This event falls within Highland 2007 - the Year Scotland celebrates Highland Culture and it is particularly fitting that a cultural phenomenon such as Runrig should be at the very heart of it all - a testament to their unique contribution over three decades to Gaelic and Highland music.

Beat the Drum will take the form of a day-long music fest with an exciting supporting roll call of complementary bands and artistes. The Blas Festival, which had been doing much to promote Gaelic traditional music in the Highlands, will be involved in Beat the Drum through providing for it a musical backdrop that celebrates the burgeoning profile of the area’s traditional music.

For Runrig Beat the Drum represents an opportunity to play another major show in a stunning and iconic outdoor location. They look forward to bringing their considerable international audience to the heart of the landscape that has been so inspirational for much of their music. Runrig will also debut a new studio album at Beat the Drum

“This is splendid news for a variety of reasons,” commented Arthur Cormack Director of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the organisation which organises the Blas Festival. “Confirmation that Runrig are to play during Highland 2007 is in itself cause for celebration. But in addition to that Runrig have generously allowed Blas to launch their festival programme for 2007 at Beat the Drum and have invited Blas to organise supporting acts for the day. The latter will give us the opportunity to include many of the exciting crop of new and young talent which the area is producing. So, we anticipate that among other acts, there will be representatives from the much-lauded Fèisean Cèilidh Trails playing before the massive audience Runrig will draw to Drumnadrochit. These young musicians richly deserve the greater profile Beat the Drum will surely give them.”