Music and nature are set to come together this autumn on Jura, with an exciting event celebrating the remarkable art and wildlife of the island. Song Birds/Bird Songs will take place on October 11, and will include a whole day of talks, walks, films, and music, all with a natural theme. There will be art workshops and children’s poetry writing sessions as well as birding walks for beginners, and an evening of whisky tasting, with a film commentary and art displays.
The day will culminate in a concert with Dan Haywood’s New Hawks and music from his new album, ‘Dapple’, in association with local music producers Sound of Jura. Dan is an ornithologist himself, who uses his relationship with the natural world as a direct inspiration for his songwriting. On the subject of his concert on Jura, Dan said: “It will be momentous for me to return to golden eagle country, and play these songs in their natural setting for this, our first visit to Jura.”
Giles Perring of Sound of Jura, said: “Jura is an island that boasts a talented native population. But it’s also a place that’s sought out by migratory musicians: by some to write and record music, and by others to play in one of the great wee halls in Scotland, to one of the most appreciative audiences you can find. Song Birds/Bird Songs is a real celebration of this, and will be an amazing mix of activities for everyone to enjoy. Expect creative stuff along the way, with photography, sound installations and some really exciting approaches to how to map birds and the landscape ‘as it happens'”
Featured in all its glory in the BBC’s Hebrides: Islands on the Edge, Jura is an important home for nature, with local wildlife including eagles, red deer and otters. Autumn is the season of the deer rut, and is also a time when many birds are on the move, as they migrate from their summer breeding grounds in the north, to more sheltered areas for the winter.
For further information about Song Birds/ Bird Songs, which is run jointly by The Sound of Jura and RSPB Scotland, go to: www.soundofjura.com or contact louise.muir@rspb.org.uk. Booking is essential for the evening concert.
