The culmination of the equivalent of nearly half a century of work by the Fèis movement in two key Highland areas will be celebrated from one of the highest points in the land as part of Blas 2011 which begins this weekend.
 
Festival fans can join Fèis Spè and their friends on the evening of Friday 9 September as Blas 2011 gets under way in celebrating 21 years of inspiration and opportunity with the highest gig in Blas!  Part of a remarkable evening’s entertainment involves a scenic train ride up Cairngorm to the Ptarmigan Restaurant to see Fèis Spè participants, past and present, showcase their outstanding achievements.  
 
On the guest list are the exotically named Cairngorm Cèilidh Trailers and The Bear Creek Reelers, The Mhairi Hall Trio, Ewan Robertson and the fantastic Charlie McKerron.
 
Meanwhile, another fabulous concert celebrates 25 years of Fèis Rois and highlights the influence that Fèis Rois and the wider Fèis movement has had on a generation of young musicians from the Highlands.  With 25 performers on stage the event, on Sunday 11 September in the Strathpeffer Pavilion, promises a very special evening of traditional music at its best.
 
The stellar line-up in “Roots & Shoots” includes Patsy Seddon, Corrina Hewat, Fraya Thomsen, Eilidh Mackenzie, Rachel Walker, Kirsty-Anne Macfarlane, Louise Mackenzie, Gillian Stevenson, Lauren MacColl, Dougie Pincock, Mairearad Green, Mike Bryan, Ruairaidh Campbell and Colin McLean, as well as 10 young musicians from the present Fèis Rois cohort who will also get in on the act.
 
Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Chief Executive, Arthur Cormack, said: “It is clear having worked with them for many years that there is a plethora of talent amongst those taking part in the Fèisean.  This is especially true of those who receive regular tuition and choose to keep learning their instrument, or singing, over a number of years. We have been fortunate, too, that many of Scotland’s best musicians and singers have been willing to teach at the Fèisean and festival goers will have the opportunity to see the outcome of the Fèisean, in the company of some of those who have been involved, in these two special Blas events.”
 
Fèisean nan Gàidheal was established in 1991 as the independent umbrella association of the Fèis movement  Today, around 13,000 young people annually participate in activities supported by Fèisean nan Gaidheal, 6,000 of which take part in the Fèisean themselves.