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15th annual Blas Festival launches programme of Highland musical events
This year’s Gaelic music festival will culminate on St Andrew’s night Highlands :: 22-30 November :: www.blas-festival.com
BUY YOUR TICKETS @ www.blas-festival.com/blasfestival2019 The programme for this year’s Blas Festival has been launched and it reveals an outstanding line-up of musicians from Scotland and further afield for this year’s Gaelic music festival which will take place this month in venues throughout the Highlands. Blas, which means ‘taste’ or ‘sample’, is organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with The Highland Council and will take place from 22-30 November, culminating in a variety of events across the Highlands to celebrate St Andrew’s Night. It aims to celebrate Gaelic culture and the thriving Scottish traditional music scene over 8 days of concerts, cèilidhs and workshops in venues across the Highlands and Islands.
SIAN :: www.facebook.com/SIANceol/
Fast becoming a Blas tradition, three birthdays will be celebrated in true Highland style this year with an impressive array of special musical guests. Gaelic singer, John ‘Seonaidh Beag’ Macmillan will celebrate his 80th birthday alongside Donaidh Macleod who turns 90 this year. Celebrating with the Lewis men, at An Lanntair in Stornoway, will be Gaelic singers Kathleen Macinnes and Iain Mackay, Allan Henderson, members of the Lewis Pipe Band and other special Acts at this year’s Blas, which takes place at venues from Aviemore to Barra include the Gary Innes Band, guests. Also celebrating a special 80th birthday will be Barra’s Chrissie Macdonald, or Chrissie Denny as she Tideline’s Robert Robertson and Ross Wilson, Iain is commonly known, who will be joined by Mary Ann Macfarlane and Ingrid Henderson, an outstanding Kennedy, Allan Macdonald, Alasdair Whyte, Còisir piping night at Inverness Town House and neo-trad trio Project Smok. As always there will also be special Ghàidhlig Bharraigh and The Cèilidh King, Fergie Macdonald, at Barra’s Northbay Hall. performances from an overseas act. Two of Cape Breton’s finest fiddlers and step-dancers, sisters Having recently showcased their work in Canada at Dawn & Margie Beaton, will be entertaining audiences the Celtic Colours Festival, Fuaran will take to the in Gairloch, Resolis, Ullapool and Roybridge, alongside stage to showcase the fruits of their recent work. Gaelic singing trio, Sian, and singer Kathleen Fuaran, a heritage initiative established by Fèisean MacInnes. nan Gàidheal to encourage a new generation of Gaelic In a programme which really does offer something for every member of the family, as well as the 20+ main concerts and cèilidh, there will also be daytime cèilidhs, a series of song lectures and a special schools programme which will see some of the musicians visit locals schools for performances and workshops.
2005. This year’s programme is no exception and with its outstanding cèilidhs, and concerts will celebrate and promote Highland culture to audiences coming from far and wide. We are delighted to be able to put on Blas Festival this year, once again, to showcase and celebrate our homegrown talent.” Shona MacLennan, Ceannard, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said “Bòrd na Gàidhlig is delighted that Fèisean nan Gàidheal has been successful in ensuring that the much-valued Blas festival is running again this year. The high quality and range of events in the progamme promote a very positive message about the Gaelic language and culture. We know that the arts are a key driver in attracting people to learn Gaelic and in strengthening its use and Blas, along with other festivals, add significantly to Scotland’s culture and its attractiveness as a country.”
