Calum Stewart homecoming gig in Moray

Calum Stewart grew up in Garmouth. Photo: Archie MacFarlane.

An award-winning musician who has appeared on the soundtracks of several feature films will be making a homecoming to Moray.

Calum Stewart has lived in France for the past decade but was born and raised in Garmouth.

The 40-year-old is a virtuoso on the uilleann pipes, which are like the Irish version of the bagpipes.

However his powerful and lyrical music is very much rooted in the traditions of the North East of Scotland.

Anyone going along to the Universal Hall in Findhorn on Saturday, October 1, will hear compositions inspired by Moray such as ‘Randolph’s Leap’ and ‘Sueno’s Stone’.

Joining Calum on stage will be Ross Saunders, who’s from Glasgow and plays the double bass, and Sylvain Quéré who’s from Brittany and plays the bouzouki (a sort of Greek-style guitar).

In addition, the show will feature Scottish step dancer Sophie Stephenson.

Calum is appearing as part of the Findhorn Bay Arts Festival, which is running from Friday to a week on Sunday.

He said: “It’s always special to play a home gig.

“I miss Scotland a lot, especially the people and the scenery.

“I even miss the Scottish weather. I have that DNA that doesn’t really deal well with hot days.”

Calum played the uilleann pipes for the Hobbit movie as well as for Victoria and Abdul which starred Judi Dench.

He’s also collaborated with The London Philharmonic Orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

In addition he’s appeared at the Celtic Connections festival and on BBC Alba.

Calum, who once attended Mosstodloch Primary and Milne’s High, said: “It would have been easier for me if I’d chosen to learn to play the bagpipes instead – it would certainly have meant much less travel.

“But I fell in love with the sound of the uilleann pipes when I was really young – and that was that.”

Tales from the North, featuring Calum and the others, will be on at 8pm in the Universal Hall, Findhorn.

It will be his first gig in Moray since the pandemic.

Buy tickets for it at rb.gy/kqpgwr

View the wide range events happening during the 10-day festival at the Findhorn Bay Arts website.

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