An inspiring festival of film, photography, music, art and literature on the shores of beautiful Loch ~ Fèis bhrosnachail film, ceòl, ealain agus litreachais air cladaichean bhrèagha Loch Suaineart

THURSDAY 20 ~ SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2012 Diardaoin 20 ~ Disathairne 22 Sultain 2012

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME Prògram na Fèise

The Sunart Centre, , PH36 4HA Àrainn Shuaineirt, Sròn an t-Sìthein, PH36 4HA www.threelochs.co.uk

Patron: Alexander McCall Smith CBE

Sponsors | Luchd-urrais

MORVERN SUNART WEST COMMUNITY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY COUNCIL COUNCIL COUNCIL

Thanks | Tapadh leibh

The Three Lochs Book & Arts Festival is deeply grateful to everyone involved in making this festival possible. Heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors, funders and dedicated volunteers for their support.

Contact us | Cuir fios gu

Three Lochs Book & Arts Festival, The Sunart Centre, Strontian, PH36 4JA Tel: 01397 709228 Email: [email protected] Web: www.threelochs.co.uk

Welcome | Fáilte

The Three Lochs Festival is rapidly establishing itself as one of the most interesting of ’s arts festivals. It may be smaller than some, but that, in the world of festivals, is no bad thing. Large festivals are frequently over- crowded and difficult to navigate. There Contents | Na th'ann may be a wide choice of events but obtaining a ticket may be difficult when Welcome 3 there are hundreds of people eager to attend the same event. So a small festival, THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 4 located in a community and attended by  Schools’ Programme 4 members of the community, has a great Photographic Exhibition 4 deal to recommend it. An Evening of Food and Film: Salmon 4 At this festival, visiting performers will Fishing in the Yemen have the opportunity to meet their FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 5 audience and enjoy the hospitality for  Schools’ Programme 5 which the area is justly famed. There will Photographic Exhibition 5 be friendly conversations; there will be Film: Hardeep Singh Kohli Presents 5 moments of real artistic sharing; there will Gregory’s Girl be everything that only a small and much- loved festival can provide – and all in the SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 6 setting of one of the most beautiful parts Photographic Exhibition 6 Waterstones Book Store 6 of Scotland. Let’s all join in! Three Lochs Café 6 Local Producer Food Stalls 6 Alexander McCall Smith CBE  Storytelling with Maisie Dennison 6 Patron Author Event: From Peak to Page with Dan 6 Bailey and Kirstie Shirra Storytelling Workshop: Scot AnSgeulaiche 7  Drop-in Art with Room 13 7  Film: Mystery Family Matinee 7 Writing Workshop: How to Get Published 7  Cook School 7 Writing Workshop: Lochs, Knots and 8 Microphones Storytelling Sessions: Scot AnSgeulaiche 8 Author Event: Donald S Murray 8 Photographic Workshop 8 Reading Event: Sunart Big Read 8 Author Event: Iain Banks 9 Barbeque and Bar 9 Comedy: Mark Steel 9

Visitor information 10 Festival programme at a glance 12

 denotes Children’s Events

THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER Diardaoin 20 An t-Sultain

AN EVENING OF FOOD AND FILM: SCHOOLS' PROGRAMME The Three Lochs Book and Arts Festival is SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN delighted to present a programme of Doors open 7:00pm | Food served events designed specifically for local 7:30pm | Film starts 8:30pm | SUNART schoolchildren. By working in partnership CENTRE VENUE | Free with the dedicated and enthusiastic staff We open the festival with an evening of at Ardnamurchan Library and at the ‘food and film’. Come and enjoy a Yemeni peninsula's schools, we have developed an inspired meal, and have a drink at the bar entertaining, engaging and inspiring with friends before watching Salmon programme. Primary School is Fishing in the Yemen (Lasse Hallstrom, delighted to welcome Margaret Bennett 2011, 12A). A visionary sheik (Amr Waked) to this year's festival. Margaret Bennett believes his passion for the peaceful was brought up in a pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the family of tradition lives of his people, and he dreams of bearers — Gaelic bringing the sport to the not so fish- (from the ) friendly desert. Willing to spare no on her mother’s side expense, he instructs his representative to and Lowland Scots on turn the dream into reality, an her father’s. extraordinary feat that will require the Folklorist, ethnologist involvement of Britain's leading fisheries and prize-winning author, she is also well expert who happens to think the project known as a singer and broadcaster. both absurd and unachievable. Ewan Interested in the many facets of McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott traditional Scottish folk culture, and Thomas star in this adaptation of Paul widely regarded as Scotland’s leading Torday’s critically acclaimed bestselling folklorist, most of her publications have a novel. (Filmed on location in Morocco and strong basis in live interviews with Ardverikie House, Scotland). tradition bearers. She has recorded several CDs, teaches part-time at the Bar available throughout the evening. Royal Conservatoire of Scotland () and lectures and sings on both sides of the Atlantic.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION 7:00pm – 10:30pm | SUNART CENTRE | Free Featuring an exhibition of work by members of the local camera club, including entries to the club’s recent photographic competition with the theme Mountains.

FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER Dihaoine 21 An t-Sultain PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION 7:00pm – 10:30pm | SUNART CENTRE | Free SCHOOLS' PROGRAMME Featuring work by members of the local From 9:45am | ARDNAMURCHAN HIGH camera club. SCHOOL The programme for schoolchildren FILM: continues with further sessions from Margaret Bennett (see Thursday's listing) HARDEEP SINGH KOHLI PRESENTS for local primary and secondary school GREGORY'S GIRL pupils. Doors open 7:00pm | Performance starts 8:00pm | SUNART CENTRE VENUE | £5 Fort William born author Barry Hutchison is the creator of the Invisible Fiends horror series, the first book of which, Mr Mumbles, won the 2010 Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books. His recent comedy fantasy novel, The 13th Horseman, has been shortlisted for the 2012 Scottish Children’s Book Award in the older readers’ category, and has been likened to the work of Neil Gaiman, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and even Monty Python. Laugh and scream in equal measures as Barry reveals how he became an author, where his Hardeep Singh Kohli is a comedian, ideas and inspirations presenter, journalist, author and chef. He come from, and why is a regular on the BBC's Question Time he’s absolutely terrified and This Week with Andrew Neil, and of squirrels… was a founding member of . He directed and starred in Meet the Writer Linda Cracknell will lead a Magoons for , winning a workshop for S4 pupils at Ardnamurchan nomination for the Golden Rose of High School on writing for radio in which Montreux. After finishing as runner-up in they will explore how to reveal stories in the first series of Celebrity Masterchef he several voices through dramatic dialogue. went on to present New British Kitchen and Chefs and the City for UKTV. He has Donald S Murray will talk about his recently been appointed a Food and Drink collection of poetry and short stories, Ambassador for Scotland, and his love of Small Expectations which deals - in an food has resulted in his book Indian absurd and humorous way - with the Takeaway (nominated for an Independent difficulties of being brought up bilingually. Book Award), and a mountain of foodie It also deals with the complications that articles for everything from Observer can be caused by either mislaying your Food Monthly to The Spectator. He also tongue or living on an island where works as a columnist for many everyone is called Donald or John publications, with his column in Scotland Macleod. on Sunday, 'Hardeep Is Your Love', being nominated twice for Scottish Columnist of the Year. Having started his broadcasting There will also be live performances from career in radio, he still regularly takes to local musicians during the afternoon. the airwaves, presenting shows such as Midweek and Pick of the Week, as well as LOCAL PRODUCER FOOD STALLS making a plethora of documentaries. We From 10:30am | SUNART CENTRE invite you to join him as he introduces a This is the place to find Ardnamurchan's screening of one of his favourite films, finest local produce, from organic fruit Gregory's Girl (Bill Forsyth, 1981, Cert. and vegetables to traditionally smoked 12). meat, fish and cheeses.

CHILDREN'S EVENT: STORYTELLING WITH MAISIE DENNISON 10:30am | SUNART CENTRE CHILD CARE ROOM | Entry with Children's Day Ticket Stories and tales you’ll want to hear…myths and legends from far and near…giants, dragons and

creatures Taster plates of local produce and bar galore…some Gaelic available throughout the evening. too…and maybe

more!!!

SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

Disathairne 22 An t-Sultain AUTHOR EVENT: FROM PEAK TO PAGE: INSIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION INTO THE WORLD OF GUIDEBOOK 10:00am – 10:30pm | SUNART CENTRE | WRITING WITH DAN BAILEY AND Free KIRSTIE SHIRRA Featuring work by members of the local 10:30am | SUNART CENTRE F.E. ROOM | camera club. Entry with Day Ticket

