Blas 2014 tickets on sale now - a great line-up

18th June 2014

Blas 2014 tickets on sale now.

The event in Caithness -

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Assembly rooms, Wick
Saturday 6th September 2014.

TIOGAIDEAN/TICKETS
£ 17 Adult
£ 14 Senior Citizen
£ 5 Children and school pupils
£ 34 Family (2 adults+2 children)

Show starts at 7.30pm

Local Box Office: 01955 603080; MacAllan's Shop, 66 The High Street, Wick 01955 602547; MacAllans, 5 The High Street, Thurso; Gail's Gift Box, 54 High Street, Wick KW1 4BS 01955 604411

Telephone Sales
24 X 7 on 0844 2485096
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For full details of events around the Highlands go to www.blas-festival.com/

Significant milestone for Blas as it reaches first decade

One of the most successful arts events in the Highlands has reached a significant milestone with Blas 2014 marking the festival's tenth anniversary. This year's international event, spread over around 100 venues in the Highlands and Argyll between 5 and 13 September, returns to its roots with a greater emphasis on the place of communities, young people and Gaelic.

There will be a new commission by fiddler, Iain MacFarlane and a stellar collection of musicians will be appearing across the area including Dàimh, The Mischa MacPherson Trio, Mànran, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Marloch, Dougie Maclean as well as Gaelic singers such as Christine Primrose, James Graham, Gillie Mackenzie, Alasdair Whyte and Linda MacLeod. Contemporary Gaelic songs will feature through Dòl Eoin Mackinnon who will be appearing with Macanta. Shinty's cultural associations will feature prominently, as will the work of Gaelic writers past and present. International visitors will include Cape Breton fiddler, Howie MacDonald and Cherish the Ladies. The festival finale will be Ceòl nam Fèis, a concert highlighting the success of the Fèis movement in engaging young people with the traditional arts - an aspect that has been a hallmark of Blas since its inception.

Blas was created 10 years ago as a result of The Highland Council's desire to create a festival that would match the vitality of Cape Breton's Celtic Colours and the Council has continued its support.

Councillor Maxine Smith, Vice Convener of The Highland Council said: "This year’s Blas festival programme, in the Year of Homecoming, is exciting, engaging, and educational as it showcases Gaelic and traditional music in venues across the Highlands and Argyll. The festival allows residents and visitors to access the very best of traditional music in communities across the Highlands from Portree to Portmahomack and from Torridon to Taynuilt."

The festival’s success has been welcomed by the Scottish Government Minister for Learning, Science & Scotland's Languages, Alasdair Allan MSP. He said: "I would like to join with so many others in congratulating the Blas Festival on reaching its 10th anniversary and growing into such a significant part of the cultural life of the Highlands."

"Each year Blas offers a rich programme that reflects many aspects of the Highlands and our traditional culture, includes a wide range of performers, reaches a growing audience and has the Gaelic language at its heart. I would like to wish Blas 2014 every success and hope that many more people will enjoy this year’s 10th anniversary celebration as part of the Highland Homecoming."

At the launch of the programme for this year’s festival at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness Arthur Cormack, of festival organisers Fèisean nan Gàidheal, reminded the audience of the event’s early history and its subsequent development.

He said: "The festival began as a small-scale effort at three venues, Strontian, Clashmore and Strathpeffer in 2004. Since then we have promoted 410 events involving 3,102 performers and have attracted an audience of 88,448. We have produced 11 new commissions and 24 hours of content for BBC Alba. The festival has had an audience satisfaction rating of 91.2% over that time and has contributed £4.4m to the Highland economy."

In the intervening years, many of Scotland’s top musicians have appeared alongside international artistes from Nova Scotia and Ireland. Many playing music through the Fèis movement in their younger days have performed at Blas festivals including Gary Innes, Norrie MacIver, Lauren MacColl, Joy Dunlop, Julie Fowlis and Rachel Walker.

The historic tenth festival starts on Friday, September 5th. The Inverness launch highlighted a number of special events, including a new commission by Glenfinnan musician, Iain MacFarlane, inspired by Duncan Ban MacIntyre’s Moladh Beinn Dòbhrain, one of Gaelic’s greatest poems.

The commission is being supported by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Alastair MacGugan of SNH said: "What better way to connect people with nature than to listen to and experience the rhythm and lyrics of the songs and poetry of the famous Gaelic bard Donnchadh Bàn MacIntyre, whose work is imbued with a sense of the interconnectedness of humans and nature. The poems convey the complex and close relationship between people, land and culture. They explore the modern concepts of ecosystems and sustainability in a timeless, evocative and immediate way. Connecting people with nature lets them enjoy, appreciate and care for Scotland’s environment. This is core to what SNH is all about and why SNH is pleased to support this project."

