Blas Festival 2007 Celebrating Highland Music 31 August - 8 September 2007

24th August 2007

The leading Gaelic and Traditional music festival in the Highlands has published its 2007 programme of events detailing 53 shows across 48 venues in the region.

The BLAS festival www.blas-festival.com will host an array of homegrown and internationally-renowned musicians from 31st August - 8th September and is a highlight of the Highland 2007 programme. www.highland2007.com

It is a celebration of Highland music which will see a variety of performances ranging from The Scottish Ensemble with Capercaillie's Karen Matheson, to KIN - a new commission from Duncan Chisholm.

Other highlights include Donald Shaw's 'Harvest', Dòchas, Mary Jane Lamond Band, Kathryn Tickell Band, Na Seòid - The New Gaelic Men, and Shooglenifty.

Festival Director Donna Cunningham said: "This is our third year and we've managed to create our best programme yet. We have something for everyone with performances in big venues such as St Andrew's Cathedral in Inverness, the Nevis Centre in Fort William, and the Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort. There will also be shows in more intimate community venues such as village halls and schools.

"BLAS is truly a festival of the Highlands and we have shows taking place in all areas of the region, including Inverness for the first time. We get off to a fine start with our official festival launch being at Runrig's 'Beat The Drum' gig at Loch Ness."

Calum Macdonald of Runrig said: "Runrig are delighted that Blas are joining us at our 'Beat the Drum' event to launch their 2007 festival. We feel a great empathy with the whole ethos of Blas and applaud all that they have achieved over the years. At 'Beat the Drum' we hope to provide a special day that celebrates the diversity of Highland based music. As well as the main stage attractions, the Blas Festival will provide a musical background throughtout the earlier part of the day, featuring the best of the young talent from the current traditional scene."

The main sponsor of this year's festival is the Clydesdale Bank. Alan Holland, Managing Partner of the Bank's Financial Solutions Centre in Inverness said: "Clydesdale Bank are delighted to support BLAS during 2007, Scotland's Year of Highland Culture. Clydesdale Bank has a long history of supporting community events and activities throughout Scotland and we are delighted we now have this partnership in place with a flagship project, throughout the Highlands, which will benefit locals and visitors alike."

Highland 2007 director Fiona Hampton said: "The programme for Blas in 2007 looks exceptional and builds upon the success of the Festival in its first two years. Audiences across the Highlands are in for a treat with the very best international and home grown talent on show in what promises to be a fabulous celebration of Gaelic and traditional music."

Information about the festival events is available from the website www.blas-festival.com

Tickets are available by telephone hotline: 01463 782213; from venues staging the festival shows; or on-line at www.thebooth.co.uk

The BLAS Festival primary sponsor is Clydesdale Bank. Other sponsors and supporters include The Highland Council, Highland 2007, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Scottish Arts Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Jacobite Cruises, Highland Flying School, Highlander Music, BBC Radio Scotland and Live Music Now Scotland.

Cuir sùil air http://www.blas-festival.com an-dràsta fhèin
A flavour of the programme but please check out details on the website:

KIN: A New Commission for 2007 by Duncan Chisholm
Grantown: Monday 3 September
Inverness: Tuesday 4 September 2007
Ross-shire: Wednesday 5 September 2007
Lochaber: Thursday 6 September 2007

Blas Festival gratefully acknowledges financial support from the PRS Foundation for this commission

Clan: The Hendersons of Lochaber & MacNeils of Cape Breton
Inverness: Monday 3 September 2007
Ross-shire: Tuesday 4 September 2007
Carrbridge: Wednesday 5 September 2007
Skye & Lochalsh: Thursday 6 September 2007
Lochaber: Friday 7 September 2007

Na Seòid: Gillebrìde MacMillan, Norman MacArthur, Calum Alex MacMillan,
Angus MacPhail, Griogair Lawrie, Norrie MacIver, James Graham
Sutherland: Wednesday 5 September
Kingussie: Thursday 6 September 2007
Ross-shire: Friday 7 September 2007
Skye & Lochalsh: Saturday 8 September 2007

