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, Dàimh, the Glenfinnan Cèilidh 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 Cèilidh 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 Mànran 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 Fèis movement. Arthur Cormack of Fèisean nan Gàidheal 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 Fèisean nan Gàidheal 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 Fèisean 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 Fèisean nan Gàidheal 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 tòiseachaidh a bh' ann do Fhèis Bhlas na bliadhna-sa nuair a bha tiogaidean gan ceannach beagan uairean a thìde às dèidh dhaibh a dhol air a' mhargaid air 8 Màrt. Ged a bha ceistean a thaobh maoineachaidh a' faighinn làmh an uachdair faisg air deireadh 2010, tha an fhèis a' dol air adhart le 20 prìomh thachartas mar-thà air a' phrògram. Tha dùil cuideachd ri tuilleadh airgid agus bheir seo taic dhan fhèis gus barrachd a chur ris a' phrògram mus tèid a chur air bhog sa Chèitean. Mar sin tha a h-uile coltas ann gum bi deagh shreath thachartasan againn san t-Sultain.

Bidh an fhèis a' sgaoileadh a-mach nas fhaide buileach am-bliadhna airson blas nas fheàrr dhen Ghàidhealtachd a thoirt seachad, a' gabhail a-steach ceòl, òrain, cànan, biadh às an sgìre, nàdar, bàrdachd, litreachas, cuairtean-iùil agus gu leòr eile, le tuilleadh fiosrachaidh ga sgaoileadh a-rithist.

Mar as àbhaist, bidh Blas a' comharrachadh ceòl ar càirdean Ceilteach cuideachd, agus am measg an fheadhainn a bhios a' gabhail pàirt san fhèis bidh Cherish the Ladies, a tha a' tilleadh gu Blas às dèidh moladh mòr fhaighinn ann an 2009. A' comharrachadh 25 bliadhna mar aon de na còmhlain-ciùil as soirbheachaile agus air a bheil an fhèill as motha ann an eachdraidh ceòl Ceilteach, tha an còmhlan Èireannach-Ameireaganach Cherish the Ladies a' toirt thugainn blas de na dualchasan Èireannach a fhuair clann-nighean bhon athraichean. Tha measgachadh sònraichte thàlantan aig a' chòmhlan-bhoireannach seo, eadar innealan-ciùil, guthan àlainn, rèiteachaidhean tarraingeach agus dannsaichean-ceum mìorbhaileach, a tha a' toirt gach taobh de chultar thraidiseanta na h-Èireann còmhla chun an àrd-ùrlair aig an aon àm. Chaidh a ràdh san Boston Globe nach gabhadh a chreidsinn gum biodh luchd-amhairc ann ris nach còrdadh na tha an còmhlan a' dèanamh.

Thuirt Joanie Madden bho Cherish the Ladies: "Bha sinn air leth toilichte a bhith a' gabhail pàirt 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 càil mun fhèis a' còrdadh rinn agus 's e blas de chultar traidiseanta air leth càilear a th' ann dhan Ghàidhealtachd agus do dhuine sam bith a tha a' beachdadh air tadhal air an sgìre airson beachd fhaighinn air ceòl, òrain agus dannsa ann an diofar àiteachan air feadh na sgìre agus, aig an aon àm, a' cur eòlas air daoine cho càirdeal agus a' faicinn sheallaidhean cho àlainn. Air ar cuairt Eòrpach san t-Sultain, tha sinn a' tadhal air Alba aon turas a-mhàin - aig Fèis Bhlas - mar sin, ma tha sibh airson ar faicinn, feumaidh sibh tighinn gu Blas!!"

Cuideachd air daingneachadh gu bheil iad a' tighinn chun na fèis, tha Karen NicMhathain agus a còmhlan, Kathleen NicAonghais agus a còmhlan, Corrina Hewat agus Karine Polwart, Dàimh, Còmhlan Cèilidh Ghleann Fhionghain, Addie Harper, Cairistìona Primrose, Cairistìona Stone, Darren MacIlleathain, Caimbeulaich a' Ghrìob, Fiona J NicCoinnich, Gabe MacBharais le Ros Màrtainn agus Luke Daniels, Iain Moireasdan agus Dàibhidh Màrtainn, Magaidh NicAonghais agus Colm Sands, na Bràithrean Dòmhnallach à Gleann Ùige, Mairearad Green, Còmhlan-ciùil Monach Isle agus sgoilearan bho Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd. Bidh Aonghas Grannd a' comharrachadh a cho-là-breith, is e 80 bliadhna a dh'aois, aig tachartas sònraichte ann an Inbhir Garadh agus bidh an còmhlan Mànran cuideachd a' nochdadh air an àrd-ùrlar.

'S e aon de na comharran as inntinniche mu shoirbheachas na fèis gu bheil na h-uibhir de dh'òigridh bho Fhèisean air feadh na dùthcha a' gabhail pàirt. Thuirt Art MacCarmaig bho Fhèisean nan Gàidheal: "Tha sinn air leth toilichte gu bheil Blas a' tachairt air a' bhliadhna seo. Ged a thàinig air Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd nas lugha de dh'airgead a thoirt dhan fhèis, tha a' Chomhairle fhathast air leth taiceil dhuinn agus tha Fèisean nan Gàidheal air a bhith trang a' sireadh airgid bho dhiofar sporain. Tha Blas cuideachd a' toirt dhuinn deagh chothrom inbhe na Gàidhlig àrdachadh agus tha beachdan matha againn a thaobh mar a nì sinn seo ann an 2011. Tha sinn a' faicinn na fèis mar phàirt riatanach de ar n-obair oir tha cothrom aig an òigridh bho na Fèisean nochdadh air an àrd-ùrlar ri taobh cuid dhen luchd-ciùil as fheàrr a tha an sàs ann an ceòl traidiseanta.

Thuirt Stiùiriche na Fèis, Donna NicRath: "Le tàlantan agus misneachd air leth, tha an òigridh a' cur na h-uibhir ri Fèis Bhlas. Tha an òigridh seo a' riochdachadh an neart a th' anns na dualchasan air a bheil sinn cho dèidheil agus tha iad a' toirt dhuinn dòchas airson àm ri teachd anns am bi na seann dualchasan agus feadhainn ùra air am fighe còmhla. Tha sinn a' coimhead air adhart ri fèis mhìorbhaileach a tha a' comharrachadh gach snuadh de cheòl agus chultar na Gàidhealtachd. Tha sinn a' cur luach air an taic a tha sinn a' faighinn a thaobh airgid agus air na ceudan dhaoine, ar luchd-àrdachaidh agus saor-thoilich nam measg, oir cha bhiodh fèis ann às an aonais. 'S e tachartas a tha seo a tha a' toirt na coimhearsnachd air fad air bòrd."

Thuirt ceannard Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, an Dr Mìcheal Foxley: "A dh'aindeoin duilgheadasan ionmhais an ama, tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd gu tur dealasach ann an bhith a' toirt taic do Bhlas, a tha a-nis na prìomh fhèis chiùil is chultair san sgìre. Ann an com-pàirt le Fèisean nan Gàidheal, tha sinn airson Blas fhaicinn a' soirbheachadh is a' leudachadh san àm ri teachd."

Airson làn fhiosrachadh agus tiogaidean, tadhail air www.blas-festival.com