Amongst the other highlight’s in this year’s festival will be, in the week of shinty’s showpiece event the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final, three shinty-based shows which will be taken to Tighnabruaich, Dornie and Inverness on the eve of the big match. Presented by Hugh Dan MacLennan and featuring Gary Innes, Linda MacLeod and the MacGillivrays of Calrossie, “Home and Away - Glòir nan Caman” is a tribute to shinty players all over the world with a particular reference to the First World War.

A tribute to prominent Sutherland Gaelic bàrd, Rob Donn MacKay, will be led by James Graham, Catriona MacLeod, Carol-Anne MacKay, Suzanne Houston and Rhona Sutherland.

One of the festival’s main supporters has been Creative Scotland whose Director of Communications, Kenneth Fowler, said: "Creative Scotland is delighted to support Blas in this, its tenth year. Having grown in scale and influence over those ten years to become a pivotal event on Scotland's cultural calendar, Blas is a fantastic celebration of music and the performing arts. The festival is truly inclusive, covering the full geographical spread of the Highlands and Argyll, reaching people and communities in venues from village halls to Eden Court's Empire Theatre. This year's programme is truly inspiring and I wish the festival every success."

Blas is the first of a number of national and international events scheduled to take place in the Highlands between the beginning of September as part of Highland Homecoming, supported by EventScotland, culminating in the Royal National Mòd in October.

David Boag, Head of Gaelic Usage at Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “Over the last 10 years, Blas has successfully raised the profile of Gaelic across the Highlands, across Scotland and internationally. In addition to the events themselves, the schools programme has given young people in the Highlands an opportunity to engage with Gaelic culture and learn about its place within the international community.”

“As part of the Homecoming Scotland 2014 programme across the Highlands and Islands and in addition to our support for Blas, Bòrd na Gàidhlig will be supporting other events including the Royal National Mòd in Inverness and the Hebrides Tattoo in Stornoway. The National Gaelic Language Plan 2012-17 recognises the importance of the arts, particularly as a mechanism to engage the general public with Gaelic and in support of the economy.”

Clach-mhìle eachdraidheil do Bhlas leis a’ chiad dheichead

Tha tè de na tachartasan ealain as soirbheachail air a’ Ghàidhealtachd a’ comharrachadh clach-mhìle eachdraidheil am-bliadhna agus deich bliadhna bhon chiad Fhèis Bhlas.

‘S e fèis eadar-nàiseanta a th’ann am Blas a-nis, le tachartasan ann an 100 àite air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus an Earra-Ghàidheal eadar 5 agus 13 Sultain, agus am-bliadhna bidh an fhèis a’ tilleadh gu mar a bha bha cùisean bho thùs, le cuideam ga chur air coimhearsnachdan, òigridh agus Gàidhlig.

Thèid coimisean ùr fhoillseachadh leis an fhìdhleir ainmeil Iain MacPhàrlain, agus bidh sreath de phìomh luchd-ciùil is seinneadairean a’ nochdadh air na h-àird-ùrlairean thall sa bhos leithid Dàimh, Mischa MacPherson Trio, Mànran, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Marloch, Dougie MacIllEain a bharrachd air luchd-ciùil Gàidhlig Cairistiona Primrose, Seumas Greumach, Gillie NicChoinnich, Alasdair MacIlleBhàin agus Linda NicLeòid. Bho shaoghal òrain ùra na Gàidhlig bidh Dòl Eoin Mackinnon a’ nochdadh còmhla ri Macanta. Tha saoghal na camanachd cuideachd ga cheangal ris an fhèis, agus cuideachd sealladh no dha air sgriobhadairean Gàidhlig. Tha iad gu bhith tadhal air Blas bho thall thairis a-rithist agus thèid fàilte a chur air fìdhleir Cheap Breatainn Howie Dòmhnallach agus Cherish the Ladies. Thig cùisean gu ceann le cuirm, Ceòl nam Fèis, a bhios a’ foillseachadh cho soirbheachail sa tha na Fèisean air feadh na dùthcha ann a bhith a’ ceangal òigridh ri ceòl traidiseanta - gnothach a tha air a bhith na shuaicheantas aig Blas bhon chaidh a stèidheachadh an toiseach.

Thòisich fèisean Blas deich bliadhna air ais nuair a thug Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd sùil gu taobh thall a’ Chuain Siar agus mhiannaich iad sàmhla de dh’fhèis bheòthail Celtic Colours à Ceap Breatann a chruthachadh an seo.

