They say there is gold in the hills, but on one evening this September, there will be more than a sprinkling of gold dust on the stage of Fort William’s Nevis Centre when the Blas 2011 Festival comes to town.
 
As part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Lochaber High School, Blas festival organisers have invited a group of some of the school’s illustrious (allegedly) former pupils, who have spread Lochaber’s fame far and wide, to reminisce and rejoice in their collective and individual past. From the world of politics and sport they will arrive, with no super-injunctions to protect their identities. They will be accompanied by some of the best musicians to have emerged from Lochaber’s vibrant music scene to provide a heady concoction of wit, repartee and entertainment.
 
Amongst those joining the list of celebrities will be Catherine Macleod, Donald Park, Charles Kennedy, Duncan Shearer and a glittering array of local musical talent which will feature, along with others, the Lochaber High School pipe band.
 
Trying to keep all of this in line will be two compères whom are also former pupils: Hugh Dan MacLennan who will perform a Michael Parkinson-type role, with musician and shinty superstar (his own description) Gary Innes the Graeme Norton-style counterpoint.  Both have a well-known shared interest in shinty and have combined to head up an intriguing mix of nostalgia and fun the evening before the 2011 Camanachd Cup Final which this year links up with the Blas festival.
 
Hugh Dan MacLennan said: “It’s fascinating to look back and try and get a handle on the impact a school like Lochaber has made on the national stage, never mind its contribution to the local community. If you consider the impact made in national politics and broadcasting by people such as Charles Kennedy and Catherine Macleod (whose mother taught me in Caol Primary School incidentally), then in the sporting sphere footballers Donald Park and Duncan Shearer, it is simply remarkable. They will have plenty tales to tell and who knows we may have a surprise or two up our sleeves. Along with the superb set of musicians we have assembled, kit should be quite a night.”  
 
This past year marks a significant milestone in the history of the Lochaber High School. Current Head teacher Jim Sutherland said: “When former pupils gathered to mark the 50th anniversary of the school it was quite apparent that former pupils were proud to have represented the school, both in terms of what they had achieved whilst there and what they had done thereafter, displaying all sorts of talents and performing with distinction in many areas far and wide.
 
The line-up for Lochaber Gold is representative of that range of achievement and those appearing will, I am sure, act as great motivators and inspiration to the current pupils at the school that they can similarly go on and perform at the highest level, whatever stage they chose to perform on.
 
Gary Innes’ role as musical director of the show is not without its risks as he is planning for the event presently not knowing whether he may be involved in the Camanachd Cup Final at Inverness with Fort William the next day. He said: “It would be hard to find another school which has produced such a fantastic set of musicians, especially since the 1990s when the whole thing seems to have taken off. We are all delighted to be able to contribute to this celebration of what we got in Lochaber High and I have no doubt that the work done by the Fèisean movement in Lochaber has been the driver which enabled us all to discover our roots and offer us the opportunity to develop our talents as musicians. Some of us don’t go so far back in the history of the school as others, but we are all part of it and this will be a great tribute to the school and what has gone on the area.”  
 
Along with Gary will be Kaela Rowan, James Mackintosh, Ewen Henderson, Megan Henderson, Duncan Nicholson, Ingrid Henderson, Iain MacFarlane, Allan Henderson, Annie Grace, Angus Grant, Andrew Stevenson and Ross Martin.
 
Lochaber Gold is just one of a range of top quality musical events being staged by the 2011 Blas Festival organisers celebrating the rich heritage of the Highlands and Islands in the year of Scotland’s Islands.  Blas is now firmly established as the premier Gaelic festival celebrating Highland culture.

ISLAND CULTURE TO THE FORE AS 2011 BLAS FESTIVAL LAUNCHES - May

A strand of programming featuring top performers and a major new commission celebrating the culture of Scotland’s islands will be at the heart of this year’s Blas Festival, which has established itself as the premier event celebrating all that is good about the Gaelic language and culture of the Highlands.

