23rd March 2009
This year's Northern Nashville Country Music festival, taking place in Caithness, will be broadcast on television for the first time ever, on BBC ALBA.
The Northern Nashville Country Music Festival taking place in Halkirk, Caithness over the Easter weekend (10-12 April) will be recorded by MNE Media for future broadcast on BBC ALBA.
The Caithness event, now in its 6th year will feature a wide range of International artists including Michelle Wright (Canada), Frank Jansen and his Band (Holland), Heather Myles (USA), Eamonn McCann (Ireland) as well as home-grown favourites including The Jacks and Manson Grant and The Dynamos.
Halkirk Indoor Riding School is the venue for the Caithness event which will also include the Thurso High School Band and Wick Youth Band.
Christine Gray, Chairperson of the Northern Nashville Country Music Club said: "It's fantastic to have BBC ALBA covering our Caithness event this year. We have a great mix of artists on the programme for the weekend and country music fans come from throughout the UK to attend. It's going to be another brilliant weekend and it's good to know that this year's festival will reach a wider audience through coverage on BBC ALBA."
Alan Esslemont, Head of Content for BBC ALBA said: "We are delighted to be working together with MNE Media and the festival organisers to showcase country music through coverage of this exciting festival. Since BBC ALBA launched last September we have sought to bring the best music from Scotland to our audiences and this link up will help to enhance the channel's music content."
Bill Fernie a Wick councillor said: "It's great to see the growth of the Northern Nashville Country Music Festival in recent years. Country music has always been popular in Caithness and to have an annual festival on our doorstep adds another dimension to the very varied music scene we have here.
"Bringing together local bands and bigger names from around the world has certainly put this festival on the map. The festival is now well established in the annual calendar of Caithness events and looks to have many more years ahead of it."
BBC ALBA is a partnership between BBC Scotland and MG ALBA and broadcasts on Sky channel 168 and Freesat channel 110.
For further information, please contact Lorna Inglis at Media House on 0141 220 6040 / lorna[AT]mediahouse.co.uk
About BBC ALBA
BBC ALBA is available on Sky channel 168 and on Freesat channel 110. For further information see www.bbcalba.co.uk
BBC ALBA is run by MG ALBA in partnership with the BBC. MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan G�idhlig (Gaelic Media Service). Find out more about MG ALBA and about the partnership at www.mgalba.com
FIOS NAIDHEACHD
(As Leth BBC ALBA)
CE�L D�THCHAIL GHALLAIBH A'TIGHINN GU BBC ALBA
Airson a' chiad uair riamh th�id F�is Ce�l D�thchail Ghallaibh a' chraoladh air telebhisean am bliadhna sa.
Tha BBC ALBA air dearbhadh gu bheil iad gu bhith a' cl�radh ce�l bhon Fh�is a bhios a' dol air adhart ann an Halkirk thairis air �m na C�isg (10mh-12mh Giblean). Thid an tachartas a' chl�radh le MNE Media airson BBC ALBA.
Se Club Ce�l D�thchail Nashville Ghallaibh a bhios a' ruith na F�ise agus se seo an siathamh bliadhna den Fh�is a tha a' tarruing luchd-coimhead, seinneadairean agus luchd-c�uil as gach ce�rnaidh den t-saoghal.
Bidh c�mhlain a Canada, Na St�itean Aonaichte, an �laind, �irinn agus Alba aig an Fh�is a bhios cuideachd a' toirt cothrom dha luchd-c�uil ionadail mar Na Jacks agus Manson Grant agus Na Dynamos. A bharrachd air na c�mhlain ainmeil tha �ite cuideachd ann airson sgoilearan bho �rd Sgoil Inbhir Theorsa agus C�mhlan �igridh Inbhir Uige.
A' bruidhinn as leth Club Ce�l D�thchail Ghallaibh thuirt Cairistiona Gray, Neach-Cathrach na buidhne "Se naidheachd miorbhuileach a tha seo gu bheil an Fh�is againn gu bhith air BBC ALBA. Tha sinn f�or thoilichte gum bi cothrom aig barrachd luchd-coimhead an fh�is fhaicinn tro BBC ALBA"
Thuirt Alan Esslemont, Ceannard Phr�graman BBC ALBA "Tha sinn uabhasach toilichte a bhith ag obair ann an co-bhanntachd le MNE agus Club C�ol Dthchail Ghallaibh airson an fh�is chudthromach seo a' thoirt gu BBC ALBA. Bhon toiseach tha BBC ALBA air a bhith a' feuchainn ris an ce�l as fhearr a thoirt chun an sianal agus tha seo mar eisimpleir math air sin".
Chuir Comhairliche Bill Fernie (Inbhir Uige) f�ilte air an n�idheachd ag radh "Tha an Fh�is Ce�l D�thchail a f�s a h-uile bliadhna agus tha e againn mar aon de na pr�omh tachartasan anns a sg�re againn fh�in. Tha an fh�is cuideachd air daoine a' thoirt c�mhla bho air feadh an t-saoghal agus tha e coltach gu bheil e gu bhith f�s anns na bliadhnaichean a tha romhainn"
Cr�och
Airson tuilleadh fiosrachadh cuir fios gu Lorna Inglis aig Media House (0141 220 6040 no lorna[AT]mediahouse.co.uk)
Fios do luchd-deasachaidh:
Gheibhear BBC ALBA air Sky 168 agus Freesat 110. Faic www.bbcalba.co.uk airson barrachd fiosrachaidh.
Tha BBC ALBA ga ruith le MG ALBA ann an co-bhanntachd leis a' BhBC. Is e MG ALBA ainm gn�omh Sheirbheis nam Meadhanan G�idhlig. Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mu MG ALBA agus mun cho-bhanntachd, faic www.mgalba.com