Thuirt an comhairliche Maxine Smith, Iar Neach-Gairm Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd: “Tha prògram Fèis Blas na bliadhna seo, ann am Bliadhna an Tilleadh Dhachaigh, inntinneach, tarraingeach agus oideachail, a’ foillseachadh Gàidhlig agus tachartasan ciùil traidiseanta air feadh na Gàidhealtachd agus ann an Earra-Ghàidheal. Tha an fhèis a’ tairgse cothroman do mhuinntir an àite agus do luchd-siubhail fìor dheagh cheòl fhaicinn agus a chluinntinn ann an coimhearsnachdan fad is farsaing bho Phort Rìgh gu Port Mocholmaig agus bho Toirbheartan gu Taigh an Uillt.”

Chuir Ministear an Ionnsachaidh, Saidheans agus Cànain na h-Alba Alasdair Allan, BPA, meala-naidheachd air an fhèis. Thuirt esan: “Bu mhath leam meala naidheachd a chur air Fèis Blas airson a’ chiad dheichead a chur a-mach agus sònraichte son an dòigh anns an deach an fhèis fhàs gu bhith cho cudromach ann am beatha cultarail na Gàidhealtachd.”

“Gach bliadhna, tha Blas a’ tairgse prògram le beairteas ealain a tha a’ foillseachadh saibhreas cultarail na sgìre, a’ cruinneachadh raon farsaing le luchd-ealain agus a’ sìneadh a-mach gu àireamhan luchd-amhairc is èisteachd a tha sìor dhol am meud, le Gàidhlig aig an teis-mheadhain. Tha mi an dòchas gun soirbhich le fèis na bliadhna seo agus gun tèid aig àireamhan mòra dhaoine air toileachas fhaighinn às, an-lùib Bliadhna an Tilleadh Dhachaigh.”

A’ bruidhinn aig cuirm foillseachadh prògram na bliadhna seo ann an Inbhir Nis an-diugh, thuirt Art MacCarmaig bho Fhèisean nan Gàidheal, a tha a’ frithealadh na Fèise, gu robh fìor eachdraidh aig an fhèis agus gun deach a leasachadh rè ùine.

Thuirt e: “Cha robh anns an fhèis bho thùs ach trì tachartasan, an Sròn an t-Sìthein, anns a’ Chlais-mhòr agus an Srath Pheofhair ann an 2004. Bhon uair sin tha sinn air 410 tachartas a lìbhrigeadh le 3,102 diofar neach-ealain, agus tha sinn air a bhith a’ dèanamh sin is 88,448 san èisteachd rè ùine. Tha sinn air 11 coimisean ùr a chur air adhart agus air 24 uair a thìde de thelebhisean a thairgse do BBC Alba. Tha measadh an luchd-amhairc is èisteachd a’ dearbhadh gu bheil an fhèis air a bhith còrdadh ri daoine aig 91.2% thar bhliadhnaichean, agus tha sinn air £4.4m a chur ri eaconamaidh na Gàidhealtachd.”

Anns an eadar-ama, tha gu leòr de shàr luchd-ciùil agus cuid de na seinneadairean as fheàrr anns an dùthaich air a bhith a’ frithealadh fèisean, còmhla rin cuideachd eadar-nàiseanta bho Èireann agus Alba Nuadh. Tha mòran air tighinn air adhart bho bhith ri ceòl aig na Fèisean gu bhith a’ gabhail an àird-ùrlair aig Blas, leithid Gary Innes, Norrie MacÌomhair, Lauren NicColla, Joy Dunlop, Julie Fowlis agus Rachel Walker.

Tòisichidh fèis eachdraidheil Blas 2014 air Dihaoine an 5mh dhen t-Samhain. Chaidh fhoillseachadh an-diugh mar a bhios coimisean ùr le Iain MacPhàrlain à Gleann Fhionnain, stèidhichte air a’ bhàrdachd ainmeil Moladh Beinn Dòbhrain le Donnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir, ‘s dòcha bàrdachd cho ainmeil sa th’againn ann an Gàidhlig, an teis-mheadhain chùisean.

Tha an coimisean seo ga chur air adhart le taic bho Dhualchas Nàdair na h-Alba (SNH). Thuirt Alastair MacGugan às an leth: “Dè an dòigh as fheàrr daoine a cheangal ri nàdar na bhith ag èisteachd ri ruith, briathrachas agus fuaim nan òran aig an t-sàr bhàrd Donnchadh Bàn Mac an t-Saoir, a thug dhuinn uibhir de bhàrdachd a tha drùidhte leis a’ bhuaidh a th’ aig mac an duine agus nàdar air càch-a-chèile. Tha sinn a’ faicinn cho faisg agus eadar-thoinnt’ sa tha an ceangal eadar mac an duine, talamh agus cultar. Tha iad a’ rannsachadh agus a’ meòrachadh air structuran ùra leithid siostaman-eco agus seasmhachd, ann an dòigh nach eil a’ toirt for air tìm, ach a’ dùsgadh cuimhne an dòigh ealamh. Ann a bhith a’ ceangal dhaoine ri nàdar, tha cothroman a’ fuasgladh son toileachas fhaighinn às an àrainneachd agus a bhith a’ gabhail a’ chùraim. Tha sin aig cridhe na tha SNH a’ dèanamh agus sin a th’air cùl an taic seo agus tha sinn gu math toilichte a bhith na lùib.”

