Cherishing Blas - Ready for 2011

19th March 2011

This year's Blas Festival got off to a flying start with tickets starting to sell within hours of going on sale on 8 March. Despite concerns about funding dominating much of the latter part of 2010, the festival is going ahead and has programmed a core 20 events. News of additional funding is expected which will give the festival the support needed to programme further events in advance of its official launch in May, and enable Blas to deliver yet another successful series of events this September.

The festival will spreads its wings even wider this year to celebrate a greater taste of all that is Highland, including music, song, Gaelic language, local food, nature, poetry, literature, guided walks and other strands yet to be announced.

As usual Blas will celebrate the music of our Celtic cousins too, and artistes confirmed for Blas include American legends Cherish the Ladies, returning to Blas having been very well received in 2009. Celebrating 25 years as the most successful and sought-after Irish-American group in Celtic music history, Cherish The Ladies share their timeless Irish traditions passed down from fathers to their daughters. The all-female ensemble's spectacular blend of virtuosic instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing showcases all the facets of traditional Irish culture. It has been aid by the Boston Globe that "It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn't enjoy what they do".

Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies said: "We were absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Blas Festival a few years ago and can't tell you how happy we are to be invited back! We loved everything that the festival is about and it truly is an amazing traditional cultural experience for both the Highlands and for anyone thinking of visiting the region to take in the music, song and dance at the various venues all over the area while experiencing fantastic people and breathtaking views. On our European tour this September, we are making our only appearances in Scotland at the Blas Festival, so if you want to see 'the ladies' - we'll see you at Blas!!!!"

Other artistes confirmed to date are Karen Matheson and her band, Kathleen MacInnes and band, Corrina Hewat and Karine Polwart, D�imh, the Glenfinnan C�ilidh Band, Addie Harper, Christine Primrose, Christine Stone, Darren MacLean, The Campbells of Greepe, Fiona J Mackenzie, Gabe MacVarish with Ross Martin and Luke Daniels, Iain Morrison and Daibhidh Martin, Maggie MacInnes and Colum Sands, The MacDonald brothers of Glenuig, Mairearad Green, The Monach Isle C�ilidh Band and pupils from the Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music. Aonghas Grant will celebrate his 80th birthday with us in a special event at Invergarry and Gaelic chart-bidders M�nran will also be part of the line-up.

One of the defining features of the festival is the participation of so many young people from the F�is movement. Arthur Cormack of F�isean nan G�idheal said: "We are delighted that Blas is going ahead again this year. Despite having to reduce its funding commitment, the Highland Council has remained very supportive of the festival and F�isean nan G�idheal has been working hard to find alternative funding. Blas also offers a platform for the promotion of Gaelic and we have some exciting plans for this in 2011 and see the festival as an essential part of what we do since it gives the young people from the F�isean an opportunity to appear alongside some of the best Highland artists working in traditional music."

Festival Director Donna Macrae said: "Bringing their incredible talents and enthusiasm to Blas events, these young people are the ongoing strength of the traditions we hold so dear and they are the promise of a rich future cherishing both the ancient traditions and forging the new. We look forward to another wonderful celebration of Highland music and culture in all its aspects. We are grateful to all our funders and to the hundreds of people, including our promoters and volunteers, without whom the festival simply couldn't happen. This is a real Highland wide community endeavour."

Leader of the Highland Council, Dr Michael Foxley said: "Despite the difficult financial climate Highland Council is absolutely committed to supporting Blas which has become our paramount traditional music and cultural festival. In partnership with F�isean nan G�idheal we want to see Blas flourish and expand in the future."

For full details and tickets visit www.blas-festival.com

Blas Math!

B' e deagh thoiseach t�iseachaidh a bh' ann do Fh�is Bhlas na bliadhna-sa nuair a bha tiogaidean gan ceannach beagan uairean a th�de �s d�idh dhaibh a dhol air a' mhargaid air 8 M�rt. Ged a bha ceistean a thaobh maoineachaidh a' faighinn l�mh an uachdair faisg air deireadh 2010, tha an fh�is a' dol air adhart le 20 pr�omh thachartas mar-th� air a' phr�gram. Tha d�il cuideachd ri tuilleadh airgid agus bheir seo taic dhan fh�is gus barrachd a chur ris a' phr�gram mus t�id a chur air bhog sa Ch�itean. Mar sin tha a h-uile coltas ann gum bi deagh shreath thachartasan againn san t-Sultain.

Bidh an fh�is a' sgaoileadh a-mach nas fhaide buileach am-bliadhna airson blas nas fhe�rr dhen Gh�idhealtachd a thoirt seachad, a' gabhail a-steach ce�l, �rain, c�nan, biadh �s an sg�re, n�dar, b�rdachd, litreachas, cuairtean-i�il agus gu le�r eile, le tuilleadh fiosrachaidh ga sgaoileadh a-rithist.

Mar as �bhaist, bidh Blas a' comharrachadh ce�l ar c�irdean Ceilteach cuideachd, agus am measg an fheadhainn a bhios a' gabhail p�irt san fh�is bidh Cherish the Ladies, a tha a' tilleadh gu Blas �s d�idh moladh m�r fhaighinn ann an 2009. A' comharrachadh 25 bliadhna mar aon de na c�mhlain-ci�il as soirbheachaile agus air a bheil an fh�ill as motha ann an eachdraidh ce�l Ceilteach, tha an c�mhlan �ireannach-Ameireaganach Cherish the Ladies a' toirt thugainn blas de na dualchasan �ireannach a fhuair clann-nighean bhon athraichean. Tha measgachadh s�nraichte th�lantan aig a' ch�mhlan-bhoireannach seo, eadar innealan-ci�il, guthan �lainn, r�iteachaidhean tarraingeach agus dannsaichean-ceum m�orbhaileach, a tha a' toirt gach taobh de chultar thraidiseanta na h-�ireann c�mhla chun an �rd-�rlair aig an aon �m. Chaidh a r�dh san Boston Globe nach gabhadh a chreidsinn gum biodh luchd-amhairc ann ris nach c�rdadh na tha an c�mhlan a' d�anamh.

