“The best-ever opening weekend in terms of audience numbers and performances” is how Blas 2011 organisers have described a hugely successful first weekend which was marked by sell-out performances delivered to critical acclaim throughout the Highlands and Islands.  And the response of audiences to a string of events which are singled out for special praise is set to further enhance the reputation of the Highland’s premier cultural festival.

Blas 2011 was opened in spectacular fashion in Beauly with a new commission – Heisgeir – from Gaelic singing sensation Julie Fowlis in the Phipps Hall, on Friday evening and then Torridon Village Hall on Saturday. Both were sell-outs and proved a major hit with audiences.

Donna MacRae, Director of Blas 2011 said: “The show Julie Fowlis produced through the new commission was superb.  It was technically challenging given that it was a Gaelic performance sub-titled in English, using film and a live band. The audience in Beauly was simply stunned and we have already been approached by a number of people who have asked whether we could have the whole thing turned into a film. It was visually and musically brilliant and the reception it has received is testament to Julie’s well-deserved reputation as one of the most accomplished and talented performers to have emerged in generations.”

The Beauly audience was also treated to a veritable feast of local produce and catering which is a developing innovation at the festival with events selling out at numerous venues from Lochaber to the waters of Loch Ness.

Donna added, “Friday night in particular was unprecedented with shows at Roy Bridge, Beauly and the Ptarmigan restaurant on Cairngorm sold out.  On Saturday night there were very healthy audiences in Portree and Inverness.  This is all a great tribute to the artistes themselves, the volunteers who have helped stage everything behind the scenes and indeed to the audiences who have continued to back Blas as a concept which delivers the highest quality of events across a wide range of venues and involving stellar lists of performers.  We are very proud of the fact that whether it be in a village hall or in the splendour of Eden Court, the top of Cairngorm or the middle of Loch Ness, we can attract very good audiences.  It’s a great start and we now look forward to the rest of the festival and further highlights.”

This year’s Blas festival will deliver nearly 100 cultural events between 9 and 17 September. The second of the two new commissions to feature at Blas 2011, Balach na Bonaid (The Boy and the Bunnet), will be premiered at Eden Court on Tuesday 13 September.  The performance has been described as the folk world’s answer to “Peter and the Wolf”.  Gaelic writer Aonghas MacNeacail has reworked into Gaelic the adventure story “The Boy and the Bunnet” by celebrated Scots award-winning novelist, James Robertson.  Newly commissioned music by Caithness pianist James Ross adds to the production which has as characters a stag, selkie, a craw and a cat.  The performance uses traditional Scottish instruments and musical styles to tell the story of a brave young boy who gets into danger when he goes out on an adventure.  The Narrator is Wilma Kennedy.

Traditional music as well as Gaelic language and song are the bedrock of the festival and, for the first time, Blas will also have a strand featuring Gaelic writers, organised in collaboration with Comhairle nan Leabhraichean – the Gaelic Books Council.

In a culmination of a very special synthesis, Blas 2011 is celebrating the Year of Scotland’s Islands with a series of “Island Cèilidhs” showcasing some of the best known Gaelic singers from the islands along with great traditional accompaniment.  Amongst those still to appear are Paul MacCalllum, Linda MacLeod, Iain MacKay accompanied by Oban-based accordionist Sìleas Sinclair.  In the style of the wandering minstrels of bygone generations, the Blas islanders will give everyone a taste of what it’s like to be at an island cèilidh in Eigg, Mallaig, Raasay and Strathy.

For the first time, the 2011 Blas Festival has its own band in residence.  Now with a world-wide reputation, The Outside Track play a fabulous mix of Scottish, Canadian and Irish music and song and feature step-dance. Hailing from Scotland, Ireland, Cape Breton and Vancouver, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on its foundation.  They bring to Blas 2011 a unique blend of boundless energy and unmistakable joie de vivre – in anyone’s terms, the recipe for a real Highland Hooley.  The band features Mairi Rankin from Mabou in Cape Breton on fiddle, vocals and step-dance; Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year nominee Norah Rendell on vocals, flute and whistle; BBC Young Trad Finalist Ailie Robertson on harp and step-dance; BBC Fame Academy Winner Fiona Black on accordion; and Cillian Ó Dalaigh of Trazz on guitar, vocals and step-dance.

