Blas On Track with Resident Band and Supersaver Tickets

4th April 2011

For the first time the 2011 Blas Festival will have a band in residence when the festival kicks off across the Highlands on 9 September. And festival-goers can take advantage of a very special low ticket price, by purchasing their tickets from the local promoters by the end of April, the festival organisers have announced.

The Outside Track play a fabulous mix of Scottish, Canadian and Irish music and song and feature step-dance. They have been rapturously received around the world. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation.

The Outside Track features Mairi Rankin of the Cape Breton Rankins and Beòlach on fiddle, vocals and step-dance; Canadian Traditional Singer if the Year nominee Norah Rendell on vocals, flute and whistle; BBC Young Trad Finalist Ailie Robertson on harp and step-dance; BBC Fame Academy Winner Fiona Black on accordion); and Cillian Ó Dalaigh of Trazz on guitar, vocals and step-dance.

Festival Director Donna Macrae said: "Blas 2011 is on track to be very exciting and, in addition to the core programme now on sale, we have had some good news about additional funding which will allow us to add further events to the festival before launching the programme in May. Tickets are on sale now, though, for the first 20 or so events and we have been heartened by the reaction so far, and the fact that tickets started selling within hours of going on sale last month."

Now in its 7th full year, Blas has matured into a recognised cultural landmark and continues to forge links and work together with other organisations that celebrate the distinct Gaelic culture of the Highlands.

Donna said: "The festival continues to enjoy the support of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and the airport will be one of the venues where the Outside Track will be appearing, on Monday September 12th, along with Iain Morrison and Daibhidh Martin, Brian Ó hEadhra and Maggie Macdonald. The airport restaurant transforms into a magical music venue for Blas".

The Outside Track will also appear across the Highlands throughout the festival with shows including Ullapool, Portree, Invergarry, Ballachulish, Portmahomack and Poolewe. The band will also feature in school performances and workshops as part of the Blas Education Programme, organised by the Highland Council's Arts Links Officer, which reaches around 5,000 school pupils annually.

The special Supersaver cheap ticket deal is being extended to festival-goers who would like to purchase their tickets well in advance of the September events. Blas has a special deal in place, until the end of April only, whereby a ticket that would normally cost £12 is being sold, through local promoters only, for only £9.00. There are also family deals available for a party of 2 adults and 2 children at £25.00.

Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, said: "In these challenging times where money is tight, we wanted to give individuals and families the opportunity to attend Blas events at an affordable price. We hope that as many people as possible who want to come to the festival take advantage of this unique ticket deal before the end of April, which offers great savings on the full prices."

For full details of local promoters, all events and tickets visit http://www.blas-festival.com
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Còmhlan Còmhnaidheach agus Sàbhalaidhean Mòra air Tiogaidean aig Blas

Airson a' chiad uair bidh còmhlan-ciùil còmhnaidheach aig Fèis Bhlas 2011 nuair a thòisicheas an Fhèis air feadh na Gàidhealtachd air 9 Sultain. Agus tha luchd-eagrachaidh na Fèis air ainmeachadh gu bheil cothrom air leth ann dhaibhsan a bhios a' frithealadh na Fèis, na tiogaidean aca a cheannach ro dheireadh a' Ghiblean aig prìs shònraichte.

Bidh The Outside Track a' cluiche measgachadh sgoinneil de cheòl is òrain Albannach, Canàdianach is Èireannach is a' dèanamh dannsa-ceum cuideachd. Tha fèill mhòr orra air feadh an t-saoghail. Tha an còignear bhall - a tha às Alba, Èirinn, Ceap Breatainn is Vancouver - uile fìor dhèidheil air ceòl traidiseanta is tha dealas aca do bhith a' cruthachadh ceòl ùr stèidhichte air a sin.

