Making Contact

Emma Gillespie is a singer-songwriter and artist from Dumfries & Galloway. After years of performing her own songs as a solo artist, a commission from EcoArt enabled her to undertake a week-long residency aboard the tall ship Lady of Avenel, opening up new questions around listening, belonging and the subtle shift from performing to sharing.

During the wind-powered voyage through Scotland's islands, Emma joined a crew of traditional folk musicians, living and travelling at the pace of the wind and tide. The experience transformed her understanding of music- not as something simply performed, but as a way of paying attention, building relationships and responding to the places and people encountered along the journey.

Making Contact is an intimate and informal gathering of songs, stories, field recordings and objects collected during the voyage. Woven together with reflection and conversation, it explores what happens when we slow down enough to truly listen. It is an invitation to consider how genuine contact can reshape our sense of place, community and ourselves.

Meet at the Nithriad info point on Mill Green at 1.30pm

There will be floor cushions for participants and chairs for those who would prefer. There is space for wheelchairs.