Little birds and big birthdays mark BLAS 2013

12th June 2013

Blas 2013, the premier event celebrating all that is good about Gaelic language and culture, will spoil Highland music lovers for choice, festival organisers confidently claimed today, as they launched their ninth stellar line-up of musicians, singers and performers.

The packed programme of events, to take place between 6 and 14 September, will feature top performers and several new commissions. It was formally launched today (Thursday, June 14) at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness with tickets for all events now available.

Blas 2013 will deliver well over 100 cultural events at a variety of venues across the Highlands. Featured artists will include top musical talent such as Capercaillie who are, this year, celebrating 30 years of excellence. Gaelic bands Mànran and Cruinn will team up meet up along the way with Seamus Begley & Jim Murray. In addition, Gaelic writers and literature will be well represented through a partnership with Comhairle nan Leabhraichean and the 40-year old annual Scottish-Irish literary event, Cuairt nam Bàrd, which will form part of the festival.

Headlining the opening extravaganza at Eden Court on Saturday 7 September will be award-winning Mànran along with Cruinn - James Graham, Fiona Mackenzie, Brian Ó hEadhra and Rachel Walker - joined by The Highland Council’s Cèilidh Band, Snas, and the all-conquering Dingwall Gaelic Choir.

Two new commissions and a special event commemorating the centenary of the start of World War 1 with specific reference to shinty’s place in the Highlands will be among the highlights.

The National Theatre of Scotland and Blas Festival in partnership with the National Trust for Scotland will be present Eun Bheag Chanaidh - A Little Bird Blown off Course - created and performed by Fiona J MacKenzie and Musical Director, Donald Shaw. A Little Bird Blown off Course is a new piece of music–theatre, celebrating the life and renowned Gaelic song collection of Margaret Fay Shaw. The production will open at the Culloden Battlefield Centre on September 6 and then tour the Highlands. The new commission will be taken to Uist to mark that island’s special place in Margaret Fay Shaw’s life and work and there will be a special final performance at Camus Arts Centre on the island of Canna on 14 September.

Caroline Newall, Director of Artistic Development at the National Theatre said: “As a national performing arts company, the National Theatre of Scotland is committed to developing and presenting Gaelic work of the highest quality to provide for, and build, audiences for Gaelic performance. We are thrilled by the possibilities of incorporating traditional Gaelic arts into contemporary theatre performance, and Eun Bheag Chanaidh is our first foray into this type of cross art-form collaboration.”

In a second commission for Blas 2013 piper Calum MacCrimmon pays homage to his unique musical heritage with an exhilarating medley of original tunes and songs influenced by the ceòl mòr (classical bagpipe music) and canntaireachd traditions of Gaelic Scotland. Boraraig will unearth a series of themes and variation within the ancient and modern idioms of traditional West coast music. Calum will be accompanied by Eilidh Shaw on fiddle, Angus Nicolson on pipes and whistles, Mischa MacPherson on clàrsach and vocals, singer Darren MacLean, James Lindsay on double bass and vocals and Ewan MacPherson on guitar, mandolin, and vocals.

Blas is a partnership between Fèisean nan Gàidheal and the festival’s main funder, The Highland Council. Speaking at the launch event, Depute Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor David Alston said: “The Blas Festival demonstrates the very best of our indigenous language, traditional music and culture and takes this straight to the heart of Highland communities. Not only has it become recognised as an important fixture on Scotland’s cultural calendar, but it plays an important role in nurturing new, home-grown talent alongside internationally-renowned musicians. Since Blas was launched in 2005 The Highland Council has supported the festival. We have seen it grow from strength to strength, offering something fresh and different for audiences to enjoy each year. This partnership approach has really generated confidence in our traditional music in a very creative way.”

“I would like to congratulate the team for putting together an innovative and diverse programme of events. I hope as many people as possible take the opportunity to attend the events from Strontian to Strathy and Raasay to Resolis, to experience this rich celebration of Highland culture, Gaelic, music and heritage during this Year of Natural Scotland.”

Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s Head of Gaelic Usage, David Boag said: “The Blas Festival has grown to become one of the most important events in the cultural calendar, in Scotland and indeed internationally. Bòrd na Gàidhlig is delighted to once again be supporting the event, through our focus in ensuring that Gaelic will be seen and heard as a matter of course, both in the promotion of the festival and at all its events. The support of the Bòrd also ensures that young people across the Highlands can take part in the festival, with artists performing in schools, raising awareness of Gaelic language and culture to new generations.”

Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Blas organisers, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, outlined the programme and the opportunity to purchase tickets at reduced prices. He said: “Pulling Blas together each year is a team effort and I would like to thank those on the Blas Programming Action Group and the Festival Director, Donna Macrae, for their boundless enthusiasm, knowledge, ideas and support. In these difficult times, events like Blas give people the opportunity to enjoy themselves and sample the very best of Gaelic language and culture. Because times are challenging we are offering earlybird tickets at reduced prices if they are purchased before 31 July. I would encourage anyone who is coming to Blas this year, to sample our outstanding programme, to take advantage of this offer.”

Tickets for all events are available from today through www-blas-festival.com where details on all events can be found.