Date/Time
Date(s) - Mon 1st Sep - Sat 6th Sep, 2025
All Day
Location
Moniack Mhor, Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire , IV4 7HT
Things Found in Song
Delve into the world around you to imagine, create and hone songs, with songwriters Yvonne Lyon and Boo Hewerdine. This course is inspired by Yvonne and Boo’s ‘Things Found in Books’ project, born in Culzean Castle’s second-hand bookshop, which displays a noticeboard will all the wonderfully random ephemera found in donated books: letters, postcards, photographs, newspaper clippings all combining to tell their own story. This course will follow the same approach, using our surroundings to create new work. We will look at form, melody, lyric and every element that makes a powerful song.
Our special guest will be the extraordinary John Hegley, who will share his approach to poems and song.
This course will suit those new to songwriting and those who have a project in process. Instruments welcome but not necessary.
Tutors
Yvonne Lyon is among the UK’s brightest and best singer songwriters. Her most recent album Things Found In Books is co written with award winning songwriter Boo Hewerdine and is her eleventh studio release.
Yvonne has been writing songs professionally for over 20 years. She holds an MA in English Literature from Glasgow University (including 2 years of Music) and a Masters in Songwriting from the University of the West of Scotland. She is also a graduate of Strathclyde University with a PGCE in Secondary Music.
Boo Hewerdine is a singer-songwriter, musician, producer and experienced tutor and mentor. He has written songs for Eddi Reader, k.d. lang, Chris Difford and many others. He has produced numerous albums, run a record label and been involved in music as a business for many years. His latest album, Understudy (a commercial and critical success), was released in 2022.
Guest Reader
John (Hegley) first performed his songs for financial reward, solo on the streets of Yorkshire in the 70’s, upgrading to the combo, Popticians (‘the Winfield wall of sound’ N.M.E.) on two Peel sessions in the 80’s and is looking forward to demonstrating the development of lyrics, tunes and sing-alongs of subsequent years. Alongside some of the melodies performed at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, he will bring to Moniack pieces from the Poetry and Words tent in Glastonbury where the ‘awesomely mundane’ (Independent) is intoned to a rudimentary mandolin accompaniment.
Fees
The full fee for this course is £725. This includes your accommodation in a single room with shared bathroom, all meals, hot drinks and snacks from Monday afternoon until Saturday morning, and your tuition. For more information about the format and practicalities of our courses, tutored courses, and retreats, please visit our About the Residential Courses & Retreats page..
A limited number of en-suite rooms are available, which can be booked in advance for a £50 surcharge. We will also reserve an en-suite room for anyone who may need it due to a medical condition. This will be offered out as an upgrade nearer the course start date if it is not needed.
A limited number of Twin Room places are available at a discounted price of £675 per person. When booking a Twin Room place, please tell us in the comments box which gender you are and which gender(s) you are comfortable sharing a room with. This information will remain confidential.
A small single room with a skylight is available at a discounted price of £700. Please note this room does not have an ordinary window, only a small skylight.
A deposit is required to secure your place, which is non-refundable after a 14-day cooling-off period. The balance payment of £575 is due six weeks before the course begins. Refunds are not always available – please read our Terms & Conditions for full details about our cancellation policy. If you would like to pay the full amount in advance, please call our booking office on 01463 592 828 or email info@moniackmhor.org.uk.
Bursaries are always available, and you also have the option to pay in instalments. If you have any problems paying online, or wish to discuss paying in instalments or applying for financial help, or would simply like assistance, please contact us by emailing info@moniackmhor.org.uk or phoning us on 01463 592828.
Access
Please let us know in your booking form if you have any access requirements, for example a ground floor bedroom and / or access to a step-free accessible shower room. We also reserve one en-suite bedroom per course for anyone who may need this due to a medical condition. For more information about access to our courses, please visit our Access page.
Terms and Conditions
Please read our Terms & Conditions before booking.