Blas Festival Launch is one for the history books

The Blas Festival, which celebrates Highland culture and Gaelic, is to mark the launch of its 2010 programme by being ‘inducted’ into the Highland Archive and Registration Centre.

The festival’s new programme and those of its five previous years are to be archived at the Centre that is based in Inverness. It also holds the records from Highland county councils and boroughs, the earliest of which dates from 1455.

The new addition of the Blas programmes to the Archive’s records highlights how the festival has become an established part of Highland life. It comes as Blas organisers announce the 2010 line-up which will see Gaelic, Highland music and culture taken to mainstream audiences (3rd-12th September).

Donna Macrae, Blas Festival Director, said: “Blas brings approximately £800,000 into the Highland economy, and at the same time, extols the attributes of Gaelic, our music and culture to a wide variety of locals and visitors.

“Last year our ticket sales were up by 25%, a sign that people are hungry for the type of entertainment and knowledge which Blas provides. This year we have a very exciting programme of more than 80 events taking place over 10 days, with artistes including Donnie Munro and his band, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, Gerry O’Connor and Dochas.

“We will also be staging 2 events at Inverness Airport. Our opening night sees Blas present a mighty dance in the massive Hangar 2 with Shooglenifty, Skerryvore and Niteworks, and on our final weekend we hold a dinner and ball in the airport restaurant with Gaelic song, stories from a former airline pilot and reeling the night away, so the festival is really taking off in style with the support of HIAL.”

Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of The Highland Council’s Administration, said: “Prior to the establishment of Blas we had no major Highland-wide festival celebrating our language, music and culture. The partnership have worked hard to remedy this to make Blas the tremendous and enjoyable success that it has been and will be. It is fitting for the Blas records to be entered into the Highland Archive and Registration Centre for posterity, especially given its cultural and economic contribution to the area.”

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland, the national events agency, said: “Blas Festival is a fantastic and unique celebration of Highland life and culture which entertains and educates people local to the Highlands as well as those living across the rest of Scotland and beyond. It is a cornerstone of Scotland’s events calendar which promotes and celebrates Scotland’s music, heritage, hospitality, lifestyle and more. The festival is also a valuable asset to the Highlands and draws thousands of people to the region each year, generating an impressive economic impact and substantial benefits for local businesses. The Festival is clearly growing in popularity and we look forward to seeing further growth in 2010.”

The festival will include school and community events along with shows on board the Jacobite Queen, at The Culloden Battlefield Centre, Eilean Donan Castle, Eden Court Theatre, and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. There will also be gigs in village halls and other special venues right across the Highlands, including the big "Hangar2" dance at Inverness Airport with Shooglenifty, Skerryvore and Niteworks.

The Blas Festival Programme 2010 launch and the induction of the festival’s programmes takes place Wednesday 19th May at the Highland Archive and Registration Centre, Bught Road, Inverness IV3 5SS, at 10.30am.

The 2010 performers include: Shooglenifty, Skerryvore, Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, Anna Massie, Iain Morrison and his band, the legendary Donnie Munro and his band, The Inverness Fiddlers, Angus MacColl, Duncan Chisholm, Meantime, Nightworks, Deoch an Doras, Inverness, Nairn and Melvich Gaelic choirs, Donald Grant, Iain MacFarlane and Ingrid Henderson, Breabach, Gerry O'Connor, Dochas, Ronan Martin, Paul MacCallum, James Graham, The Kiltearn Fiddlers, The Occasionals, Arthur Cormack, Fiona J Mackenzie, Dr Margaret Bennett, and Rachel Walker.