Donald Shaw¹s Harvest
Presented by Blas in association with Fèis Rois
Harvest is a spectacular gala concert created, written and directed by
Capercaillie¹s Donald Shaw, with Karen Matheson,
Charlie McKerron and Mike McGoldrick, Guadi Galego from Galicia, Karan Casey
from Ireland, Highland musicians
Anna Massie, Aidan O¹ Rourke and James MacIntosh and Brittany¹s outstanding
flautist Jean-Michel Veillon combines
with over forty young Highland Fèis students to give a thrilling performance
of new music.
Aviemore: Friday 7 September 2007
Lochaber: Saturday 8 September 2007
===
Boxclub and Ishbel Macaskill
Boat of Garten: Saturday 8 September 2007
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Anam & Flook
Thurso High School: Tuesday 4 September
See http://arts.caithness.org/article.php?id=378
http://arts.caithness.org/article.php?id=378
===
Anam also appearing in:
Inverness: Sunday 2 September 2007

Flook also appearing in:
Ross-shire: Friday 31 August 2007
Lochaber: Saturday 1 September 2007
Inverness: Sunday 2 September 2007
Skye & Lochalsh: Monday 3 September 2007
===
Shooglenifty
Farr Hall: Friday 31 August with Caledonian Canal Cèilidh Trail
Lochaber: Wednesday 5 September 2007
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Scottish Ensemble & Karen Matheson
St Andrew's Cathedral, Inverness: Saturday 1 September with Inverness Gaelic
Choir
Sutherland: Sunday 2 September 2007
Lochaber: Monday 3 September 2007
===
Piping Concert: Allan MacDonald, Rona Lightfoot, Duncan MacGillivray
and Ashleigh Bell
Inverness Town House: Wednesday 5 September 2007
===
TMSA Young Trad Tour: Darren MacLean, Mike Vass, Calum Stewart,
Catriona Watt, Calum MacCrimmon and Martin Hunter
Culloden Academy: Thursday 6 September
Inverness: Thursday 6 September 2007
Ross-shire: Friday 7 September 2007
Ross-shire: Saturday 8 September 2007
===
Jacobite Cruise with Bruce MacGregor & Friends
Fine dinner and excellent musical entertainment from Bruce Macgregor and
friends onboard a five star
Jacobite Cruise boat on the beautiful Loch Ness. 3 Course Buffet Dinner
prepared by "Red Poppy"
TICKETS: £50 pp - only 50 tickets available
The Jacobite Queen: Friday 7 September
Departure Point: Tomnachurich Bridge/Inverness at 7.00 for sailing at 7.30.
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Dannsa
Sutherland: Saturday 1 September 2007
Skye & Lochalsh: Friday 7 September 2007
Kiltarlity Hall: Saturday 8 September 2007
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Eilean a' Chiùil - The Musical Isle: A Skye showcase with
Anne Martin, Malcolm Jones, Sarah Naylor, Angus Nicolson,
Darren MacLean, Andrew MacPherson and June Naylor
Glenuig Village Hall: Friday 31st August 2007
Skye & Lochalsh: Saturday 1 September 2007
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Ceilear! community singing group
St Mary's & St Finnan's ­ Glenfinnan: Sunday 2 September 2007
===
Guthan a' Chuain Siar - Atlantic Voices:
Mary Jane Lamond Band and Kathleen Macinnes Band
Ross-shire: Monday 3 September 2007
Arainn Shuaineirt ­ Strontian: Tuesday 4 September 2007
Skye & Lochalsh: Wednesday 5 September 2007
Nairn: Thursday 6 September 2007
Sutherland: Friday 7 September 2007
===
Shooglenifty & The Kathryn Tickell Band
Nevis Centre, Fort William: Wednesday 5 September 2007
===
Dàimh & Dòchas
Skye and Lochalsh: Friday 31 August 2007
Nairn Academy: Saturday 1 September 2007
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Skipinnish
Sutherland: Friday 31 August 2007
Ullapool Village Hall: Saturday 1September 2007
===
Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail & Dance with the Ghillies
Applecross Community Hall: Saturday 1 September
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Piping Concert: a tribute to Gordon Duncan with Ross Ainslie,
Jarlath Henderson and Ali Hutton and special guests Katheryn Tickell Band
Tulloch Castle, Dingwall: Thursday 6 September 2007

The Kathryn Tickell Band are also appearing in:
Skye & Lochalsh: Tuesday 4 September 2007
Lochaber: Wednesday 5 September 2007
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Rona Lightfoot, Boxclub and Meantime
Strathpeffer Pavilion: Friday 7 September
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Fèis an Earraich Cèilidh Trail & Dance with Dagger Gordon
Glenelg Hall: Friday 31 August
===
Skerryvore & Fèis an Earraich Ceilidh Trail
Edinbane Village Hall: Saturday 1 September

For full details bigger programme and ticket information got to www.blas-festival.com