Blas Festival 2006 About To Start
The Blas Festival starts this Friday (1 September) with nine days of great music in Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty, Badenoch and Strathspey, Lochaber, Nairn and Skye and Lochalsh.
Following the huge success of the inaugural Blas Festival last year, this years event has developed to be bigger and better. A total of 43 different venues will be taking part at which internationally acclaimed artists will share the stage with home grown young musical talent.
The idea for this celebration of Gaelic language and culture came about following a visit representatives from The Highland Council made four years ago to the International Festival, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton.
Vice Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Michael Foxley who visited Cape Breton said: “Celtic Colours draws together artists from around the globe who join some of Cape Breton’s finest singers, dancers and music players in a celebration of North America’s only living Celtic culture. The event was very memorable and on our return we all agreed that any new festival in the Highlands should involve communities and highlight the vast array of talent there is amongst young people.
“The Highland Council has solidly supported the Feis movement since it began and we saw Blas as a creative way to build upon and celebrate the expanding traditional music scene with a focus on Gaelic. What started of last year as quite a modest festival with performances in five council areas worked very well. The feedback from audiences was that they wanted more opportunities to hear quality live music at local venues near to where they lived. A challenge we will have is to look beyond the next couple of years and find sources of funding that will allow Blas to become a permanent international festival which draws audiences here to the Highlands from around the world as well as from our local communities. I urge everyone in the Highlands to visit at least one event.”
The festival is expected to play an important role next year during Highland 2007, the Scottish Year of Highland Culture.
The Highland Council’s Chairman on Education, Culture and Sport, Councillor Andy Anderson said: “Blas Festival celebrates traditional song and music in a very accessible way and every performance is used as an opportunity to promote interest in the Gaelic language. Young local musicians get the unique chance to share the billing with more experienced national and international artists. This experience is invaluable to them and helps them to develop their own musical skills.
“I feel the success of Blas is largely due to the partnership approach we have adopted. Performers, promoters and organisations involved in Gaelic culture are brought together to create a programme which attracts audiences from far and wide. To encourage young people to come along and be part of the audience at events this year we are offering discounts on ticket prices for school parties.”
Blas is funded by The Highland Council and the Millennium Commuission through its urban cultural programme with additional funding from Highland 2007. It is run on behalf of The Highland Council by Feisean nan Gaidheal with sponsorship from Clydesdale Bank PLC.
A list of all the events is available by visiting www.blas-festival.com or they are listed below:
Lochaber:
Friday 1st Sept
Nevis Centre, Fort William at 7.30pm
Blas-t-Off with Julie Fowlis Band, Angus MacColl, Jenna Cumming, The Phoenix Honda Glasgow Skye Pipe Band and Feis Lochabair Ceilidh Trail
Saturday 2nd Sept
Mallaig & Morar Community Centre at 8pm
The Black Rose Cèilidh Band and Fèisean Lochabair Cèilidh Trail
Monday 4 Sept
Aràinn Shuaineirt (The Sunart Centre), Strontian at 7.30pm
Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain with Donald Black & Malcolm Jones and Gary Innes
Tuesday 5 Sept
Ballachulish Village Hall at 7.30pm
Blazin' Fiddles, John Macdonald and Maeve Mackinnon
Wednesday 6 Sept
Glengarry Community Hall at 7.30pm
CAPE BRETON COUSINS – Beòlach; Troy MacGillivray and Rachel Walker
Thursday 7 Sept
Roy Bridge Memorial Hall at 7.30pm
Clan - Mary Ann Kennedy, Kenna Campbell, Maggie Macdonald and Wilma Kennedy;
Angus Mackenzie, Kenneth Mackenzie and Calum Mackenzie
Friday 8 Sept
Glenuig Hall at 7.30pm
An Evening with Angus Grant and Friends - Angus Grant Snr, Angus Grant Jnr
Malcolm Stitt, with former students of Angus Grant Snr
and Fèisean Lochabair Cèilidh Trail
Saturday 9 Sept
Astley Hall, Arisaig at 7.30pm
AN ÒIGRIDH – Bodega, Garry Innes and Fèisean Lochabair Cèilidh Trail
ROSS AND CROMARTY
Friday 1 Sept
Coigeach Community Hall, Achiltibuie at 7.30pm
