With the programme of the first Blas Festival now being finalised it is clear that one of the many stated aims of the Festival, that of giving talented young musicians of the Highlands a special place within proceedings has already been achieved in large measure.

The programme for Blas 2005 reveals a strong accent on youth with various performances by Gizzenbriggs, which is made up of pupils from Tain Academy, the Tassle Bandits and by musicians studying at the Centre of Musical Excellence at Plockton High School. Also featuring in this year’s Blas are such bright young talents as Jenna Cumming, James Graham, Calum–Alec Macmillan and Lauren MacColl. Many other young artistes will feature in concerts throughout the festival and musicians currently associated with the different Fèisean will appear as the ‘Cèilidh Trailers’ at a number of venues. Apart from their involvement as musicians, young folk from the Highlands will participate in the promotion and running of events and in such things as helping to produce and broadcast radio programmes based on the Festival.

From the outset Blas was seen as an opportunity to build upon the success of the Fèis movement over the last couple of decades. Given this, particular efforts have been made to ensure that young people from the Highlands play a prominent role in this year’s event and in future festivals. Their participation will help give Blas a fresh and dynamic feel and the young folk themselves will benefit from the festival as a valuable learning experience.

"We aim to create a festival in which young people will enjoy equal esteem with any other artist," according to Blas’s artistic director, Brian O hEadhra. "While Blas will feature many long-established artists and bands of international renown, we are equally proud of and excited by the fact that so many of our young, up and coming musicians will also be involved. They are our future and they deserve to be feted and celebrated as much as any others. Young people will also be involved in many non-performance tasks at the Festival and special attention is being given to attracting as big an audience as possible of young music enthusiasts at the concerts and other events."

Jenna Cumming, a young Gaelic singer, is relishing the prospect of performing at Blas this year. "For young artistes like me Blas represents a great opportunity to share the stage with more established acts. The Festival line up looks really exciting and it is refreshing that so many of the names involved are from the new generation of singers and musicians."


Gaelic version

Blas na h-òighrigh

Le clàr a’ chiad Blas a-nise an ìre mhath ann an ordan, tha an ìre gu bheil e air an amas òigridh thàlanntach a chuir na theis-mheadhainn soilleir.

Tha an clàr airson Blas 2005 a’ nochdadh mar a tha an cudthrom ga chuir air òigridh le leithid còmhlan a Acadamh Bhaile Dhubhaich, Gizzenbriggs, na Tassle Bandits, agus le luchd-ciùil a tha gan oideachadh aig Sgoil a’ Chiil Tradiseanta aig an Ard Sgoil ann am Ploc Loch Aillse. Rin cluinntinn cuideachd ann am Blas na bliadhna tha òigridh leithid Jenna Chuimeanach, Seumas Greumach, Calum Ailig Mac a’ Mhaolain agus Lauren Nic Cholla. Bi moran luchd-ciùil eile ag gabhail pairt, mar a theid an Fhèis air ahdart, agus bi cuid, a tha an-dràsta ceangailte ri caochladh Fhèisean, a’ nochdadh mar ‘Cèilidh trailers’ an siud ‘s an seo. A bharrachd air na ni iad mar luchd-ciùil, bi òigridh bhon a’ Ghaidhealtachd ag gabhail pairt ann a bhi a’ foillseachadh agus a’ cuir air dòigh na thachras, agus ann a bhi a’ riochdachadh agus a’ craoladh programan reidio.

Bhon a’ chiad dhol a-mach chunnacas Blas mar chothrom togail air soirbheachas nam fèisean thairis air fichead bliadhna. Marsin, thathas an dochas gum faigh an òigridh buannachd a bhi ag gabhail pàirt am bliadhna.

"Tha sinn airson Fèis a chruthachadh anns am faigh òigridh miadh coltach ri neach-ealain sam bi eile", ars’ Stiuiriche Blas, Brian O hEadhra. "Ged a bhitheas moran air a bheil deagh eòlas a’ nochdadh ann am Blas, nam measg còmhlain eadar-naiseanta, tha sinn air leth pròiseil gu bheil na h-uidhir dhe ar n-òigridh gu bhi a’ sas ann. ‘S iadsan an fheadhainn ris am bi sinn a’ coimhead anns na laithean ri teachd agus tha iad toillteanach air gabhail riutha cho math ri cach. Bi oigridh cuideachd a’ sas ann an obraichean eile aig an Fhèis agus theid aire shònraichte a thoirt do nas urrainn a bhi an lathair dhiubh-san aig a bheil ùidh ann an ceòl aig na bhitheas ann de chuirmean".

Tha Jenna Chuimeanach, seinneadar og Gàidhlig, làn aoibhneas mu a bhi ag gabhail pàirt am bliadhna. "Do luchd-ealain òg, mar mise, tha Blas a’ toirt dhuinn cothrom math a bhi air an àrd-urlar an cuideachd feadhainn a tha gu math nas eòlaiche. Tha na bhitheas an làthair de dh’òigridh aig an Fhèis uabhasach fhèin misneachail agus tha e sgoinneil gum bi na h-uidhir ann bhon a’ ghinealach òg de sheinneadaran ‘s luchd-ciùil".