Blas Festival 2006 - Starts 1 September

28th August 2006

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 & 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:

CAITHNESS

Friday 1 September [AT] 7.30pm
Wick High School
Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain, Catriona Mckay & Chris Stout and the Feis Chataibh Ceilidh Trail

Wednesday 6 September [AT] 7.30pm
Lyth Arts Centre
CLAN - Mary Ann Kennedy, Kenna Campbell, Maggie Macdonald and Wilma Kennedy with Angus Mackenzie, Kenneth Mackenzie and Calum Mackenzie

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 C~ilidh Band and F~isean Lochabair C~ilidh Trail

Monday 4 Sept
Ar~inn 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 ~ Be~lach; 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 Feisean Lochabair C~ilidh Trail

Saturday 9 Sept
Astley Hall, Arisaig at 7.30pm
AN ~IGRIDH ~ Bodega, Garry Innes and Feisean Lochabair Ceilidh Trail

ROSS AND CROMARTY

Friday 1 Sept
Coigeach Community Hall, Achiltibuie at 7.30pm
Back of the Moon, Rachel Newton and the Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail

Saturday 2 Sept
MacPhail Theatre, Ullapool at 7.30pm
Blazin' Fiddles, Rachel Newton and Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail

Monday 4 Sept
Seaboard Memorial Hall, Balintore at 7.30pm
CAPE BRETON COUSINS ~ Be~lach, 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 ~ Beelach, Troy MacGillivray, Rachel Walker Zoey MacIver

Friday 8 Sept
Strathpeffer Pavilion at 8.00pm
C~ilidh & Dance with The Occasionals, Darren MacLean and Feis Rois Ceilidh 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 Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail

SKYE & LOCHALSH

Friday 1 Sept
Inverinate & Loch Duich Community Centre at 7.30pm
AN EIGRIDH - Darren MacLean, Sarah Naylor, Kathleen, Deirdre & Magnus Graham
Angus Nicolson, F~is an Earraich C~ilidh Trail

Saturday 2 September at 7.30pm
Plockton High School
Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain, Catriona Mckay & Chris Stout, Feis an Earraich Ceilidh Trail

Monday 4 September [AT] 7.30pm
Aros, Portree
Blazin' Fiddles, Maeve Mackinnon and Students from The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music

Tuesday 5 September [AT] 7.30pm
Kilmuir Hall
An Evening With Angus Grant & Friends

Wednesday 6 September [AT] 7.30pm
Kyleakin Village Hall
Michael McGoldrick & Friends and Strath Gaelic Choir

Thursday 7 September [AT] 7.30pm
West Wing - Raasay House, Isle of Raasay
A' PH~OB 'S AM P~OBAIRE - Duncan MacGillivray, Anna Murray and Fiona MacAskill

Thursday 7 September [AT] 7.30pm
Glenelg & Arnisdale Community Hall, Glenelg
A' PH~OB 'S AM PEOBAIRE - Jarlath Henderson, Fred Morrison and Anna Massie

Friday 8 September [AT] 7.30
Sabhal Mor Ostaig a Sleat
CAPE BRETON COUSINS ~ Be~lach, Troy MacGillivray, Rachel Walker and
Feis an Earraich Ceilidh Trail

Friday 8 September
Sabhal Mor Ostaig a Sleat, Talla Mor
Breabach ~ Festival Club

Saturday 9 September [AT] 7.30pm
Staffin Community Hall
CLAN - Mary Ann Kennedy, Kenna Campbell, Maggie Macdonald and Wilma Kennedy with Angus Mackenzie, Kenneth Mackenzie, Calum Mackenzie and Feis an Earraich Ceilidh Trail

SUTHERLAND

Saturday 2 September [AT] 7.30pm
Strathy Village Hall
AN ~IGRIDH - Julie Fowlis Band, Kathleen, Deirdre & Magnus Graham, Feis Chataibh Ceilidh Trail and Feis air an Oir

Tuesday 5 September [AT] 7.30pm
Durness Village Hall
Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain with Donald Black & Malcolm Jones

Thursday 7 September [AT] 7.30pm
Edderton Village Hall
An Evening With Angus Grant & Friends

Friday 8 September [AT] 7.30pm
Lochinver Village Hall
A' PH~OB 'S AM P~OBAIRE - Fred Morrison, Duncan MacGillivray, Anna Murray
Jarlath Henderson, Anna Massie, Fiona & Eilidh Mackenzie and Feis Chataibh Ce~ilidh Trail

Saturday 9 September [AT] 8.00pm
Carnegie Hall, Clashmore
C~ilidh & Dance with Fergie Macdonald and the Feis Chataibh C~ilidh Trail

BADENOCH & STRATHSPEY

Saturday 2 September [AT] 8.00pm
Aviemore Highland Resort
Capercaille and Back of the Moon

Tuesday 5 September [AT] 7.30pm
Badenoch Centre, Kingussie
CAPE BRETON COUSINS ~ Be~lach, Troy MacGillivray and Calum Alex MacMillan

Thursday 7 September [AT] 7.30pm
Carrbridge Village Hall
Michael McGoldrick & Friends with Feis Sp~

Saturday 9 September [AT] 7.30pm
Talla nan Ros, Kingussie
An Evening With Angus Grant & Friends

NAIRN

Friday 1 September [AT] 7.30pm
Nairn Academy
Blazin' Fiddles, Mike & Aly Vass and Nairn Gaelic Choir

Saturday 9 September [AT] 7.30pm
Rafters, Nairn
Michael McGoldrick & Friends and Margaret Stewart with David Maclennan

See www.blas-festival.com for more details, booking tickets etc.