Councillor Alister Mackinnon, Chair of the Gaelic Strategy and Implementation Group and Chair of Corporate Resources, Highland Council, said: speakers and singers to actively engage in the This year will also feature two special partnerships. “The Highland Council has supported the Blas Festival research and collection of Gaelic songs in their local Blas and Smalls Halls Festival will present shows in since its inception 14 years ago. The Blas programme Kyleakin and Edinbane featuring a world-class line up area, will perform alongside tradition bearer, singer is educational and entertaining especially as we and piper, Rona Lightfoot, and Gaelic singer Margaret of musicians including Capercaillie’s Donald Shaw, celebrate the Year of Indigenous Languages, and Stewart, who both supported the young singers with fiddler Duncan Chisholm, Grantown-on-Spey multiincludes events from Kyleakin to Lochinver and instrumentalist and composer Hamish Napier and BBC their research. Gairloch to Strathy on the North Coast". Young Folk Award winner, uilleann piper Jarlath Arthur Cormack, Fèisean nan Gàidheal Chief Henderson. The Highland capital will host a show by Executive, said: “Blas Festival has become an electronic celtic fusion super group, Niteworks, at important event in the calendar for communities www.twitter.com/blasfestival Ironworks - a partnership between 432 and Blas. across the Highlands and Islands since its inception in
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Tha an 15mh Fèis bhliadhnail Blas a’ nochdadh prògram de thachartasan ciùil Gàidhealach Tha prògram Fèis bhliadhnail Blas ga fhoillseachadh is e a’ nochdadh taghadh farsaing de luchd-ciùil à Alba is thall thairis airson fèis chiùil Ghàidhlig na bliadhna-sa a bhios a’ gabhail aite an ath-mhìos ann an tallachan air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Tha Blas ga chur air dòigh le Fèisean nan Gàidheal ann an co-bhoinn le Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus bidh i a’ gabhail àite eadar 22-30 Samhain, a’ tighinn gu crìch le caochladh thachartasan air feadh na Gàidhealtachd airson oidhche na Fèill Anndrais a chomharrachadh. Tha i an dùil cultar na Gàidhlig agus saoghal beothail ceòl dualchasach Albannach a chomharrachadh ann an 8 làithean de chonsairtean, de chèilidhean is de sheiseanan-obrach ann an àiteachan air feadh a’ chinn a tuath is nan eilean. Ann am prògram sa bheil ann an da-rìreadh rudeigin do shean is òg, a bharrachd air na prìomh chonsairtean is cèilidhean, bidh cuideachd cèilidhean ann tron latha, sreath òraidean air òrain agus prògram sònraichte do sgoiltean far an tadhail cuid den luchdciùil air sgoiltean ionadail a chluich is a dhèanamh sheiseanan-obrach. Am measg na bhios aig Blas na bliadhna-sa, a bhios a’ gabhail àite bhon Agaidh Mhòr gu Barraigh, bidh an còmhlan aig Gary Innes,
Raibeart MacDhonnchaidh is Ros MacUilleim bho Thidelines, Iain MacPhàrlain is Ingrid NicEanraig, oidhche air leth de phìobaireachd ann an Taigh a’ Bhaile ann an Inbhir Nis agus an triùir nuadh-dhualchasach, Project Smok. Mar as àbhaist bidh cluicheadairean air leth againn bho thall thairis. Bidh brod nam fìdhlearan is nan dannsairean à Ceap Breatann, na peathraichean Dawn is Margie Pheutan, air beulaibh luchd-coimhead ann an Geàrrloch, an Ruigh Solais, an Ulabul agus san Drochaid Ruaidh, ri taobh an triuir sheinneadairean Sian agus a’ bhanasheinneadair Caitlìn NicAonghais. Am-bliadhna chìthear dà cho-thachartas air leth. Cuiridh Blas agus Fèis nan Tallachan Beaga consairtean air ann an Caol Àcainn agus san Aodann Bhàn le sar-thaghadh de luchd-ciùil, nam measg Dòmhnall Seathach bho Chapercaillie, am fìdhlear Donnchadh Siosal, am fear ioma-ionnstramaideach a bhios a dèanamh cèol ùr, Hamish Napier à Baile nan Granndach agus fear-glèidhidh Duais BBC Young Folk, am pìobaire uilleann, Iarlath MacEanraig. Ann an Inbhir Nis gabhaidh an sàr-chòmhlan eileagtronaigeach Ceilteach, Niteworks, a chluinntinn san Ironworks, rud a tha na chom-pàirteachas eadar 432 agus Fèis Blas.