Blas organisers launched the 2011 programme at one of its event venues, Eden Court in Inverness.  Blas will deliver nearly 100 cultural events all over the Highlands between 9 and 17 September in venues ranging from community halls to Inverness Airport, The Jacobite Queen cruise boat and Eden Court Theatre.  Traditional music as well as Gaelic language and song are the bedrock of the festival but, for the first time, Blas will also have a strand featuring Gaelic writers, organised in collaboration with Comhairle nan Leabhraichean - the Gaelic Books Council.

The festival is a key part of the Year of Scotland’s Islands initiative and will feature a new commission – Heisgeir – from Gaelic singing sensation Julie Fowlis, as well as a series of Islands Cèilidhs featuring some of our best-loved Gaelic singers performing in village halls across the Highlands.  Another of the Scotland’s Islands events will celebrate 100 years since the birth of the Raasay-born poet Sorley Maclean.  In a collaboration with Urras Shomhairle - The Sorley MacLean Trust - Hallaig, a piece of music composed by renowned Inverness composer, Stuart MacRae, inspired by one of MacLean’s most powerful poems, will be performed in Inverness Cathedral and at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye.

The Blas programme was welcomed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Gaelic, Michael Russell MSP, who said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome the launch of the Blas Festival programme for 2011.  Blas has developed an excellent reputation over recent years for innovative events and high quality performances, and this year’s programme underlines this.  This is a full and ambitious programme with top Scottish performers which will help strengthen the Gaelic language and enrich the cultural life of Scotland.”

Featured artists at Blas 2011 will include top musical talent such as Karen Matheson, Karine Polwart, Iain Morrison & Daibhidh Martin, Kathleen MacInnes, Maggie MacInnes & Colum Sands and chart-bidders Mànran.  The Campbells of Greepe – Kenna & Seumas Campbell, Mary Ann & Wilma Kennedy and Maggie Macdonald – will have a home appearance in Dunvegan, when a new book charting the history of this unique family will be launched by Stornoway-based publishers, Acair.

The Blas Festival is a partnership between Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the Promoters Arts Network and its main funder, The Highland Council.  The Leader of The Highland Council, Dr Michael Foxley said: "The Council's support for Gaelic and traditional music remains strong.  Blas has grown to be the showpiece for our culture and I am greatly looking forward to the exciting programme of events planned for the autumn."

Two other special events as part of Blas 2011 will celebrate the Fèis Movement.  There will be a concert at Strathpeffer Pavilion celebrating 25 years of Fèis Rois and another, to be held on the top of Cairngorm Mountain, marking the 21st anniversary of Fèis Spè.

Speaking at the launch, where he outlined the 2011 programme, Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Chief Executive, Arthur Cormack said: “Blas has always made a virtue of involving young people in the festival and we are delighted to be celebrating the landmark ‘big birthdays’ reached by two Highland Fèisean.  We will also see a number of Fèis Cèilidh Trail groups perform at the festival as well as pupils from the Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music at Plockton.”

He said: “We will continue to ensure that Gaelic is used at every single Blas event and in all its publicity materials, making the festival a major promoter of the language.  We are delighted that Blas is part of the 2011 Year of Scotland’s Islands initiative and we are extremely grateful to all the organisations that continue to invest in Blas.”

Murdo Mackay of the Scotland’s Islands initiative welcomed the launch of the Blas programme: “We are excited to include Blas 2011 in our Year of Scotland’s Islands programme of events, and very much looking forward to the new strand focusing on island culture.  The Year of Scotland’s Islands aims to highlight the unique culture of Scotland’s island communities, and the islands’ appeal as visitor destinations, in order to create a long lasting legacy and awareness of all that they offer for visitors and the communities themselves.”

Leasaiche Cànain (Head of Language Usage) at Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Daibhidh Boag, congratulated the Blas Festival for presenting such a wide programme of events celebrating the region’s Gaelic-based music and culture: “The Blas Festival has grown to become one of the most important events in the Gaelic cultural calendar, in Scotland and indeed internationally.  Bòrd na Gàidhlig is delighted to be supporting the event, through our focus in ensuring that Gaelic will be seen and heard as a matter of course, both in the promotion of the festival and at all events.   Our support also ensures that young people across the Highlands can take part in the festival, with artists performing in their schools, raising awareness of Gaelic language and culture to new generations.”

