Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness, Inverness, 11 September 2009

SETTING sail for its third year as one of Blas’s choicest highlights, this musical dinner cruise from Tomnachurich Bridge to Urquhart Castle was among the festival’s quickest sellouts this time round, prompting suggestions that it might run over two nights in future.

Duncan Chisholm

Exactly a week after record-breaking downpours had caused widespread flooding in the area, leaving the river levels still noticeably high, the excursion was blessed with an unseasonably mild, still evening that saw the surrounding scenery stunningly reflected in the water amidst a spectacular sunset, followed by a golden half-moon that rose to point the way home.

As those on board the Jacobite Queen tucked into a sumptuous buffet spread, once again courtesy of the Red Poppy restaurant at Strathpeffer, while the musical accompaniment was served up by local fiddle star Duncan Chisholm, many of whose own fine compositions have been inspired by the beauties of his native landscape, together with uilleann piper and whistle player Jarlath Henderson, and Marc Clement on guitar.

The boat’s felicitously warm acoustic, abetted by judiciously pitched amplification, enabled the music to fill the space without hindering conversation, falling aptly between an informal background session and a concert performance. Thankfully, it was easily audible enough to appreciate the players’ premier-league prowess, in a deftly varied mix of lively dance tunes, interspersed with the heart-tugging slow airs in which Chisholm particularly excels.

While most in attendance had chosen to dress up for the evening, the resulting sense of occasion was nicely tempered thanks to the boat’s interior layout and the need to share tables, engendering an authentic ceilidh-style conviviality that added much to everyone’s enjoyment – as did the intriguing procedure of passing through two locks in both directions.

Another additional treat was a couple of hilarious after-dinner anecdotes from renowned Highland character and raconteur Charlie MacFarlane, owner of Glenfinnan House Hotel, who happened to be among the passengers, and whose second story, about the origins of the pipe tune ‘The Hen’s March’, came complete with an brilliantly life-like impersonation of the eponymous fowl.

After a half-throttle turnaround at Urquhart Castle, the better to admire its splendidly illuminated façade, the return leg of the trip saw the buffet table cleared away, and the dancing commenced with a waltz especially played for two couples who were both celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.

After this came an Orcadian-style ‘Strip the Willow’, lent an extra frisson of excitement by the bottom couple’s perilous proximity to the companionway leading below decks, but everyone made it through safely, despite the fast and furious pace mischievously set by the musicians.

All too soon, the crew were manning their stations to tie up back at the quay in Inverness, marking the end of a truly magical night – and another resounding success for Blas.

© Sue Wilson, 2009

Links

• Blas Festival