Our Evening Events

Malachy Tallack and the Cast Ewe Ceilidh Band.

Alexander McCall Smith (photo by Kirsty Anderson) and Ingrid Henderson and Iain MacFarlane.

In this month’s blog, we’re shining the spotlight on our two evening events at A Write Highland Hoolie 2025.

Tickets for these events cost £14, which is slightly higher than for our other events over the course of the weekend. But that’s because you get so much more for your money!

Each evening event is longer than our daytime sessions, offering even more opportunities to fully explore the books and authors featured – and for the audience to ask all their burning questions! Evening event tickets also include entrance to our popular after-dinner music in the bar sessions, which often stretch into the wee small hours and are lively, convivial affairs. Relax and enjoy the fabulous traditional ceilidh atmosphere with a refreshment or two from the West Highland Hotel’s well-stocked bar!

Our first evening event of the festival begins at 5.30 pm on Friday November 7^th, when award-winning author and singer-songwriter Malachy Tallack joins us to talk about his wonderful new novel, That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz. Uniquely, the book is accompanied by an album of songs, and we’re looking forward to hearing Malachy perform some of them at his event.

As a special bonus treat from the Hoolie, all ticket-holders will receive a complimentary welcome dram when they arrive for Malachy’s event.

Afterwards, don’t miss the evening’s entertainment from Donald Livingstone and Iain Cameron of the Cast Ewe Ceilidh Band, who play their own style of Scottish and West Coast tunes and songs throughout the Highlands and Islands.

Donald, who is from Skye, plays guitar and fiddle and provides vocals. He has a particular love of the blues and rock, but turned his hand to Scottish traditional music after moving to Skye over 20 years ago. Iain, the band’s accomplished accordion player, is from Glenelg.

The Cast Ewe Ceilidh Band specialise in parties, ceilidhs, dances and just about anything else you can think of, so their Friday night session in the West Highland Hotel bar is sure to get A Write Highland Hoolie 2025 off to a fabulous start! Expect toe-tapping tunes and a lively atmosphere as the ceilidh comes to Mallaig.

Saturday’s evening event promises to be one of the highlights of A Write Highland Hoolie 2025. At 5.45 pm on November 8^th, we’ll be in conversation with Alexander McCall Smith, one of the world’s most prolific and best-loved authors. Join us for an event filled with stories, warmth and humour, featuring a cast of characters that includes Botswana’s lady detectives, the residents of Edinburgh’s Scotland Street and many more.

The entertainment continues afterwards with talented local duo Ingrid Henderson and Iain MacFarlane. Together, they create a sound that’s reflective of the culture and beauty of their native West Highlands.

Ingrid has been in demand worldwide for many years and has toured with Gaelic supergroup Cliar. She was the youngest ever recipient of the Radio 2 Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award, winning it at the age of just 13.

Born and bred in Glenfinnan, Iain has been immersed in Highland music and song all his life and has become one of the most sought-after fiddlers in Scotland, best known for his role in the dynamic ‘Blazin’ Fiddles’.

Both now perform regularly with the Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band based in their home village, where they run Old Laundry Productions, a fantastic recording studio and rehearsal space – the ideal venue in which to produce their wonderful music.

Tickets for both evening events are now on sale at www.a-write-highland-hoolie.com/book-now, priced just £14 – a bargain!