Festival Director Donna Macrae said: “There are a number of very exciting and unique events as part of Blas 2011.  One is Balach na Bonaid – a new piece being premiered at Blas written by James Ross with narration in Gaelic from Aonghas MacNeacail, from text by well-known Scots writer, James Robertson.  We will also be celebrating the 80th birthday of one of the musical legends of the Highlands - Aonghas Grant, the left-hander Lochaber Fiddler - who will appear in Glengarry Hall alongside our Blas house band, The Outside Track, which has members from Scotland, Ireland and Cape Breton.  Another highlight will be Lochaber Gold - a celebration of former pupils of Lochaber High School who have gone on to make a living in music, politics, writing and broadcasting.”

Donna continued: “We are also thrilled that the Camanachd Cup Final coincides with Blas 2011 and we will be providing music during the event to be held in the Bught Park in Inverness on 17 September, prior to our grand finale that evening in Eden Court.  We are particularly pleased that our Schools Programme, organised by Lynn Johnson of the Highland Council’s Education Department, offers a fantastic opportunity for pupils across the Highlands to experience Blas events in their schools which tie in directly with the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence.”

Blas On Track with Resident Band and Supersaver Tickets - April

For the first time the 2011 Blas Festival will have a band in residence when the festival kicks off across the Highlands on 9 September.  And festival-goers can take advantage of a very special low ticket price, by purchasing their tickets from the local promoters by the end of April, the festival organisers have announced.

The Outside Track play a fabulous mix of Scottish, Canadian and Irish music and song and feature step-dance.  They have been rapturously received around the world.  Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation.

The Outside Track features Mairi Rankin of the Cape Breton Rankins and Beòlach on fiddle, vocals and step-dance; Canadian Traditional Singer if the Year nominee Norah Rendell on vocals, flute and whistle; BBC Young Trad Finalist Ailie Robertson on harp and step-dance; BBC Fame Academy Winner Fiona Black on accordion); and Cillian Ó Dalaigh of Trazz on guitar, vocals and step-dance. 

Festival Director Donna Macrae said: “Blas 2011 is on track to be very exciting and, in addition to the core programme now on sale, we have had some good news about additional funding which will allow us to add further events to the festival before launching the programme in May.  Tickets are on sale now, though, for the first 20 or so events and we have been heartened by the reaction so far, and the fact that tickets started selling within hours of going on sale last month.”

Now in its 7th full year, Blas has matured into a recognised cultural landmark and continues to forge links and work together with other organisations that celebrate the distinct Gaelic culture of the Highlands. 

Donna said: “The festival continues to enjoy the support of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and the airport will be one of the venues where the Outside Track will be appearing, on Monday September 12th, along with Iain Morrison and Daibhidh Martin, Brian Ó hEadhra and Maggie Macdonald.  The airport restaurant transforms into a magical music venue for Blas”.

The Outside Track will also appear across the Highlands throughout the festival with shows including Ullapool, Portree, Invergarry, Ballachulish, Portmahomack and Poolewe.  The band will also feature in school performances and workshops as part of the Blas Education Programme, organised by the Highland Council’s Arts Links Officer, which reaches around 5,000 school pupils annually.

The special Supersaver cheap ticket deal is being extended to festival-goers who would like to purchase their tickets well in advance of the September events.  Blas has a special deal in place, until the end of April only, whereby a ticket that would normally cost £12 is being sold, through local promoters only, for only £9.00.  There are also family deals available for a party of 2 adults and 2 children at £25.00. 

Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, said: “In these challenging times where money is tight, we wanted to give individuals and families the opportunity to attend Blas events at an affordable price.  We hope that as many people as possible who want to come to the festival take advantage of this unique ticket deal before the end of April, which offers great savings on the full prices.”

Cherishing Blas - March

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.”