Young musicians who take part in Fèis Cèilidh Trails will soon be teaming up with their favourite professional performers to mark a new festival for the Highlands – Blas - to be launched on Saturday 13 November simultaneously in 3 venues across the Highlands.

Among the well-known names will be Session A9, Margaret Stewart, The Anna Massie Band, Kathleen MacInnes, Glenuig piping brothers Allan, Iain & Dr Angus MacDonald, and Traditional Music Awards nominee Rona Lightfoot. 

A new website – www.blas-festival.com – has been launched already, and the festival, funded by the National Lottery through the Millennium Commission and the Highland Council, will always feature young people from the highly successful Fèis movement in what it is hoped will become an annual event.  The festival will also feature Gaelic language at all its events, and will be organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the national umbrella organisation of the Fèis movement.

Arthur Cormack, Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Director explains: “Blas will offer young musicians taking part in Fèisean throughout the Highland Council’s area, a unique opportunity to share the stage with the musicians they admire most.  Fèisean nan Gàidheal is always looking for innovative ways to engage the young people who take part in the Fèisean in further exciting projects, and Blas should build on the community strength of the Fèisean and be very much built around our young people. The 3 concerts in 3 places at the same time on November 13, will hopefully give people a ‘blas’ or ‘taste’ of things to come.”

Fèisean nan Gàidheal will use its network of 17 local Fèisean within the Highland Council’s area, and will work in partnership with the Council as well as the Promoters’ Arts Network (PAN), to ensure that as many communities who wish to be involved, can be part of Blas.

“We are hopeful that Blas will become a successful festival, growing throughout the Highland Council area over the next few years, and that promoters and Fèis organisers in communities across the region will take up the challenge, join in, and put the Gaelic language and traditional music of the Highlands at the centre of what we promote culturally”, says Arthur Cormack.

The launch events on 13 November will feature young people who took part in the Cèilidh Trails run by 3 Fèisean during the summer, along with their choice of guests. 

All events start at 7.30pm and tickets are available from various local venues, and from Fèisean nan Gàidheal on 01478 613355.  Details of who will be appearing are as follows:

Arainn Shuaineirt, Strontian (hosted by Fèisean Lochabair)             
Session A9 (Duncan Chisholm, Gordon Gunn, Charlie McKerron etc); Margaret Stewart; Fèisean Lochabair Cèilidh Trailers; Bean-an-taighe Anne Martin

Spa Pavilion, Strathpeffer (hosted by Fèis Rois)
Dr Angus, Allan & Iain MacDonald; Rona Lightfoot; The Tassle Bandits; Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trailers

Carnegie Hall, Clashmore (hosted by Fèis Chataibh)                     
The Anna Massie Band; Kathleen MacInnes; Fèis Chataibh Cèilidh Trailers

For further information contact Arthur Cormack, Fèisean nan Gàidheal Director, on 01478 614002, or by e-mailing arthur@feisean.org