Sponsored Editorial Homegrown talent, alongside internationally renowned traditional musicians, will entertain audiences across the Highlands & Islands in September as part of the 20th Blas Festival. Blas, Gaelic for ‘taste’ or ‘sample’, celebrates Highland music, Gaelic language and culture, and this year musicians, including Julie Fowlis, Tim Edey & Ross Ainslie, and Sian, will perform during 6th to 14th September. The festival will visit venues across the Highlands & Islands, from Gairloch to Golspie, and Lochinver to Inverness.
Blas is focused on and influenced by the rich music and culture of the Highlands & Islands and organisers aim to innovate and collaborate, bringing music and Gaelic culture to new audiences every year. Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, said: “2024 marks the 20th Blas Festival, which was created as a result of The Highland Council’s desire to have a festival, in its area, which would match the vitality of Cape Breton’s Celtic Colours. Fèisean nan Gàidheal was asked by the council to develop and deliver the festival, which it has done successfully in partnership with local Fèisean and promoters.
As we celebrate 20 years of Blas, we are grateful for continued collaborations with a host of fellow Highland & Islands organisations and venues.” The iconic Inverness Cathedral hosts an unmissable concert every year during Blas and this year is no different, with Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John McIntyre guaranteed to impress Highland audiences in the beautiful venue with music and song from Scotland and Ireland on the 12th. This quartet creates a vibrant and contemporary chamber group sound that is deeply rooted in their Highland, Hebridean and Irish cultures.
Their performances, with tight vocal harmonies alongside thoughtful arrangements, are a testament to the power of cultural collaboration and deep historical bonds between Gaelic Scotland and Ireland. Eden Court will host two concerts; local up and coming band, Cala, with support from Black Isle sibling duo, Donald and Peigi Barker, will entertain a home crowd on 7th September, whilst The Campbell Family, featuring BBC Radio 2 Folk award winning piper, Brìghde Chaimbeul, and her father, renowned poet and writer, Angus Peter, will appear for a special performance of music and poetry on the 10th. Taking the Gaelic music scene by storm at the moment, Sian, a Gaelic vocal harmony group, whose members often perform with Niteworks, Trail West and Valtos, will take to the stage at Lochinver Hall on 8th in partnership with Yellow Door Events, before heading to Skye arts centre, Las Port Rìgh, on 9th.
Youngsters from the local Fèis Spè will join Sian in Newtonmore on the 10th. Also marking a special milestone this year is Dingwall-based arts organisation, Fèis Rois, with the 25th anniversary of its pioneering traditional music programme for young musicians, the Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail. As part of its celebrations this year, which so far have included a special performance at the Edinburgh International Festival, Fèis Rois will host a special evening in Dingwall British Legion on 7th September, featuring Ceilidh Trail participants past and present, as well as performances from prizewinners from the new Dingwall Provincial Mòd to be held earlier in the day.
Some of the other events taking place during Blas include new folk trio, Megan MacDonald, Chloë Bryce & Calum McIlroy, along with Skye Gaelic singer, Darren Maclean in Croy; Fras, with Duncan and Rona Macleod, in Golspie and Strathy; cèilidhs with the Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, Andrew Macdonald Ceilidh Band and Robert Nairn’s Band, joined by some of today’s leading Gaelic singers including Ruairidh Gray, Emma Macleod, Màiri Callan, Iain Cormack, Darren MacLean and Alice Macmillan; and dynamic duo, piper Ross Ainslie and Tim Edey. The full programme of events can be found at www.blas.
scot along with details of how to purchase tickets..
