Posts for May, 2026

Welcome to the tropical north, as Karawane returns to the Dell for a midsummer bash, and this time they are bringing a friend!
Joining them for this special session is Volta 45, a London-based DJ renowned for his unique style – a heady vinyl mix of jazzy and percussive sounds from Africa, South America and the French Caribbean. Volta 45 is a regular on the European and UK music festival circuit; he has got dance floors moving from Turin to the glorious fields of the Shambala Festival.
Karwane brings dancefloor music from around the world: highlife, cumbia, soukous, samba, salsa, funk, reggae, afrobeat, edits and originals to make bodies move and minds travel. Regulars on the Scottish festival circuit, and venues from beach clubs in Andalucia to the late-night clubs of Berlin, the Karawane DJs are constantly on the move, collecting music, and bringing people together.
This is a very special collaboration that we can’t wait for and we would love for you to come and dance with us! We will also be joined by the wonderful Penny Bun food truck to see to your Sunday lunch/dinner needs and the Dell bar will be running all day. Doors open from 12pm, with Karawane and Volta 45 playing from 2pm
Head to the link to book

A live musical performance tracing the emergence of dragonflies from water to air — including a guided RSPB site visit.

Almanac: Part 1 (Emergence)
Boat of Garten Community Hall, Saturday 13 June 2026

Almanac is a new large-scale project by composer Thomas Butler, commissioned by Red Note Ensemble, using contemporary musical performance to mark events in the natural world.

Across four seasonal, immersive works presented in locations throughout Scotland over 12 months, the project brings together ensemble, voice, electronics and field recording to explore ecological cycles, seasonal change, and the disruption of natural rhythms in a time of climate crisis.

Almanac: Part 1 (Emergence)
The first chapter of Almanac focuses on the emergence of dragonflies and damselflies as they transition from water to air. This new performance combines live music with flute, clarinet, viola and percussion, and field recordings to trace this moment of transformation, shaped by ecological research and the surrounding landscape.

Each ticket includes
• A guided site visit to a nearby bog with an RSPB guide to observe dragonflies and damselflies (transport provided by bus)
• A live performance of Emergence
• A Q&A with composer Thomas Butler

Join acclaimed musician and composer Hamish Napier for a series of engaging folk music evening classes, designed for players who want to deepen their skills and explore traditional Scottish tunes in a welcoming group setting.

🎵 Expand your trad tune repertoire
🎻 Explore ornaments and variations to bring melodies to life
🎼 Learn how to arrange music for small folk ensembles

Open to people age 16+ who play a folk instrument at intermediate to advanced level.

A rare chance to catch local musician Hamish Napier performing solo – for the first time in his hometown.

Join us for this extra special music event at the Spey Bank Studio, an intimate arts venue.

Hamish will play for an hour, with music inspired by Strathspey and the Cairngorms. Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start.

Hamish is a Scottish folk multi-instrumentalist and composer from Grantown-on-Spey. He is inspired by the heritage and nature of his native landscape of Strathspey. His album The Woods explores the flora and fauna of Scotland’s native forests. It won Album of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards and is the third album in his Strathspey Pentalogy, a ambitions project to produce 5-albums in celebration of his homeland,

Humorous, engaging and heart-warming, Hamish’s performances often incorporate poems and stories about nature, folklore and communities.

This will be a collaborative triple-headline show with the mesmerising velvety sounds of Tommy Ashby, Jodie Marie and Lydia Clowes , with no single artist topping the bill. Instead, you can expect a shared, songwriter-led performance where all three artists appear on stage together, playing on each other’s songs in an intimate, songwriters’ circle style format.

Doors will be open from 6.30pm with the gig starting around 7.30pm. The Dell will be running a bar and parking is available in the large timber layby on the right before reaching The Dell

Scottish singer-songwriter Tommy Ashby blends classic folk and blues influences with modern, textured production. With over 40 million streams, his music has featured in major TV series including Grey’s Anatomy, Love Island and Netflix’s The Innocents.
Lydia Clowes is a vocalist and songwriter from England whose career spans film, television and live performance. As a highly sought-after session singer, she has contributed vocals to films such as The Little Mermaid, Dune: Part Two and Hamlet, and performed backing vocals for artists including U2, Ellie Goulding, Tom Odell and Dermot Kennedy. Her voice has also been sampled by Fred Again.. and Brian Eno.
Welsh artist, Jodie Marie completes the trio, bringing a depth of experience and cinematic songwriting to the shared stage. Signed to Decca Records early in her career, she has collaborated with artists including Bernard Butler, Ed Harcourt and Green Gartside (Scritti Politti). Her albums Mountain Echo, Trouble in Mind and The Answer received critical acclaim and extensive BBC radio support.

We’d love to see you here!

This adults-only dance workshop will have you dancing classic and funky disco routines inspired by the much-loved classic songs that you just can’t help but dance to!

No experience needed – this workshop is for anyone who loves to move and have fun. Whether you’ve danced a little, a lot, or never at all, you’ll be guided step by step in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

This adults-only dance workshop invites you to explore sultry, theatrical routines inspired by the movie, bringing out confidence, flair, and show-stopping moves.

After the workshop, settle in for a special screening of Burlesque on the big screen, experiencing the dazzling performances of Cher and Christina Aguilera, unforgettable music, toe tapping dance and the full drama of the iconic cabaret story.

An adults-only line dancing workshop, full of fun, movement, and great music! Whether you’ve danced before or are completely new to line dancing, this session is designed so everyone can enjoy learning at their own pace.

Move to classic and modern line dance routines, enjoy the social atmosphere, and experience the joy of dancing together – no partner required! Yeeee hawwww!

This adults-only dance workshop continues the fun from our first Mamma Mia! event.Join u s to learn fun and uplifting routines inspired by Mamma Mia. Here We Go Again the hilarious sequel movie, celebrating the music, joy, and iconic ABBA hits that make everyone want to dance.

After the workshop, sit back and enjoy a screening of Mamma Mia. Here We Go Again on the big screen, soaking in the story, the music, and the nostalgia of the beloved sequel and keeping the sunny, Summer holiday energy going for us right here in tropical Grantown on Spey.

7.15pm to 8.15pm: Mentored session with Paul Anderson, renowned fiddler and master of the “Strathspey” genre. Players invited to participate, learn and enjoy (£10 per player); 8.30pm to 10.00pm: Open session in The Ben Mhor bar – all welcome and bring your traditional instrument. Event organised by The Grantown Society.