Am measg nan tachartasan air am bi fèill mhòr aig Blas na bliadhna seo tha, ann an seachdain cupa na Camanachd an Inbhirnis, trì cuirmean camanachd ann an Taigh na Bruaich an Earra-Ghàidheal, ann an Inbhir Ionaid agus ann an Inbhir Nis air an oidhche ron chuairt dheireannach. Thèid na cuirmean a lìbhrigeadh le Ùisdean MacIllInnein agus am measg na bhios air an àrd-ùrlar còmhla ris bidh Gary Innes, Linda NicLeòid agus an teaghlach ainmeil Clann Ic Ille Bhrath à Calrossie an Taobh Sear Rois. Bidh “Home and Away - Glòir nan Caman” a’ luaidh cuid de shàr-chluicheadairean na camanachd tro cheòl is òrain agus a’ measadh buaidh a’ Chiad Chogaidh air coimhearsnachdan na camanachd.

Thèid am bàrd ainmeil Rob Donn MacAoidh à Cataibh cuideachd a chomharrachadh le Seumas Greumach, Catriona NicLeòid, Carol-Anne NicAoidh, Suzanne Houston agus Rhona Sutharlan.

Tha a’ bhuidheann Alba Cruthachail air a bhith gu math taiceil dhan fhèis rè ùine. Thuirt an Stiùiriche Conaltraidh aca, Coinneach Fowler: "Tha Alba Cruthachail ro thoilichte a bhith a’ cumail taic ri Blas, agus gu sònraichte anns an deicheamh bliadhna a tha seo. An dèidh fàs am meud agus buaidh thar nam bliadhnaichean sin gu suidheachadh air leth cudromach ann an clàr nan tachartasan gach bliadhna, tha Blas air leth ann a bhith a’ riochdachadh ceòl agus ealan an àrd-ùrlair. Tha an fhèis in-ghabhalach anns gach dòigh, a’ siubhal thar chrìochan na Gàidhealtachd agus Earra-Ghàidheal a’ coinneachadh ri daoine agus a’ suathadh air coimhearsnachdan bho thallaichean sgìreil gu Tigh-cluiche na h-Ìompaireachd an Cùirt an Aodainn. Tha prògram na bliadhna seo air leth brosnachail agus tha mi an dòchas gun tèid gu math leis anns gach dòigh.”

Tha Blas mar chiad thachartas ann an sreath de ghnothaichean nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta a bhios a’ tachairt air feadh na Gàidhealtachd bho thoiseach Sultain mar phàirt de Bhliadhna an Tilleadh Dhachaigh, le taic bho EventScotland, agus thig sin gu àird an teasaich leis a’ Mhòd Rìoghail Nàiseanta ann an Inbhir Nis anns an Dàmhair.

Thuirt Daibhidh Boag, Leasaiche Cànain Gàidhlig aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig: “Thairis air na 10 bliadhna a dh’fhalbh, tha Blas air a bhith soirbheachail le bhith togail ìomhaigh na Gàidhlig air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, air feadh Alba agus gu h-eadar nàiseanta.”

“A bharrachd air na tachartasan fhèin, tha am prògram sgoile a’ toirt cothrom do dhaoine òga air a’ Ghàidhealtachd ionnsachadh mu dheidhinn cultar na Gàidhlig agus an àite a th’ againn mar phàirt den choimhearsnachd eadar-nàiseanta.”

“Mar phàirt den phrògram Tilleadh Dhachaigh 2014 air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, bidh Bòrd na Gàidhlig a’ cumail taic ri Blas agus tachartasan eile, mar eisimpleir Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann an Inbhir Nis agus Tatù Innse Gall ann an Steòrnabhagh. Tha am Plana Cànain Nàiseanta Gàidhlig 2012-17 ag aithneachadh cho cudromach sa tha na h-ealain Ghàidhlig, an dà chuid le bhith a’ brosnachadh na Gàidhlig don mhòr-sluaigh agus ann a bhith a’ cur ris an eaconamaidh.”

Tha tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu Bhlas 2014 ri fhaotainn aig www.blas-festival.com, leithid mar a thèid aig daoine air tiogaidean a cheannach, agus làn-fhiosrachadh mun phrògram fhèin.