SOME of Scotland’s best-loved traditional musicians and singers will take to the stage in venues across the Highlands and Islands this September.
The Blas Festival, which will run from September 9-11, will showcase Gaelic culture and the thriving Scottish traditional music scene including 25 concerts and cèilidhs, an education and communities programme and an online offering which will include workshops, Gaelic song sessions and livestreamed concerts.
This year’s Blas – which means ‘taste’ or ‘sample’ – has been organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with The Highland Council, and will visit an array of communities across the Highlands including Inverness, Glenelg, Lairg, Gairloch, Ballachuilish, Applecross, Portree, Kingussie and more.
The festival will open with a special concert in Inverness Cathedral featuring two brother and sister duos, one from Inverness, Peigi and Donaidh Barker, and the other, Seumas & Caoimhe Ui Fhlatharta, from Connemara on the west coast of Ireland.
Other highlights of this year’s Blas include double Mòd medallist, Ruairidh Gray with Robert Nairn, in Kilmuir and Invergarry; Capercaillie’s Charlie McKerron, piper Ross Ainslie, Tim Edey and Marc Clement in Acharacle and Ballachuilish; Gaelic singers Darren Maclean, Mairi Callan with Iain MacMaster in Dunvegan and Glenelg; and Deirdre Graham with The Graham Mackenzie Trio in Roybridge and Applecross.
Calum Alex Macmillan from Blas Festival organisers, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, commented: “Despite the challenges of rising costs and reduced funding we are delivering on our commitment to bringing good quality musical events to communities across the Highlands, in collaboration with our partners, including the festival’s main supporter, The Highland Council.
“We are hugely appreciative of the continued support from all our supporters and hope audiences across the Highlands and Islands will enjoy our representation of Gaelic culture.”
Siobhan Anderson, music officer at Creative Scotland said: “The Blas 2023 programme is brim-full of exciting and innovative performances. Reaching into every corner of the Highlands and Islands, Blas is opening up Scotland’s vibrant and thriving Gaelic arts and culture scene for more people to enjoy.
“The incredible contributions of artists and organisations alike will be celebrated through concerts showing a strong admiration and appreciation for the tradition bearers who laid the foundations for the performers of today. New commissions and performances by local Fèisean will nourish the artists of tomorrow and bring delight to audiences across the area.”
The full programme of main events can be found at www.blas.scot along with details of how to purchase tickets.
