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Fèis Phàislig has kicked off its 10th anniversary in style with its biggest-ever Fèis Week – welcoming over 200 young people from across Renfrewshire and beyond for a vibrant celebration of traditional music, Gaelic culture, and creativity.
Held at Johnstone High School from 15–18 July, the annual summer event brought together children and young people from P1–S6 to take part in four days of music-making, workshops, and performance. This year’s milestone edition also marks the launch of a dedicated year of events to celebrate the organisation’s first decade – and to look ahead to an exciting new chapter in its development.
Since launching in 2015 with just 70 participants, Fèis Phàislig has grown into one of Renfrewshire’s leading youth arts organisations – creating year-round opportunities for thousands of young people to engage with traditional music and Gaelic culture. This year’s record-breaking Fèis Week also marks the beginning of a full year of anniversary celebrations, including a headline concert at Paisley Town Hall and a brand new Fèis Weekend for learners of all ages.
Fèis Week 2025 – our biggest yet
Now in its fourth year at Johnstone High, Fèis Week 2025 delivered a high-energy week of learning and creativity. Participants explored a wide range of subjects including fiddle, filmmaking, clarsach, circus skills, music production and more – all led by some of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians and creative tutors.
New for 2025, participants also had the chance to take part in Band Workshops with renowned accordionist John Somerville, joined by assistant tutor and former participant Steven Gallagher. These sessions focused on learning by ear, building confidence, and playing together as a group – and were a big hit across the week.
Fèis Week also included:
- Fèis Bheag: our introductory programme for P1–P3, filled with music, song, dance, games and crafts
- Advanced Fèis: tailored workshops for experienced young musicians and singers in S1–S6
- Assistant Tutors: early-career musicians, many of them former participants, who worked alongside tutors while gaining hands-on experience
The week culminated in a joyful Finale Concert, with every participant taking to the stage to showcase what they’d learned. A packed audience of friends and family filled the hall with support and cheers.
“It’s been incredible to see how far we’ve come in ten years,” said Grant McFarlane, Director of Fèis Phàislig. “Fèis Week is one of the highlights of our calendar and I’m so proud of the team – especially our tutors and volunteers – who give young people such a special experience of their culture each summer.”
What’s next: Save the date for our 10th anniversary events
Fèis Phàislig is thrilled to be launching a year-long 10th anniversary programme, supported by Creative Scotland. The celebrations will reflect on a decade of growth while spotlighting the organisation’s future ambitions, with events and opportunities for all ages taking place throughout 2025 and into 2026.
🎉 Anniversary Concert – 7 Feb 2026 – Paisley Town Hall
A spectacular evening of traditional music, Gaelic song, and celebration, featuring past and present participants, tutors, and young people from across all Fèis Phàislig projects. This flagship concert will showcase the journey of the Fèis and the vibrant future ahead.
🎶 Fèis Weekend: 9-10 May 2026 – Paisley Arts Centre
For the first time, adult learners will be invited to join the Fèis Phàislig experience – whether you’re a complete beginner or already play an instrument. This weekend event will welcome people of all ages and give them the chance to learn from some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians in a welcoming and supportive setting.
Karen Dick, Head of Place, Partnerships and Community Strategy at Creative Scotland says: “Fèis Phàislig’s 10th anniversary is a brilliant milestone highlighting the organisation’s impact on Renfrewshire’s cultural landscape. Over the past decade, it has gone from strength to strength, championing Gaelic language and music, boosting creativity, and opening up inspiring opportunities for young people. It’s fantastic to see this landmark year celebrated with such a bold, vibrant programme that promises something for everyone, at every stage.”
Additional public events and participation opportunities across Renfrewshire will be announced in the months ahead. Follow us on social media or join our mailing list at feisphaislig.com to stay up to date.
Ceilidh Trail tour kicks off at Tiree Music Festival
As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations, Fèis Phàislig’s Ceilidh Trail kicked off their summer tour with high-energy performances at Tiree Music Festival earlier this month. The group – made up of talented young musicians aged 16–25 – will now tour communities across Renfrewshire and the West of Scotland from Monday 28 July 2025, delivering public gigs and family ceilidhs while gaining invaluable performance experience.
Year-round impact
Alongside the 10-year programme, Fèis Phàislig continues to deliver a wide range of regular activity for young people across Renfrewshire, including:
- Weekly instrumental lessons at West Primary, Paisley
- A FREE Gaelic Choir that meets weekly at Castlehead High
- A well-established schools engagement programme, which reached over 14,000 pupils in 2024 alone
Fèis Phàislig’s 10th year promises to be its most exciting yet – and everyone’s invited to be part of the celebration.
