A new Celtic Music Festival is due to take place this summer in the Fort Augustus area, which aims to showcase the area’s rich culture to both visitors and locals alike. NessFest, a project being led by Feis Gleann Albainn and inspired by Highland 2007, will take place on the 3rd and 4th of August featuring concerts in the beautiful grounds of the former Fort Augustus Abbey, as well as free music sessions, children ’s theatre, art workshops and the all new 'Lochness Magic Challenge'.

The festival will welcome some great bands including Wolfstone, Shooglenifty and The Gary Innes Band, as well as some great magicians. The inaugural Loch Ness Magic Challenge, a competition designed to celebrate and honour Scotland's tradition of magical expertise will host magicians from Scotland's oldest and most prestigious magical societies. Participants will compete for the Challenge Trophy and substantial prize money. The competitors will perform magic throughout the day at various locations around the village and the winners will be decided by votes cast by the general public. The competition is the brain–child of Festival committee member Jan Culshaw, a magician of over 25 years experience, and a resident of Fort Augustus.

Festival co-ordinator Bill Skeoch said "NessFest promises to be a gem in the heart of the Highlands. For the size of the local community there is vibrant interest in, and support for, Fèis Gleann Albainn and traditional music in general. We hope Fort Augustus will provide a scenic venue for the new Lochness Magic Challenge and the evening concerts which will be the main focus of the festival."

Weekends tickets for the festival are on sale now priced £35 or £15 for under 16's. Tickets can be booked on-line at www.thebooth.co.uk  or by e-mailing cedartower@aol.com . For more information visit the Fèis Gleann Albainn website at www.feisgleannalbainn.co.uk .

Gaelic version

Deireadh-seachdain Draoidheil de Cheòl Traidiseanta aig Ness Fest

Tha Cille-Chumein, agus na h-àiteachan mun cuairt air, na cheann-uidhe air a bheil tòrr luchd-turais gu math dèidheil. Tha Fèis Gleann Albainn a-nise deisealachadh pròiseact airson luchd-tadhail agus daoine san sgìre fhèin a sheallas cho làidir sa tha cultair na sgì re. Tha am pròiseact seo, NessFest, air brosnachadh fhaighinn bho Gà idhealtachd 2007.

Thèid an Fhèis Chiùil ùr seo a chumail air an 3 agus 4 Lùnastal 2007 agus bidh na consartan stèidhichte ann an Garaidhean Abaid Chille Chumein. A bharrachd air an seo bidh ceòl beò anns na taighean-seinnse 's na taighean òsda , bùthan obrach ealain agus cuideachd an "Lochness Magic Challenge".

Bidh an Fhèis a' cur fàilte air feadhainn den na luchd-ciùil as fheà rr ann an Alba, nam measg; Wolfstone, Shooglenifty agus Gary Innes 's na cois bidh draoidhean mìorbhaileach. Bidh co-fharpais ann a' comharrachadh dualchas draoidheachd na h-Alba agus bidh tòrr draoidhean ann bho na comainn draoidheachd air feadh Alba. Bidh com-pà irtichean a' farpais airson cuach agus duais airgid reachdmhor. Bidh na com-pàirtichean a' dèanamh draoidheachd tron an latha air feadh am baile agus thèid iarraidh air am poball a bhòtadh airson an draoidh as fheàrr. 'S e Jan Culshaw a tha air comataidh an Fhèis, fear a tha air a bhith an sàs ann an draoidheachd airson còrr is 25 bliadhna, a smaoinich air an co-fharpais seo a' ruith.

Thuirt co-òrdanaiche an Fhèis, Bill Skeoch " Tha Nessfest a ghealltainn a bhith na seud ann an cridhe na Ghàidhealtachd. Tha tòrr ùidh aig a' choimhearsnachd ann an ceòl thraidiseanta agus tha iad gu math taiceil gu Fèis Gleann Albainn. Tha sinn an dòchas gum bi Cille Chumein na dheagh àite airson am farpais ùr 'Lochness Magic Challenge' agus na consartan air an oidhche, am prìomh fòcas den Fhè is."

Tha na tiocaidean a cosg £35 no £15 bho aois 16, airson an deireadh sheachdain. Tha tiocaidean ri fhaighinn air-loidhne aig www.thebooth.co.uk neo air post-d cedartower@aol.com . Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh thèid gu làrach-lìn Fèis Gleann Albainn www.feisgleannalbainn.co.uk