9th - 14th September 2025
On the Easter Ross Peninsula
Inspiring A Community With Creativity
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Collegiate Church
Tain is unusual in Scotland for the rare distinction of having upstanding remains of three medieval kirks or chapels.
Each one of these owes its existence to the respect, amounting to veneration, in which men and women of previous times held St Duthac the Patron Saint of Tain.
The Collegiate Church is a well-preserved medieval church built at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries as the parish church of Tain. The church was restored after being abandoned and allowed to fall into decay around the year 1815. In 1877 the restoration began and today is managed and maintained by a volunteer committee.
The St Duthac Book and Arts Festival Group are thrilled that the Collegiate Church will once again be a venue to some of the festival events.
S G MacLean: The Bookseller of Inverness
Sunday 15th September
11.30am – 12.30pm
The Collegiate Church, Castle Brae, Tain IV19 1AJ.
Click here to book tickets: £5
Local Highland author Shona MacLean will talk about her Jacobite thriller, The Bookseller of Inverness, which was Waterstones’ Scottish Book of the Year 2023 and will also give a tempting insight into her forthcoming nineteenth century novel set on the Black Isle and which mentions Tain. Born in Inverness,
Shona grew up in the local area, attending Hilton of Cadboll Primary School and Dingwall Academy. She studied History at the University of Aberdeen, gaining a PhD in Seventeenth Century Scottish History. She is the author of both the Alexander Seaton and the Damian Seeker historical mystery series for which she has twice won the CWA Historical Dagger. Shona took part in the 2021 Festival, and we are delighted to welcome her back.
Lizzie McDougall and Siannie Moodie: Stories, Tunes and Folklore
Sunday 15th September 2.30pm–3.30pm
The Collegiate Church, Tain IV19 1AJ.
Click here to book tickets Adults £5, Children FREE Note: When buying an adult ticket 2 child places allocated.
Children please bring a cushion and must be accompanied by an adult
Stories, Tunes and Folklore from around the North Coast with Storyteller Lizzie McDougall, Musician Siannie Moodie and the Highland Story Quilts. In this mother and daughter collaboration of storytelling, music and textile art, you will be taken on a journey around the north coast, and through time and place. From generation to generation, songs, tunes and stories have been filling the imagination with a mix of history and mystery, connecting us more deeply with the area and each other. The music tradition is thriving, however the stories are fragile, so Lizzie has been gathering and telling them and creating the Story Quilts to make them more visible. Lizzie is a storyteller and artist living on The Black Isle, who loves Highland stories and over many years has gathered and told traditional tales. “Stories, Art and Music are a magical way of connecting people, of all ages. I want to do my bit to keep our stories alive and part of our wonderful shared culture”. From remnants of fabric Lizzie created the Story Quilt that illustrates and celebrates the stories she tells around the country.
Siannie learned to play clàrsach (harp) at Fèis Rois, and has played at The Hebridean Celtic Festival and Cambridge Folk Festival. With Live Music Now Scotland she plays at Edinburgh venues such as The National Museum of Scotland, St. Giles Cathedral and Holyrood Palace. As Musical Director of the Highland Shakespeare Company, Siannie’s compositions are described as “truly exquisite” by Joyce MacMillan. Look out for Siannie’s “pin-drop” moment at this year’s Edinburgh Tattoo!
Dorec-a-belle: Live Music Event
Sunday 15th September
7.30pm–9.15pm
The Collegiate Church, Tain 1V19 1AJ.
Click here to book tickets: £12
Includes a glass of fizz
The Collegiate Church is the perfect venue for live music.
Since forming the band in 2011, Inverness musicians Dorec-a-belle ,comprise of vocals, piano, sax, accordion, guitar and drums, have performed at venues and festivals all over Scotland. From Durness down to Dumfries, they have steadily built a loyal following for their enchanting original songs, beautiful 5-part harmonies and passionate musicianship. TV and radio appearances have included playing on Clive Anderson’s Loose Ends on BBC Radio 4 live from the Edinburgh Fringe, where they have also played headline shows. The band has also supported major touring artists including The Magic Numbers, Squeeze and The Staves. All accomplished players and singers in their own right, Dorec-a-belle brings a wealth of experience and strong song-writing to this unique line-up, with their debut album, Listen, supported by Creative Scotland.