THE FESTIVAL season is drawing to a close now, with Hydro Connect just squeezing into the last weekend in August, but September has two more big events on offer. Blas 2008 kicks off on 5 September with concerts in seven of the eight areas it serves, while this year’s Loopallu follows later in the month.

Given that it has not been a memorable summer in weather terms, the outdoor events seem to have escaped the worst of it so far, although I write this in advance of Hydro Connect – let’s hope the watery associations are confined to the sponsor’s name.

No such problems for Blas, which takes place indoors, although some of those venues are actually mobile, since there will be events in a boat on Loch Ness, a train on the steam railway in Strathspey, and, for one lucky competition winner, a light aircraft. Eden Court Theatre also participates in Blas for the first time, including a visit from The Chieftains.

The festival awarded their first commission last year to fiddler Duncan Chisholm, and were rewarded with a memorable multimedia piece, KIN. This year’s commission has gone to Caithness pianist and composer James Ross. Rob Adams caught up with James for our lead interview this month.

Loopallu takes place in Ullapool on 19 and 20 September. This year’s line-up includes The Levellers, The Rascals, King Creosote, the Family Mahone, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and The Vatersay Boys. This is the fourth year of the festival, and they even have their own fringe.

Speaking of which, the Highlands and Islands companies represented at the Edinburgh Fringe this year seem to have fared well. Matthew Zajac’s The Tailor of Inverness won a well-deserved Fringe First in the opening week, a distinction which not only recognised the merits of Matthew’s show, but also gave a welcome boost to attendances – it was packed out when I saw it on a wet Tuesday afternoon.

The show will be touring Scotland in February and March, and should on no account be missed if it comes your way. Accidental Death of an Accordionist was also well received, if more patchily attended, and continues on its tour in September.

If you missed our Podcast from the Fringe when it went on-line mid-month, featuring interviews with Matthew Zajac, Sorren MacLean and various members of the Accordionist cast, then be sure to catch up with it this month.

Victor Spinetti’s often scurrilous recollections of his life and times are sure to raise a few eyebrows when he opens his UK tour at Eden Court. Mark Fisher sets the scene for us in his feature. Our venue profile looks west this month, to the Sunart Centre in Strontian.

As usual, look out for more features and reviews in the course of the coming month.

Kenny Mathieson
Commissioning Editor, Northings

Kenny Mathieson lives and works in Boat of Garten, Strathspey. He studied American and English Literature at the University of East Anglia, graduating with a BA (First Class) in 1978, and a PhD in 1983. He has been a freelance writer on various arts-related subjects since 1982, and contributes to the Inverness Courier, The Scotsman, The Herald, The List, and other publications. He has contributed to numerous reference books, and has written books on jazz and Celtic music.