Back of the Moon, Rachel Newton and the Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail
Saturday 2 Sept
MacPhail Theatre, Ullapool at 7.30pm
Blazin' Fiddles, Rachel Newton and Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail
Monday 4 Sept
Seaboard Memorial Hall, Balintore at 7.30pm
CAPE BRETON COUSINS – Beòlach, Troy MacGillivray and Calum Alex MacMillan
Tuesday 5 Sept
Ardross Community Hall at 7.30pm
Michael McGoldrick & Friends, Matheu Watson, Ruairidh Campbell and Jenna Cumming
Wednesday 6 Sept
Lochcarron Village Hall at 7.30pm
Fred Morrison, Duncan MacGillivray, Anna Murray, Jarlath Henderson, Anna Massie
Fiona Mackenzie
Thursday 7 Sept
Poolewe Village Hall at 7.30pm
Cape Breton Cousins – Beòlach, Troy MacGillivray, Rachel Walker Zoey MacIver
Friday 8 Sept
Strathpeffer Pavilion at 8.00pm
Cèilidh & Dance with The Occasionals, Darren MacLean and Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail
Friday 8 Sept
Applecross Hall at 7.30pm
CLAN - Mary Ann Kennedy, Kenna Campbell, Maggie Macdonald and Wilma Kennedy
with Angus Mackenzie, Kenneth Mackenzie and Calum Mackenzie
Saturday 9 Sept
Resolis Memorial Hall at 7.30pm
Breabach, Roya Maclean, Matheu Watson, Ruairidh Campbell and Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail
SKYE & LOCHALSH
Friday 1 Sept
Inverinate & Loch Duich Community Centre at 7.30pm
AN ÒIGRIDH - Darren MacLean, Sarah Naylor, Kathleen, Deirdre & Magnus Graham Angus Nicolson, Fèis an Earraich Cèilidh Trail
Saturday 2 September at 7.30pm
Plockton High School
Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain, Catriona Mckay & Chris Stout, Fèis an Earraich Cèilidh Trail
Monday 4 September @ 7.30pm
Aros, Portree
Blazin' Fiddles, Maeve Mackinnon and Students from The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music
Tuesday 5 September @ 7.30pm
Kilmuir Hall
An Evening With Angus Grant & Friends
Wednesday 6 September @ 7.30pm
Kyleakin Village Hall
Michael McGoldrick & Friends and Strath Gaelic Choir
Thursday 7 September @ 7.30pm
West Wing - Raasay House, Isle of Raasay
A' PHÌOB 'S AM PÌOBAIRE - Duncan MacGillivray, Anna Murray and Fiona MacAskill
Thursday 7 September @ 7.30pm
Glenelg & Arnisdale Community Hall, Glenelg
A' PHÌOB 'S AM PÌOBAIRE - Jarlath Henderson, Fred Morrison and Anna Massie
Friday 8 September @ 7.30
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – Sleat
CAPE BRETON COUSINS – Beòlach, Troy MacGillivray, Rachel Walker and
Fèis an Earraich Cèilidh Trail
Friday 8 September
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig – Sleat, Talla Mòr
Breabach – Festival Club
Saturday 9 September @ 7.30pm
Staffin Community Hall
CLAN - Mary Ann Kennedy, Kenna Campbell, Maggie Macdonald and Wilma Kennedy with
Angus Mackenzie, Kenneth Mackenzie, Calum Mackenzie and Fèis an Earraich Cèilidh Trail
SUTHERLAND
Saturday 2 September @ 7.30pm
Strathy Village Hall
AN ÒIGRIDH - Julie Fowlis Band, Kathleen, Deirdre & Magnus Graham, Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trail and Fèis air an Oir
Tuesday 5 September @ 7.30pm
Durness Village Hall
Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain with Donald Black & Malcolm Jones
Thursday 7 September @ 7.30pm
Edderton Village Hall
An Evening With Angus Grant & Friends
Friday 8 September @ 7.30pm
Lochinver Village Hall
A' PHÌOB 'S AM PÌOBAIRE - Fred Morrison, Duncan MacGillivray, Anna Murray
Jarlath Henderson, Anna Massie, Fiona & Eilidh Mackenzie and Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trail
Saturday 9 September @ 8.00pm
Carnegie Hall, Clashmore
Cèilidh & Dance with Fergie Macdonald and the Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trail
CAITHNESS
Friday 1 September @ 7.30pm
Wick High School
Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain, Catriona Mckay & Chris Stout and the Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trail
Wednesday 6 September @ 7.30pm
Lyth Arts Centre
CLAN - Mary Ann Kennedy, Kenna Campbell, Maggie Macdonald and Wilma Kennedy with
Angus Mackenzie, Kenneth Mackenzie and Calum Mackenzie
BADENOCH & STRATHSPEY
Saturday 2 September @ 8.00pm
Aviemore Highland Resort
Capercaille and Back of the Moon
Tuesday 5 September @ 7.30pm
Badenoch Centre, Kingussie
CAPE BRETON COUSINS – Beòlach, Troy MacGillivray and Calum Alex MacMillan
Thursday 7 September @ 7.30pm
Carrbridge Village Hall
Michael McGoldrick & Friends with Fèis Spè
Saturday 9 September @ 7.30pm
Talla nan Ros, Kingussie
An Evening With Angus Grant & Friends
NAIRN
Friday 1 September @ 7.30pm
Nairn Academy
Blazin' Fiddles, Mike & Aly Vass and Nairn Gaelic Choir
Saturday 9 September @ 7.30pm
Rafters, Nairn
Michael McGoldrick & Friends and Margaret Stewart with David Maclennan