Thuirt Joanie Madden bho Cherish the Ladies: "Bha sinn air leth toilichte a bhith a' gabhail p�irt ann am Blas bho chionn beagan bhliadhnachan agus chan urrainn dhomh innse dhuibh cho toilichte 's a tha mi gun deach ar fiathachadh air ais! Tha a h-uile c�il mun fh�is a' c�rdadh rinn agus 's e blas de chultar traidiseanta air leth c�ilear a th' ann dhan Gh�idhealtachd agus do dhuine sam bith a tha a' beachdadh air tadhal air an sg�re airson beachd fhaighinn air ce�l, �rain agus dannsa ann an diofar �iteachan air feadh na sg�re agus, aig an aon �m, a' cur e�las air daoine cho c�irdeal agus a' faicinn sheallaidhean cho �lainn. Air ar cuairt E�rpach san t-Sultain, tha sinn a' tadhal air Alba aon turas a-mh�in - aig F�is Bhlas - mar sin, ma tha sibh airson ar faicinn, feumaidh sibh tighinn gu Blas!!"

Cuideachd air daingneachadh gu bheil iad a' tighinn chun na f�is, tha Karen NicMhathain agus a c�mhlan, Kathleen NicAonghais agus a c�mhlan, Corrina Hewat agus Karine Polwart, D�imh, C�mhlan C�ilidh Ghleann Fhionghain, Addie Harper, Cairist�ona Primrose, Cairist�ona Stone, Darren MacIlleathain, Caimbeulaich a' Ghr�ob, Fiona J NicCoinnich, Gabe MacBharais le Ros M�rtainn agus Luke Daniels, Iain Moireasdan agus D�ibhidh M�rtainn, Magaidh NicAonghais agus Colm Sands, na Br�ithrean D�mhnallach � Gleann �ige, Mairearad Green, C�mhlan-ci�il Monach Isle agus sgoilearan bho Sgoil Chi�il na G�idhealtachd. Bidh Aonghas Grannd a' comharrachadh a cho-l�-breith, is e 80 bliadhna a dh'aois, aig tachartas s�nraichte ann an Inbhir Garadh agus bidh an c�mhlan M�nran cuideachd a' nochdadh air an �rd-�rlar.

'S e aon de na comharran as inntinniche mu shoirbheachas na f�is gu bheil na h-uibhir de dh'�igridh bho Fh�isean air feadh na d�thcha a' gabhail p�irt. Thuirt Art MacCarmaig bho Fh�isean nan G�idheal: "Tha sinn air leth toilichte gu bheil Blas a' tachairt air a' bhliadhna seo. Ged a th�inig air Comhairle na G�idhealtachd nas lugha de dh'airgead a thoirt dhan fh�is, tha a' Chomhairle fhathast air leth taiceil dhuinn agus tha F�isean nan G�idheal air a bhith trang a' sireadh airgid bho dhiofar sporain. Tha Blas cuideachd a' toirt dhuinn deagh chothrom inbhe na G�idhlig �rdachadh agus tha beachdan matha againn a thaobh mar a n� sinn seo ann an 2011. Tha sinn a' faicinn na f�is mar ph�irt riatanach de ar n-obair oir tha cothrom aig an �igridh bho na F�isean nochdadh air an �rd-�rlar ri taobh cuid dhen luchd-ci�il as fhe�rr a tha an s�s ann an ce�l traidiseanta.

Thuirt Sti�iriche na F�is, Donna NicRath: "Le t�lantan agus misneachd air leth, tha an �igridh a' cur na h-uibhir ri F�is Bhlas. Tha an �igridh seo a' riochdachadh an neart a th' anns na dualchasan air a bheil sinn cho d�idheil agus tha iad a' toirt dhuinn d�chas airson �m ri teachd anns am bi na seann dualchasan agus feadhainn �ra air am fighe c�mhla. Tha sinn a' coimhead air adhart ri f�is mh�orbhaileach a tha a' comharrachadh gach snuadh de che�l agus chultar na G�idhealtachd. Tha sinn a' cur luach air an taic a tha sinn a' faighinn a thaobh airgid agus air na ceudan dhaoine, ar luchd-�rdachaidh agus saor-thoilich nam measg, oir cha bhiodh f�is ann �s an aonais. 'S e tachartas a tha seo a tha a' toirt na coimhearsnachd air fad air b�rd."

Thuirt ceannard Chomhairle na G�idhealtachd, an Dr M�cheal Foxley: "A dh'aindeoin duilgheadasan ionmhais an ama, tha Comhairle na G�idhealtachd gu tur dealasach ann an bhith a' toirt taic do Bhlas, a tha a-nis na pr�omh fh�is chi�il is chultair san sg�re. Ann an com-p�irt le F�isean nan G�idheal, tha sinn airson Blas fhaicinn a' soirbheachadh is a' leudachadh san �m ri teachd."

Airson l�n fhiosrachadh agus tiogaidean, tadhail air www.blas-festival.com