bliadhna. Còmhla ris na Leòdhasaich san Lanntair ann an Steòrnabhagh bidh na seinneadairean, Caitlìn NicAonghais agus Iain MacAoidh, Ailean MacEanraig, buill de Chòmhlan Phìobairean Leòdhais agus aoighean sònraichte eile. Cuideachd a’ comharrachadh ceithir fichead bliadhna bidh Criosaidh Dhòmhnallach à Barraigh, no Criosaidh Deanaidh mar as fheàrr as aithne dhi, agus na cuideachd bidh Màiri Anna NicUalraig, Ailean Dòmhnallach, Alasdair MacIlleBhàin, Còisir Ghàidhlig Bharraigh agus Rìgh nan Cèilidhean, Feargaidh Dòmhnallach, ann an Talla a’ Bhagh a Tuath ann am Barraigh.
A’ cur an cèill an cuid saothrach ann an Canada an-dràsta, nochdaidh Fuaran air an àrd-ùrlar airson toradh na h-obrach a rinn iad o chionn ghoirid a shealltainn. ‘S e a tha ann am Fuaran ach iomairt dualchais stèidhichte le Fèisean nan Gàidheal airson ginealach ùr de sheinneadairean òga Gàidhealach a bhrosnachadh a bhith a’ rannsachadh is a’ cruinneachadh òrain Ghàidhlig sa cheàrnaidh aca fhèin, agus seinnidh iad còmhla ris a’ bhanasheinneadair is a’ bhana-phìobaire, Rona Lightfoot, agus a’ bhana-sheinneadair, Mairead Stiùbhart, a chuidich le chèile na Ann an cleachdadh a tha gu math stèidhichte seinneadairean òga le an cuid rannsachaidh. Thuirt Ceannard Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Art ann am Blas a-nis, thèid trì co-làithean Cormaig: “Tha Fèis Blas air a dhol na breith a chomharrachadh air an t-seann dòigh Ghàidhealaich am-bliadhna le taghadh thachartas cudromach ann am mìosachan choimhearsnachdan air feadh na sgoinneil de shar-aoighean ciùil. Bidh Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean bho chuireadh Seonaidh Beag MacMhaoilein a’ air chois i ann an 2005. Tha prògram na comharrachadh ceithir fichead bliadhna ri bliadhna-sa mar an ceudna agus le a cuid taobh Dhonaidh MhicLeòid a bhios 90 am-
chonsairtean is cèilidhean comharraichidh agus brosnaichidh cultar Gàidhealach do luchd-èisteachd fad is farsaing. Tha sinn air ar doìgh glan gur urrainn dhuinn Fèis Blas a chur air a-rithist am bliadhna, aon uair eile, airson an tàlant a dh’fhàs an seo fhèin a shealltainn is a chomharrachadh.” Chuir Shona NicIllFhinnein, bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig ris: “Tha Bòrd na Gàidhlig toilichte gun deach aig Fèisean nan Gàidheal air dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil an Fhèis luachmhor a tha ann am Blas a’ dol a-rithist am bliadhna-sa. Tha inbhe àrd is farsaingeachd tachartasan a’ phrògraim a’ sgaoileadh deagh theachdaireachd mu chànain is cultar na Gàidhlig. Tha fhios againn gu bheil an ealain na prìomh-adhbhar air daoine a tharraing a bhith ag ionnsachadh na Gàidhlig is gu bheil i a’ neartachadh bruidhinn na cànain agus gu bheil Blas agus fèisean eile a’ cur gu mòr ri cultar na h-Alba agus a’ tarraing dhaoine thuice." Thuirt an Comhairliche Alasdair MacFhionghain, Cathraiche Buidheann Roinnleachd agus Cur an Gnìomh na Gàidhlig agus Cathraiche an Stòrais Chorparra aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd: “Tha Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air taic a chumail ri Fèis Blas bho thòisich i 14 bliadhna air ais. ‘S e goireas foghlaim a tha ann am prògram Blas agus tha i na fearas-cuideachd gu h-àraidh is sinn a’ comharrachadh Bliadhna nan Cànan Dùthchasach. Tha i a’ toirt a-steach thachartasan bho Chaol Àcainn gu Loch nan Inbhir agus Geàrrloch gu Srathaidh ann an Dùthaich MhicAoidh.”
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