The culmination of the equivalent of nearly half a century of work by the Fèis movement in two key Highland areas will be celebrated from one of the highest points in the land as part of Blas 2011 which begins this weekend.

Festival fans can join Fèis Spè and their friends on the evening of Friday 9 September as Blas 2011 gets under way in celebrating 21 years of inspiration and opportunity with the highest gig in Blas!  Part of a remarkable evening’s entertainment involves a scenic train ride up Cairngorm to the Ptarmigan Restaurant to see Fèis Spè participants, past and present, showcase their outstanding achievements.

On the guest list are the exotically named Cairngorm Cèilidh Trailers and The Bear Creek Reelers, The Mhairi Hall Trio, Ewan Robertson and the fantastic Charlie McKerron.

Meanwhile, another fabulous concert celebrates 25 years of Fèis Rois and highlights the influence that Fèis Rois and the wider Fèis movement has had on a generation of young musicians from the Highlands. With 25 performers on stage the event, on Sunday 11 September in the Strathpeffer Pavilion, promises a very special evening of traditional music at its best.

The stellar line-up in “Roots & Shoots” includes Patsy Seddon, Corrina Hewat, Fraya Thomsen, Eilidh Mackenzie, Rachel Walker, Kirsty-Anne Macfarlane, Louise Mackenzie, Gillian Stevenson, Lauren MacColl, Dougie Pincock, Mairearad Green, Mike Bryan, Ruairaidh Campbell and Colin McLean, as well as 10 young musicians from the present Fèis Rois cohort who will also get in on the act.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s Chief Executive, Arthur Cormack, said: “It is clear having worked with them for many years that there is a plethora of talent amongst those taking part in the Fèisean.  This is especially true of those who receive regular tuition and choose to keep learning their instrument, or singing, over a number of years. We have been fortunate, too, that many of Scotland’s best musicians and singers have been willing to teach at the Fèisean and festival goers will have the opportunity to see the outcome of the Fèisean, in the company of some of those who have been involved, in these two special Blas events.”

Fèisean nan Gàidheal was established in 1991 as the independent umbrella association of the Fèis movement  Today, around 13,000 young people annually participate in activities supported by Fèisean nan Gaidheal, 6,000 of which take part in the Fèisean themselves.

Further information about the Blas festival programme and how to purchase tickets are available on the festival website http://www.blas-festival.com

Dà Fhèis agus anail a’ Ghàidheil

Thèid an obair ionmholta a tha buidhnean Fèisean nan Gàidheal air a bhith a’ dèanamh fad bhliadhnaichean a nis a chomharrachadh aig Blas 2011, a thòisicheas aig an deireadh sheachdain, le dà chuirm shònraichte.

Bidh Fèis Spè agus na caraidean aca a’ comharrachadh 21 bliadhna de chothroman do dh’òigridh am Bàidneach agus iad an sàs anns a’ chuirm as àirde aig Blas – “Ceòl air a’ Bheinn”.  Gu dearbh ‘s dòcha nach deach cuirm Ghàidhlig a chumail air làrach nas àirde riamh, ged a thathas air a bhith ag ràdh bho chionn fhada gur e “anail a’ Ghàidheil am mullach”.

Faodaidh luchd-amhairc is èisteachd siubhal còmhla ri luchd-Spè suas gu Taigh-bìdh an Tarmachain air a’ Chàrn Ghorm airson oidhche air leth de cheòl bho chom-pàirtichean Fèis Spè an latha an-diugh is na th’ air a bhith a’ cur ri Fèisean anns an sgìre fad 21 bliadhna, Dihaoine, 9 Sultain.

A-measg an luchd-ciùil aig a’ chuirm air a’ Chàrn Ghorm bidh Fèis Spè fhèin, na Cairngorm Cèilidh Trailers, na Bear Creek Reelers, an Trio aig Mhairi Hall, Ewan Robertson agus Teàrlach McKerron.

Chan eil fhios an e dìth neart a tha a’ toirt air muinntir Fèis Rois an casan a chumail air talamh na tròcair seach dèanamh air mullach Beinn Uamhais, ach tha cuirm shònraichte gu bhith aca fhèin, a bheir sùil air a’ bhuaidh a bh’ aig Fèis Rois air Iomairt nam Fèisean air fad agus air ginealach de luchd-ciùil Gàidhealach òga, a’ comharrachadh 25 bliadhna den Fhèis. ‘S e oidhche air leth de cheòl traidiseanta a bhios ann am “Freumhan is Gasan: Fèis Rois aig 25”, agus 25 neach-ciùil air an àrd-ùrlar anns a’ Phàillin ann an Srath Pheofhair, Didòmhnaich, 11 Sultain.

Bidh Patsy Seddon, Corrina Hewat, Fraya Thomsen, Eilidh NicChoinnich, Rachel Walker, Kirsty-Anne NicPhàrlain, Louise NicChoinnich, Gillian Stevenson, Lauren MacColl, Dougie Pincock, Mairearad Green, Mike Bryan, Ruairidh Caimbeul, Cailean MacIlleathain agus 10 de dh’òigridh Fèis Rois an latha an-diugh uile an làthair air a’ chuirm shònraichte seo.

Thuirt Ceannard Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Art MacCarmaig: “Tha e soilleir an dèidh iomadh bliadhna ag obair còmhla riutha gu bheil tàlant air leth a-measg com-pàirtichean nam Fèisean.  Tha seo gu sònraichte fìor mun fheadhainn a tha a’ faighinn oideachadh gu cunbhalach agus a bhios a’ cumail a dol leis an ionnsramaid, no seinn, thairis air iomadh bliadhna.  Tha sinn fortanach, cuideachd, gu bheil cuid de na seinneadairean agus luchd-ciùil as fheàrr ann an Alba air a bhith deònach teagasg aig na Fèisean, agus bidh cothrom aig daoine toradh nam Fèisean fhaicinn, an cuideachd cuid de na daoine a th’ air a bhith an-sàs annta, anns an dà chuirm air leth a tha romhainn aig Blas.”

Bha Fèisean nan Gàidheal air a stèidheachadh ann an 1991 agus an-diugh, tha mu 13,000 duine òg a’ gabhail pàirt gach bliadhna ann an tachartas do bheil Fèisean nan Gàidheal a’ toirt taic.

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

Source: Fèisean nan Gàidheal