When the Blas team came up with the idea of including ‘clan’ nights in this year’s festival they did not anticipate that the arrival of new clan members would threaten to disrupt the schedule of concerts.

The Blas Festival’s ‘Clan’ nights were instituted to recognise families in which there are a number of musically talented people who can sustain evenings of great musical variety and quality. This year it was decided to combine the abilities of the Campbell family from Greep in Skye, from whom many superb traditional singers and musicians have come, with those of the MacKenzie family from Cape Breton who are great exponents of piping, fiddling and dancing. Together they were scheduled to appear in four venues during the festival.

However, the earlier than anticipated arrival of a new granddaughter for Maggie, one of the Campbell family, and a daughter forAngus MacKenzie threw the festival’s plans into some confusion. The new clansfolk arrived in the middle of Blas and in adjoining rooms of the same hospital on Wednesday this week. This just happened to be the day the senior members of their respective families were to be performing in Lyth in Caithness. With both Maggie and Angus now unexpectedly unavailable, the other members of the musical families had to take a little more of the strain during the concert and, by all accounts, produced a sparkling performance.

“In running festivals you have to expect the unexpected and be ready to make last-minute adjustments. “ Blas chairman David Boag remarked. “The babies were certainly expected, but not quite so soon. Their early appearance did cause us to re-think the Lyth gig. In the event it was a minor problem and the packed audience there was very understanding given the circumstances. It should also be said there is such a wealth of talent in both these families that they can cover seamlessly when members drop out unexpectedly.”

Both Angus and Maggie are hoping to join the others for the remaining ‘Clan’ events in this year’s festival.

Meanwhile David Boag is not commenting on rumours that the two new clan members, both of whom are well, as are their mothers, have been provisionally booked for Blas 2026.