Bidh Blas a’ toìseachadh Dihaoine 1mh Sultain agus cha bheag a tha ri fhaicinn agus ri chluinntinn rè 9 làithean air feadh sgìre na Gàidhaltachd, Earra-Ghàidheal agus Innse Gall.
Some people travel across the world to sample Highland culture during the Blas Festival. Others travel shorter distances. Whatever the duration of travel organisers of this year’s festival, taking place from 1 to 9 September, are looking forward to offering audiences – visiting and local – a great 9-day taste of music, song and poetry.
Click here to go to the Blas Festival website
Sealladh aithghearr | Quick Guide
Beginning on Friday 1 September, Blas will feature around 40 events including performances by established artists such as Skipinnish, Breabach, Mànran and Duncan Chisholm. Skerryvore will be joined at Eden Court in Inverness by Ireland’s Sharon Shannon, returning after her successful Blas appearances last year. Iain MacFarlane and Ewan Robertson will be joined by Dermot Byrne, formerly Altan’s box player.
Blas also makes a virtue of involving young people and new Gaelic song trio Sian [Ceitlin LR Smith, Eilidh Cormack & Ellen MacDonald with Innes White], traditional trio Hecla, as well as former Radio 2 Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Mischa Macpherson, will be appearing as will young people from several Fèisean and the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music based at Plockton High School.
The Angus Nicolson Trio, Donald Black Band, Ireland’s Fidil and Canada’s MacIsaac & MacKenzie will appear as will an array of the finest Gaelic singers including Mairi MacInnes, James Graham, Iain MacKay, Margaret Stewart, Rona Lightfoot, Ewan John Morrison, David Mackenzie, Murdo ‘Wasp’ MacDonald, Amy MacKay, Mary Catherine MacNeil, Freddie Mackenzie, Dingwall Gaelic Choir and Inverness Gaelic Choir. In an ongoing partnership with Comhairle nan Leabhraichean Gaelic poets, including Maoilios Caimbeul and Aonghas MacNeacail, will make a guest appearance at some events.
A hallmark of Blas over the past few years has been the recognition of some of Gaelic music’s most revered artistes. This year is no exception with special events celebrating the 80th birthdays of four icons of Gaelic Culture – Kenna Campbell, Fergie MacDonald, Morag MacLeod and Finlay MacLeod.
Each year Blas offers a new commission and this has resulted in several excellent new pieces of music having been composed and performed well beyond their Blas debut. This year, organisers have taken a different tack and Dìleab Uilleim will explore the Gaelic song legacy of Rev William Matheson, one of Scotland’s foremost collectors and authorities on Gaelic song. Those shows will feature introductions to the songs by Jo MacDonald and performances from Robert Robertson, Rachel Walker, Ross Wilson, Alasdair Whyte, Eilidh Cormack, Linda Macleod, Allan MacDonald and Christine Primrose.
New music will still be a feature with Mary Ann Kennedy performing songs from her newly-launched album An Dàn and Gary Innes will be performing music from his new album Era. A CD of Lauren MacColl’s Fèis Rois Commission The Seer will be launched at two performances during Blas with a stellar line-up of musicians in her ensemble including Mairearad Green who, along with Mike Vass, will introduce another new album A Day A Month at a joint performance in Ullapool.
Two Fèisean – Fèis Lochabair and Fèis na h-Òige – will host concerts celebrating their 25th anniversaries and Glòir nan Caman: Shinty’s Heroes returns with Hugh Dan MacLennan and a host of fine musicians focusing on PM William Lawrie from Ballachulish.
We are grateful for the support of The Highland Council, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Creative Scotland, Argyll and Bute Council, Comhairle nan Leabhraichean and, for the first time, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. We are also very happy that Marine Harvest have agreed to sponsor certain elements of Blas 2017.
Tha sinn an dòchas ur faicinn aig cuid de na tachartasan.
Briogaibh an seo airson làrach-lìn na fèise Click here to go to the Blas Festival website