Dan Bailey and BOOK STORE: WATERSTONES Kirstie Shirra 10:00am – 5:00pm | SUNART CENTRE explore the highs COMMUNITY ROOM and lows of walking A great opportunity to restock your writing with tales bookshelves as well as pick up books by from their travels festival authors as we welcome the return and advice for of Waterstones’ mobile bookshop. budding authors. Kirstie Shirra is a THREE LOCHS CAFÉ freelance writer and 10:00am – 5:00pm | SUNART CENTRE environmental The café will be serving drinks, snacks and campaigner, based in Ardnamurchan. She home-baking throughout the day, with has written two walking books - a guide to lunches available from around midday. the GR7, a 1250km route in Southern Spain, and a guide to Scotland's Best Small Mountains, somewhat of an engaging, and above all, fun! Drop in and antidote to Munro-bagging. She also writes get making! Sessions will run throughout regularly for other publications and the day. walking magazines, including Trail. Fife- based outdoor journalist, photographer FILM: and author Dan Bailey is never happier MYSTERY FAMILY MATINEE! than when up a mountain and has a 11:00am | SUNART CENTRE VENUE | particular passion for Entry with Children's Day Ticket the Highlands. He has Join us for either the latest blockbuster or written several books a surprise family friendly favourite! The on the subject, actual film will be advertised locally and including Scotland’s on the Sunart Centre website. Pre- Mountain Ridges, a schoolers must be accompanied by an guidebook for adult. scramblers and

climbers, and Great Mountain Days in WRITING WORKSHOP: Scotland, a bumper book of epic hillwalks. HOW TO GET PUBLISHED For his day job he edits UKHillwalking.com 11:30am | SUNART CENTRE ENGLISH and contributes to print titles such as Trail ROOM | Entry with Day Ticket and TGO. Maggie McKernan spent many years in Free coffee and bacon rolls. senior editorial positions with leading STORYTELLING WORKSHOP: publishing houses in SCOT ANSGEULAICHE and was a founding director of 10:30am | SUNART CENTRE MUSIC ROOM the Orion publishing | Entry with Day Ticket group before This workshop will look at the part played becoming a literary agent based in both by oral literature in and London. Maggie will give an the development of overview of the many different routes via the written word. which authors can achieve publication. Scot AnSgeulaiche

will use a traditional tale/poem as the CHILDREN'S EVENT: basis for group COOK SCHOOL discussion and 1:00pm | SUNART CENTRE H.E. ROOM| participation in the Entry with Children's Day Ticket art of memorisation The first of two sessions from the and improvisation. Abernethy Trust's hugely popular Kids’ Cook School. Join in and try your hand at Free coffee and bacon rolls. some amazing outdoor recipes!

CHILDREN'S EVENT: DROP-IN ART WITH ROOM 13 From 11:00am | SUNART CENTRE ART ROOM | Entry with Children's Day Ticket Room 13 offers a unique experience which aims to be different, challenging, WRITING WORKSHOP: and London-based writers such as the LOCHS, KNOTS AND redoubtable Will Self. He will also talk about The Guga Stone, his new and MICROPHONES surreal history of St Kilda which has its 1:30pm | SUNART CENTRE ENGLISH roots in the facts, fictions and fantasies ROOM | Entry with Day Ticket generated by that island's history and its Writer Linda aftermath. Cracknell and director Kirsty Williams will PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP discuss the process of 2:00pm – 4:30pm | SUNART CENTRE I.T. creating a radio play ROOM | £10 from inspiration to The camera club is hosting a workshop recording, with a with local photographer Andy Lock. Andy focus on The Three will take you around the local area looking Knots broadcast on at what's on our doorstep – from small BBC Radio 4 in details to capturing landscapes. He will December 2009. The play was a offer advice on things such as: taking fictionalised exploration of the control of your camera, ISO, exposure circumstances surrounding the floating compensation, f-stops etc. To book please church on used by thousands contact [email protected] or of parishioners for ten years from 1846 telephone 01967 431839. following The Disruption in the Church of Scotland.

STORYTELLING SESSIONS: READING EVENT: SCOT ANSGEULAICHE SUNART 'BIG READ' 2:30pm | SUNART CENTRE MUSIC ROOM From 1:30pm | SUNART CENTRE | Free COURTYARD | Free The Literates Scot AnSgeulaiche, traditional storyteller Book Group hosts this and oral historian, will be sharing tales year's big reading group from the local area. The stories will be session. To join in, you accompanied by the harp and are should have read The completely true..! Book Thief by Markus

