On Friday 31 March 2006 Ferintosh, the all star celtic trio play one of only two Highland concerts at Resolis Memorial Hall.

Resolis Community Arts host the band for what will be the penultimate concert of this season. The trio are all highly acclaimed individual musicians, Abby Newton on cello, Kim Robertson on Celtic harp and David Greenberg on fiddle. Their music ranges from “achingly beautiful to simply breathtaking”.

Abby Newton has been in the forefront of a revival in the use of the cello as a wonderful melody instrument in its own right. ‘The range of her playing covers the whole human vocal range, male and female. It sings to us with our own voices.’ Here is the chance to hear Scottish traditional music very much as it would have been played centuries ago. Composers and collectors, such as the Gow family, would have been well used to accepting that the bass line cello was fundamental to the overall sound produced.

David Greenberg, on fiddle, also does a lot of the research into old tunes – but there is nothing dry about his scholarship. Their sets are transformed by his musical insight into tunes he has unearthed. His ‘musical archaeology’ has unearthed some real finds, including some of unknown origin. They will be playing some choice and genuine antique melodies, some of which are exquisite in their originality. David’s playing has impressed at major festivals such as Celtic Colours: ‘ He is surely the most unique fiddle player … when he digs into a classic Strathspey, his energy almost blows you out of the hall.’

Kim Robertson, on harp, has become synonymous with the gentle but powerfully evocative Celtic harp, an instrument which, for a thousand years, held within its strings and wood the spiritual heartbeat and poetic breath of the Celtic race. Her ability to reach into its strings and pull from it these hidden treasures has made her one of the most popular harpists performing today. She is described as ‘One of the best players recording today. Her original works have that traditional ring of truth and authenticity to them.’

Their joint CD under the title of the band FERINTOSH, has been described as follows: ‘The elegant classical tunes naturally blend with the ‘folkiness’. It is however, the technical quality and the sensitivity of the players in both playing and interweaving the tunes that makes this album so pleasing.’

Abby explains how they came by their name: “Ferintosh is the name of a Strathspey that we play on our CD and we like the old Scottish name. Fiona Richie, of Thistle and Shamrock, looked it up in an old Scots dictionary and informed us that in addition to it being an area of the Black Isle it was also the name of a very famous single malt whisky of the 18th Century. We thought all of these connections; to the music, the richness of a single malt and the beauty of the landscape suited us as a trio who play 18th Century Scottish music. We hope we live up to the name!”

The concert starts at 7:30 pm, tickets are £8, with £6 concession. Further information and ticket reservations from David Gilbert, 01381 610 204 or Kenny Taylor 01349 877 625. Resolis Community Arts is grateful for the support received from Highland Council, the National Lottery and Highland 2007.