The closing weekend of the seventh Blas festival reaches a camanachd climax this weekend with more entertainment than anyone would want to shake a stick at.  And the highlight will be a major day’s cultural celebrations in Inverness when the Scottish Hydro Electric Camanachd Cup Final trundles into town, to set up the evening’s Blas 2011 finale at Eden Court.
 
Shinty’s big day begins at 11.45am when some of shinty’s best youth players take the field in two national U14 Finals: The MacMaster Cup Final between Fort William and Skye, and the Scottish Hydro Development Trophy Final between Milngavie & Bearsden and Lochcarron.
 
Then, marking the closing weekend of Blas 2011, the young stars of the Fèisean Cèilidh Trails will be performing at the ground in the Blas tent from 1pm.  From midday the Shinty Skills School will allow those new to the sport, young or old, to ‘have a go’ at Scotland’s great game, and kids can also be kept entertained at the bouncy castle and face painting stations.
 
The main action begins at 1430 when Kingussie and Newtonmore, Badenoch’s Big Two cross camans to decide the bragging rights for season 2011. All this will come after an action packed Friday night throughout the Highlands and Islands as Blas 2011 thunders towards its closing climax.
 
There’s a shinty connection at Fort William’s Nevis Centre when Blas 2011 comes to town. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Lochaber High School, a group of the school’s illustrious (allegedly) former pupils, who have spread Lochaber’s fame far and wide, are re-assembling to reminisce and rejoice in their collective and individual past.  They will be joined 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.
 
There will also be an opportunity to pay tribute to one of the area’s favoured sons and most respected musicians, fiddler Angus Grant, celebrating his 80th birthday. And Fergie MacDonald, “the comeback king” will be offering a surprise for 2012. The compères are broadcaster Hugh Dan MacLennan and self-styled musician and shinty superstar Gary Innes, the Graeme Norton-style counterpoint. 
 
Elsewhere on Friday night, (September 17th) Blas 2011’s resident Band The Outside Track are performing at Portmahomack; the Island Ceilidh series reaches Raasay and the Ladies and their friends, including The Addie Harper Band and Christine Stone will be Cherishing Blas at the Wick Assembly Rooms;  Lochcarron will extend a welcome to one of Gaeldom’s best known families, the Campbells of Greepe, at the Village Hall on Friday 16th, before they head a home to Dunvegan on Saturday 17th.  Kenna and Seumas Campbell, Mary Ann & Wilma Kennedy and Maggie Macdonald belong to this remarkable family of Gaelic singers who, between them, have won 7 Mòd Gold Medals.
 
The other Friday night highlight will be a special performance of “Hallaig”, a musical celebration of the poetry of Sorley MacLean directed by Kenneth Thomson featuring compositions by Stuart MacRae, Mary Ann Kennedy, Eilidh Mackenzie, Marie-Louise Napier, Allan Macdonald, Blair Douglas, Donald Shaw, Allan Henderson and Kenneth Thomson.
 
Hallaig marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sorley MacLean, in conjunction with Urras Shomhairle. Performers at Inverness Cathedral on Friday September 16 and Sabhal Mòr Òstaig on Skye on Saturday 17th September include Dingwall Gaelic choir, Kirsteen MacDonald, Brian McAlpine, Gordon Gunn, Dougie Pincock, Jenna Cumming, Rhona MacKay,  Alasdair Whyte, Mary McCarthy, Jack Evans  and Su-a Lee.
 
“The best-ever opening weekend in terms of audience numbers and performances” was how Blas 2011 began a week ago, after a hugely successful first weekend which was marked by sell-out performances delivered to critical acclaim throughout the Highlands and Islands.  
 
The 2011 Blas festival will have delivered nearly 100 cultural events throughout the Highlands and Islands before it ends on Saturday September 17.  Apart from events in Inverness, The Outside Track will have reached Poolewe Village Hall; the Island Ceilidh will be in Strathy Village Hall, The Campbells will be coming home to Dunvegan and Hallaig will be at one of Sorley MacLean’s spiritual homes, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye.
 
But it is the Grand Finale at Eden Court Inverness which will bring everything to a fitting fling, if anyone has any energy left after a challenging and demanding week of the best of cultural celebration. Cherish the Ladies, Dàimh, Mànran and the combined talents of Fèis na h-Òige and Fèis a’ Bhaile will tie up the loose ends with a final Blas(t)!  And if that’s not enough revellers can take part in a late night informal session at Bogbain Farm following the Eden Court event, when Bruce MacGregor will host the Blas Festival Club.  Roll on 2012!