A HELENSBURGH musician is preparing for a summer of concerts showcasing a Scottish and Finnish collaboration, including two performances in Helensburgh and Lomond.

Harpist and composer Pippa Reid Foster is set to embark on a tour with Finnish kantele player Eva Alkula.

The pair have three Finnish dates lined up, as well as performances at the Ventnor Fringe Festival on the Isle of Wight and the World Harp Congress in Cardiff.

Pippa and Eva and will also perform at Glad Café in Glasgow on July 22 and Kinlochard Village Hall on July 24, before visiting Cove Burgh Hall on July 30 and The Bridge at Helensburgh Parish Church on July 31.

Pippa, who grew up in Cove and Kilcreggan, teamed up with Eva after being approached by an Isle of Wight Festival organiser at Edinburgh International Harp Festival.

She said: “I said I would like to collaborate with a Finnish musician bringing together the national instrument of Finland, the kantele, and the Scottish clarsach.

“I chose Eva after hearing her perform, and fell in love with her style of playing and music.

“Both Eva and I are very excited about the tour. It has been a long time coming.

“I flew to Finland in 2019 at the start of the project but, with Covid-19, the tour was can-celled and this is it now finally happening.

“The sound combination of the two instruments is exquisite, and we are really looking forward to sharing this with everyone.

“We are lucky enough to have received funding from The Finnish Institute in London, Creative Scotland and Arnold Clark.”

The duo are also working on an album which is expected to be released in autumn, followed by Pippa’s second solo album next year.