Zusak. Come along for a

chat about the book AUTHOR EVENT: over coffee and cake. DONALD S MURRAY 2:00pm | SUNART CENTRE F.E. ROOM | Entry with Day Ticket CHILDREN'S EVENT: Winner of this year's COOK SCHOOL Robert Louis 3:30pm | SUNART CENTRE H.E. ROOM | Stevenson Entry with Children's Day Ticket Fellowship, Donald S Another opportunity to experience the Murray will Kids Cook School. The Abernethy Trust introduce prose, will guide you through some brilliant poetry and outdoor recipes. photographs inspired

by The Guga

Hunters - a book that has been highly praised by both locals AUTHOR EVENT: BARBEQUE AND BAR IAIN BANKS 5:00pm | SUNART CENTRE CAFÉ 3:30pm | SUNART CENTRE VENUE | We hope you can join us for our barbeque, Entry with Day Ticket where you can support the local people who supply our produce and, of course, enjoy some delicious food!

COMEDY: MARK STEEL 7:30pm | SUNART CENTRE VENUE | Entry £12: Concessions £10: £7 with Day Ticket

Mark Steel, a comedian, author, broadcaster and social activist, is bringing Iain [Menzies] Banks was born in Fife in his award-winning stand-up show to 1954, and was educated at Strontian. Mark writes bespoke material University, where he studied English about the quirky and interesting aspects of Literature, Philosophy and Psychology. each place he visits. Named best audio Banks came to widespread and comedy show of the year at the controversial public notice with the prestigious Sony Radio Academy Awards publication of his first novel, The Wasp 2012, Mark Steel's in Town has had Factory, in 1984. His first science fiction audiences up and down the country novel, Consider Phlebas, was published in laughing at his unique take on their home 1987. He has continued to write both turf. Mark started performing stand-up in mainstream fiction (as Iain Banks) and 1982 and has made many appearances on science fiction (as Iain M. Banks). He is British television and radio, such as BBC now acclaimed as one of the most panel shows Have I Got News For You, powerful, innovative and exciting writers Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Mock The of his generation: has called Week and The News Quiz, and presenting him "the standard by which the rest of SF The Mark Steel Lectures, The Mark Steel is judged". William Gibson, the New York Revolution and The Mark Steel Solution. Times-bestselling author of Spook Country He’s written several acclaimed books, describes Banks as a "phenomenon". We including: Reasons To Be Cheerful and are delighted that he will be joining us to What’s Going On, and also writes a read from his latest mainstream novel, weekly column for . Stonemouth, followed by a question and answer session. Bar available throughout the evening.

VISITOR INFORMATION | Accommodation | Àiteachan-fuirich

Fiosrachadh airson luchd- There is a wide range of accommodation in and tadhail around Strontian to suit all budgets and requirements. For further information go to www.ardnamurchan.com. Venue | Ionad Parking | Àite chàraichean All events take place in The Sunart Centre or Árainn Shuaineirt, a community facility in There is ample free car parking at The Sunart Strontian that includes Ardnamurchan High Centre. School or Árd-Sgoil Aird Nam Murchan.

Eating and drinking | How to get here |Mar a gheibh sibh ann Ithe agus òl

There will be refreshments and local produce Situated on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, available at many of the events - please check Strontian is most easily reached by crossing the the programme for further details. The Sunart to . The Ferry runs every Centre Café will be serving drinks and snacks half hour until around 9:00pm in the evening. throughout the day on Saturday, with lunch To check the current ferry timetable visit from midday. There are also many places to eat www.lochabertransport.org.uk. From Fort out locally. For further information please see William take the A82 road south to Glasgow. www.ardnamurchan.com. After 10 miles turn off to the Corran Ferry. From the south, turn off for the Corran Ferry 10 miles before Fort William. Cross the ferry to Family friendly | Fàilteachadh air Ardgour and turn left. Continue on the A861 main road for 14 miles until you get to teaghlaichean Strontian. If the Corran Ferry is not running, take the A830 from Fort William to , and The Three Lochs Book and Arts Festival is family after 12 miles at Kinlocheil turn left on the friendly and children and accompanying adults A861 to Treslaig, Ardgour & Strontian. This are welcome. route is 48 miles from Fort William to Strontian. In Strontian, Àrainn Shuaineirt - The Sunart Accessible | Centre - is signposted - turn right just after the Ruigsinneach village centre, before you cross the bridge. The Sunart Centre has full disabled facilities. If you require assistance we will do our best to help.

Tickets | Tiogaidean

Tickets for most events will be available at the door or from local outlets. Please see the website for more details.

Tel: 01397 709228 Email: [email protected] Web: www.threelochs.co.uk

FESTIVAL 2010 | Fèise 2010

FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE

Table of events