sep09

.
Jonathan Meades, ex-restaurant reviewer, writer and broadcaster has finally turned his gaze to the Isle of Lewis.
Following on from his 2008 Magnetic North series where he dissects and celebrates the culture of Northern Europe, Meades perambulates around Scotland for Off Kilter and skewers the usual sacred cows as he does so.
Part Alan Wicker, part Andy [...]

Filed under: Agriculture, Architecture, Crofting, Culture, Environment, Living, Photography, Tradition, Wildlife   |  15 Comments

Blythswood

15Sep09

.
Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow city centre is one of the newest, most magnificent luxury boutique hotels in Scotland.
A splendid, landmark property, which commands one side of Blythswood Square, a lovely, green space in the centre of the city of Glasgow. The building dates from 1823, and was previously the home of the Royal Scottish [...]

Filed under: Crofting, Design, Living, Textiles   |  5 Comments

Saved! (For now)

15Sep09

.
Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy broke the news this afternoon to workers at the Ministry of Defence range on Benbecula that plans to cut jobs at a missile range and its associated sites on the Western Isles have been abandoned.
Fantastic news and all down to the professionalism, resolve and drive of with the Range Task Force [...]

Filed under: Community, Living, Politics   |  3 Comments