With Love To Ukraine concert at Eden Court united talents to raise funds
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Eden Court stood as one for the Ukrainian national anthem at the end of a charity concert packed with music and poetry from Ukraine and the Highlands – raising funds for four organisations.
In the best traditions of a Highland ceilidh, the evening had run a little over time.
But the audience – which included North-based Ukrainians – had loved the top-drawer entertainment interspersed with moving video messages from Ukrainians, soldiers and medics, like Inverness’s own Dr Andy Kent.
Organised and MCed by Matthew Zajac, the event opened with Ross Ainslie on bagpipes playing the melancholy Lament For Ukraine.
Later Ross and Julie Fowlis were on bagpipes to end the concert with a song of peace written by Runrig’s Rory and Calum MacDonald.
The talents of Ukraine were on show from the start.
There were sets from three professional singers – the classical voice of Nataliya Gorban singing traditional Ukrainian songs.
The unique style of singer songwriter Toma Butko and the electric presence of Elzara Batalova.
Inverness Gaelic Choir offered the contrast of mouth music and a beautiful version of Ukraine’s Sacred Memory.
Poet Hamish MacDonald gave slam-style energy and fun with This Poem is a Fake, Fish Van and Ma Bit, while Blairgowrie poet Jim Mackintosh’s Boy with the Flowers was based on a tragic moment from the Ukraine War.
Highland-based musicians – Duncan Chisholm, Julie Fowlis, Eamon Doorley, Hamish Napier, Derek Urquhart, Robin Abbot and Andy Thorburn – powered the With Love to Ukraine event on Wednesday.
And James Robertson’s 365 story, specially written for the occasion and with music by Aidan O’Rourke and Jonny Hardie, perhaps summed up the warmth and emotion this sharing of cultures and fundraising achieved: “Tonight, love is Scotland hand in hand with Ukraine.”