An lùib The Outside Track tha Màiri Rankin bho theaghlach Rankin Cheap Breatainn is Beòlach air an fhidhill, a' seinn is a' dèanamh dannsa-ceum; Norah Rendell a chaidh a h-ainmeachadh airson Seinneadair Traidiseanta Canàdianach na bliadhna a' seinn, air an duiseal is air an fhìdeig; Ailie Robertson a choisinn àite ann an Cuairt Dheireannach Co-fharpais Young Trad a' BhBC air a' chlàrsaich is a' dèanamh dannsa-ceum; Fiona Black a bhuannaich BBC Fame Academy air a' bhogsa-chiùil; agus Cillian Ó Dalaigh à Trazz air a' ghiotàr, a' seinn is a' dèanamh dannsa-ceum.

Thuirt Donna NicRath, Stiùiriche na Fèis: "Tha a h-uile coltas ann gum bi Blas 2011 math dha-rìribh agus, a bharrachd air a' phrìomh phrògram a gheibhear a-nis ri cheannach, tha deagh naidheachd againn mu thaic-airgid a bharrachd a bheir cothrom dhuinn tachartasan eile a chur ris an Fhèis mus tèid am prògram a chur air bhog sa Chèitean. Tha na tiogaidean air a' mhargaidh a-nis airson a' chiad 20 tachartas no mar sin, agus tha sinn fìor thoilichte gun do thòisich daoine gan ceannach taobh a-staigh uairean a thìde às dèidh dhaibh nochdadh air a' mhìos a chaidh seachad."

Seo a-nis an 7mh bliadhna slàn aig Blas, agus tha an Fhèis air cliù a chosnadh mar phrìomh thachartas chultarail agus thathar a' leantainn air adhart a' togail cheangalan is ag obrachadh còmhla ri buidhnean eile a bhios a' comharrachadh cultar àraid Gàidhlig na Gàidhealtachd.

Thuirt Donna: "Tha an Fhèis fhathast a' faighinn taic bho Phuirt-adhair na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean Earranta agus am measg àiteachan eile, bidh The Outside Track a' nochdadh aig a' phort-adhair air Diluain 12 Sultain còmhla ri Iain Moireasdan agus Daibhidh Màrtainn, Brian Ó hEadhra agus Magaidh NicDhòmhnaill. Tha taigh-bìdh a' phuirt-adhair air leth freagarrach mar àite airson èisteachd ri ceòl."

Bidh The Outside Track cuideachd a' cluiche air feadh na Gàidhealtachd tron Fhèis le consairtean ann an Ulapul, Port Rìgh, Inbhir Garadh, Baile a' Chaolais, Port MoCholmaig agus Poll Iù, am measg àiteachan eile. Bidh an còmhlan cuideachd a' gabhail com-pàirt ann an taisbeanaidhean is bùithean-obrach sgoile mar phàirt de Phrògram Foghlaim Blas, a tha Oifigear Ceangail Ealain Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd a' cur air dòigh, agus a tha a' com-pàirteachadh mu 5,000 sgoilear gach bliadhna.

Thathar a' leudachadh bargan na tiogaid sàbhalaidh gu luchd-frithealaidh na Fèis a tha airson an cuid tiogaidean a cheannach fada ro na tachartasan san t-Sultain. Tha bargan sònraichte aig Blas, ri fhaotainn gu deireadh a' Ghiblean a-mhàin, far a bheil tiogaid a chosgadh £12 gu h-àbhaisteach, ga reic - tro luchd-àrdachaidh ionadail a-mhàin - airson dìreach £9.00. Tha bargain ann do theaghlaich cuideachd is gheibhear tiogaid airson 2 inbheach is 2 leanabh airson £25.00.

Thuirt Art MacCarmaig, Ceannard Fèisean nan Gàidheal: "San là a th' ann agus airgead gu math gann, tha sinn airson cothrom a thoirt do dhaoine fa leth is do theaghlaichean tighinn gu tachartasan Blas aig prìs ruigsinneach. Tha sinn an dòchas gun gabh àireamh cho mòr 's a ghabhas de dhaoine a tha airson tighinn gu Fèis Bhlas brath air a' chothrom seo ro dheireadh a' Ghiblean, oir tha sàbhalaidhean sgoinneil air na tiogaidean."

Airson fiosrachadh iomlan mu luchd-àrdachaidh ionadail, tachartasan uile is tiogaidean, tadhail air http://www.blas-festival.com