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WELCOME!
The Storylands Sessions are a series of music and storytelling events in Badenoch led by Hamish Napier, and historian and researcher Aila Schafer. Find out more about the full Storylands Sessions team here.
A celebration of Highland culture and community – both traditional and contemporary – the Sessions bring together all ages as both audience and performers. We welcome locals and visitors alike, classic material and original creations, and we love the buzz when they come together.
The atmosphere a little similar to the local talent variety concert of the 1950s, or a modern open mic night even (except our programme is always curated in advance). We originally started out as an open mic night, but over the last 3 years we have evolved into this unique format to best suit the Badenoch community.
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Watch ‘Storylands Sessions Documentary’ (12 minutes)
by Filmed and edited by Katrina Brown of BroonCoo Films
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ONE SHOW
Storylands Sessions, as of 2025, now consist of just one show.
As ever, it’s the second Tuesday each month.
Always relaxed and warm, our shows welcome audiences from across the generations.
The family-friendly first half of the show kicks off at 7pm, and is especially nurturing our younger performers, welcoming contributions for children of primary school age. There will also be 5-minute ‘floor spots’ from performers of other ages in this half.
There is a 20 minute refreshment break in the middle at 8pm-ish.
The second half of the show starts around 8.15pm, and tends to be a little more grown-up. The 5-minute ‘floor spots’ continue, it also features a half an hour spot from a Special Guest performer, and usually finishes around 9.30pm.
Each monthly show is built around a specially chosen theme, so check the Eventbrite information for the theme this month. We include prompts to spark lots of ideas and we always enjoy the many ways people respond to these. And we’re not strict about it, so feel free to go with your own flow.
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TICKETS
Always best to book as our shows can sell out a month or more in advance.
7pm – 9.30pm
Doors 6.30pm (no earlier please unless your coming for rehearsals)
Tea/coffee/biscuits at half time for 20 mins or so.
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TICKETS ALL BOOKED UP?
Our events often sell out. You can register for the Waitlist at the Eventbrite booking link, as tickets may become available closer to the day. NB: each waiting list entry is for ONE TICKET ONLY, so please make a separate registration for each ticket you would like. Children are welcome to join us for free, but please ensure you secure their free tickets through Eventbrite as well, since our seating is limited.
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OUR VENUE
The shows are held at Kincraig Church Hall, The Brae, Kincraig. Please note that the village has two halls. Our venue is the church hall up the brae at the junction by the war memorial, next to the Cairngorm Christian Centre. Don’t be confused by the Kincraig Community Hall, which is further north down the road.
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PARKING RESTRICTED AT VENUE
Please only use the Church Hall car park if you’re in a Community ConnXions vehicle or have disability or mobility challenges. Could everyone else kindly park in nearby locations and walk? That will be a huge help.
The alternatives are:
1. the streets directly below the hall, one on the left and another (Dunachton Rd) further down on the right.
2. The community hall car park, second right further north on the B9152. Some street parking there, too.
3. Macbean Road – third right on the B9152
People are encouraged to walk, cycle and car share. Thank you!
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WILL THERE BE ANY REFRESHMENTS?
We believe hanging out together at the Sessions is just as important as what happens on stage, so we include time to mingle over drinks and yummy nibbles. Donations welcome!
The Late Show has a refreshment break half way through.
We also have local book and CD shop as well (and a card reader)!
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CAN YOU KEEP ME IN THE LOOP?
The best way to find out what’s happening is to sign up to our monthly newsletter. It has info and booking links for upcoming events, news of other creative goings-on in the community and a write-up and photos of the previous Sessions Shows.
You can also keep an eye on this website and social media for updates, photos and videos.
Follow #StorylandsSessions on Facebook and Instagram
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I’D LOVE TO PERFORM!
We’d love that! The Sessions is a great way to gain experience in a friendly and supportive community. Seeing other folk perform will build your own confidence, too. For guidance on how to perform by playing music, singing, reading your poetry, storytelling or sharing some other creative work, visit here.
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PROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS
We have had a number of requests from professional musicians, from throughout Scotland, asking if they could perform a full evening’s concert, hosted by Storylands Sessions. We are very honoured to be contacted in this way, however it is important to clarify that we are are not a gig promoters or host, nor a concert series for professional musicians or folk club. Instead, we are essentially a community ceilidh concert curated by two professionals, Hamish and Aila.
However, we do have a 25 minute ‘Special Guest’ spot at our Late Show which often includes a short interview. This is mainly reserved for people who live locally in the Badenoch & Strathspey area, although we do occasionally host one or two special guests from further afield each year.
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SPECIAL GUEST RECOMMENDATIONS
We are happy to take recommendations for Special Guests. Here are the criteria:
The Late Show features a local guest from the arts / heritage / tourism / adventure / environmental sectors who is invited to tell the story of their work. This can be in an interview, a presentation with images, a performance, a reading, or a combination of these depending on the nature of the work and the choice of the guest. This takes up to 30 minutes at the start of the evening and the guest is paid and invited to take promotional material and sell their work. This invited element enables us to:
- Ensure greater inclusion and diversity in our programming
- Highlight local creative work in the arts, heritage, tourism and environmental sectors
- Raise the profile of Badenoch and the surrounding area
- Give income to other local creatives, businesses and social enterprises
- Add to the richness of the Sessions offering
By ‘local’ we look for someone who either lives in the Cairngorms, whose work has relevance to this area and/or someone who is a strong Sessions supporter. We enjoy celebrating both high-profile people and those who are less famous but no less important in what they bring to the community.
A fee and expenses is offered to all guests (in line with current industry rates), though some cho
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ARE WORKSHOPS HAPPENING?
To be announced in March 2026.
There will be two series of monthly workshops: writing workshops delivered by a number of different writers (to be announced soon) and Hamish Napier’s Folk Music Workshops. Details below:
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HOW CAN I SUPPORT STORYLANDS SESSIONS?
Do you want to help nurture and celebrate the rich stories and gifts of the people in your area? Do you want to be part of creating home and hope through art? If yes, then we invite you to become a Sessions Star by sponsoring us.
Please note that Storylands Sessions is a project of Badenoch Heritage, therefore all donations go through Badenoch Heritage (charity No. SCO49818), but are ring-fenced for Storylands Sessions, including gift aid. Click below for our dedicated sponsorship page.
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OUR CURRENT SUPPORTERS
Storylands Sessions is grateful for funding from generous donors and Creative Scotland.
Photo by Pete Dennis
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THE STORYLANDS SESSIONS TEAM
Read more about the Storylands Sessions ‘staff’ team below.
We are also indebted to our many incredible volunteers without whom we simply couldn’t function. Some people help every month, others just now and again. Everyone’s input is HUGELY appreciated. If you could lend a hand, please email Aila on storylandssessions@gmail.com with VOLUNTEERING in the subject line.
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WHERE WE STARTED WITH STORYLANDS SESSIONS
Here ar some lovely images of our first few Storylands Sessions events back in 2021, originally held at Loch Insh Boathouse Restaurant. We are hugely grateful to the team at Loch Insh for all their support over the first two-and-a-half years. We only moved on because we couldn’t fit everyone in!
Photos above by Elly Lucas
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