Leading Gaelic singer Karen Matheson’s fans have three chances to see and hear her at this year’s Blas festival, which is now just five weeks away.

In two of her appearances The Karen Matheson Band will be appearing on a joint bill with Iain Morrison and David Martin, bringing together an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary Gaelic and English song, music and poetry. And completing her hat-trick of appearances at Blas this year Karen will be joining the band of women coming together to stage “An Guth – The Voice.”

Karen’s first appearance will be at the Badenoch Centre in Kingussie on Tuesday evening, (September 13) along with Iain Morrison and David Martin. Then on the following evening (Wednesday 14), they will be heading west to the Village Hall in Lochcarron where they will be supported by the multi talented students of the Highland Music School National Centre of Excellence from nearby Plockton.

Thursday evening (September 15) will see Karen take a leading role in joining several top singers in Eden Court Inverness for a performance of “An Guth – The Voice”. The line-up comprises Karen Matheson and her band, Kathleen MacInnes and her band, Annie Grace, Karine Polwart & Corrina Hewat, and sensational young Gaelic singing group Canntaireachd, led by Eilidh Mackenzie, Scottish Trad Awards Gaelic Singer of the year.

Karen Matheson’s strong of appearances is testimony to the status of Blas as a leading music event and the way it can attract top performers on a regular basis, appearing in front of large, appreciative audiences, according to Blas 2011 Director Donna MacRae. She said: “There are very few singers who command such a loyal and appreciative following as Karen Matheson and with her own band, and the other supporting acts she is appearing with, her fans will get a chance to see her in a slightly different context from her regular and best known appearances with Capercaillie. The festival also represents a great opportunity for the Plockton students, some of whom will be taking their first steps in terms of major performances. And that is one of the many achievements of Blas, bringing on young talent and providing them with opportunities to appear with top performance. Who knows but that someday some of them will become as big attractions as Karen herself?”

This year’s Blas festival will deliver nearly 100 cultural events in venues across the Highlands ranging from community halls to Inverness Airport, The Jacobite Queen cruise boat and Eden Court Theatre and the Blas 2011 Grand Finale on Saturday 17th part of shinty’s big day in Inverness with the Scottish Hydro Camanachd Cup Final.

The full programme and information about several ways in which to buy tickets is available from the festival website http://www.blas-festival.com

Gaelic version

An Guth àlainn aig Karen NicMhathain aig Blas 2011

Bidh trì cothroman ann an guth àlainn aig a’ phrìomh bhana-sheinneadair Karen NicMhathain a chluinntinn aig Blas 2011, nach eil a-nis ach còig seachdainean romhainn.

Ann an dà thachartas bidh Karen a’ nochdadh le a còmhlan cuide ri Iain Moireasdan agus Daibhidh Màrtainn, a’ toirt thugainn cuirm le measgachadh de bhàrdachd, òrain is ceòl Gàidhlig is Beurla, san t-seann nòs agus san nòs ùr. Agus air an treas tarraing, tha Karen gu bhith am measg nam ban a bhios air an àrd-ùrlar ann an Eden Court an Inbhir Nis agus iad le chèile a’ togail “an Guth”.

‘S ann ann an Ionad Bhàidneach an Ceann a’ Ghiùthsaich a tha an còmhlan aig Karen a’ nochdadh an toiseach, oidhche Mhàirt 13mh Sultain, còmhla ri Iain Moireasdan agus Daibhidh Màrtainn. Bidh iad le chèile an uairsin ann an Talla Bhaile Loch Carrainn an oidhche an dèidh sin (Diciadain 14mh) agus a’ cumail taic riutha bidh cuid de na sgoilearan ealanta bho Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd air a’ Phloc.

Agus an uairsin an Eden Court oidhche Dhiardaoin an 15mh ann an Taigh-cluiche na h-Ìompaireachd, bidh i am measg nam boireannach a bhios a’ gabhail an àrd ùrlair agus a’ togail “An Guth.” Tha an tiotal a’ toirt beachd math dhuinn air dè tha romhpa. Tha mnathan nan òran a’ tighinn còmhla – Karen NicMhathain agus a còmhlan, Kathleen NicAonghais agus a còmhlan, Annie Grace, Karine Polwart agus Corrina Hewat agus a’ bhuidheann òg mhìorbhaileach, Canntaireachd, le Eilidh NicCoinnich, Seinneadair Gàidhlig na Bliadhna aig na Trads, gan stiùireadh.

Cha bheag an obair a bhios Karen a’ cur air a cùl tron t-seachdain, ach tha e na shamhla nis air an seòrsa fèill is fàilte a tha ga chur air prìomh luchd-ciùil na h-Alba aig Blas 2011, a-rèir Donna NicRath, Stiùiriche na Fèise. “Chan eil cus bhana-sheinneadairean aig a bheil leithid de leantainn ri Karen NicMhathain agus le a còmhlan fhèin agus an luchd taic eile a th ’aice thairis air gach oidhche, gheibh daoine an cothrom a faicinn ann an suidheachaidhean beagan neo-àbhaisteach seach mar a bhios i còmhla ri Capercaillie. ‘S e fìor dheagh chothrom a bhios ann dhan òigridh bhon sgoil chiùil, gu sònraichte agus iad fhèin a’ gabhail ceumannan ùra ann an saoghal a’ chiùil. Sin fear de na prìomh rudan a tha Blas a’ dèanamh, a’ cur tàlant de gach aois is innealach air an àrd-ùrlar air feadh na Gàidhealtachd, agus cò aige tha fhios nach bi cuid dhen òigridh sin a’ cheart cho ainmeil ri Karen latha brèagha de na làithean.”

Bidh Blas a’ cur air adhart faisg air 100 tachartas cultarail air feadh na Gàidhealtachd eadar 9 agus 17 Sultain ann an àiteachan cho eadar-dhealaichte ri tallaichean coimhearsnachd gu Port-adhar Inbhir Nis, air a’ bhàta Jacobite Queen agus ann an Eden Court fhèin.

Gheibhear fiosrachadh mu phrògram na fèise gu lèir agus diofar dhòighean air tiocaidean a cheannach bho làrach-lìn na fèise http://www.blas-festival.com

Source: Fèisean nan Gàidheal