American-Irish supergroup Cherish the Ladies will be making their only Scottish appearances in 2011 at Blas.  They will appear on Wednesday 14 September in the new school at Acharacle which has recently been kitted out with raked seats, staging, PA and lights.  They will then go on to Ardgay and Wick before taking part in the Grand Finale at Eden Court on Saturday 17th along with Dàimh, Mànran, Fèis na h-Òige and Fèis a’ Bhaile.

High on the list of events still to come is “Hallaig”, a musical celebration of the poetry of Sorley MacLean featuring compositions by Stuart MacRae, Mary Ann Kennedy, Eilidh Mackenzie, Marie-Louise Napier, Allan Macdonald, Blair Douglas, Donald Shaw, Allan Henderson and musical director Kenneth Thomson.

Hallaig is being staged to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sorley MacLean, in conjunction with Urras Shomhairle. Performers at Inverness Cathedral on Friday September 16 and Sabhal Mòr Òstaig on Skye on Saturday 17th September include Dingwall Gaelic Choir, Brian McAlpine, Gordon Gunn, Dougie Pincock, Jenna Cumming, Rhona MacKay, Alasdair Whyte, Mary McCarthy, Jack Evans and Su-a Lee.

Another remarkable family, the Campbells of Greepe, will be appearing at Lochcarron Village Hall on Friday 16th before a homa gig at Dunvegan on Saturday 17th.  Kenna and Seumas Campbell, Mary Ann & Wilma Kennedy and Maggie Macdonald belong to this remarkable family of Gaelic singers who, between them, have won 7 Mòd Gold Medals.

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

“Cha robh tòiseach-tòiseachaidh de shamhail againn bhon thòisich an Fhèis a-thaobh àireamhan luchd-amhairc agus tachartasan” – sin an tomhas a bh’aig Stiùiriche Blas 2011 air a’ chiad dheireadh sheachdain dhen Fhèis is tallaichean agus ionadan-cuirme air feadh na Gàidhealtachd làn chun nan tobhtachan, is luchd-amhairc a’ sìor mholadh na chaidh a chur air gach àrd-ùrlar.

Chaidh Blas 20112 fhosgladh ann an dòigh a bha sònraichte anns a’ Mhanachain oidhche Haoine, le tè de na pìosan ùra a tha gan lìbhrigeadh airson a’ chiad uair aig fèis na bliadhna seo, Heisgeir – bhon bhana-sheinneadair chliùiteach Gàidhlig Julie Fowlis.   Bha an talla anns a’ Mhanachain luma-làn agus cuideachd oidhche Shathairne ann an Toirbheartan.

Thuirt Donna MacRae, Stiùiriche Blas 2011: “Bha Heisgeir le Julie Folwlis dìreach eireachdail agus sònraichte.  Cha bheag an dùbhlan a bha ron sgioba gu lèir leithid de thachartas a chur air an àrd-ùrlar, eadar gnothaichean teignigeach agus eile. ‘S e an tomhas as fheàrr a nì sinn beachd an luchd-amhairc a ghabhail agus bha iad gu h-aon-ghuthach gur e gnothach luachmhor, driùteach a bh’ann.”

Chaidh fàilte chridheil a chur air an luchd-amharc sa Mhanachainn cuideachd agus luchd-malairt na sgìre a’ gabhail a’ chothrom saibhreas a’ bhaile a chur air a’ bhòrd a’ frithealadh na bha an làthair le biadh is deoch a bhoineadh dhan dùthaich mun cuairt.

Thuirt Donna: “Cha do thachair seo aig Blas roimhe seo.  Cha robh àite ri fhaighinn aig ceithir a-mach as na sia tachartasan a bh’ againn oidhche Haoine. Tha seo na mhisneachadh mòr dhuinn uile, agus gu sònraichte dhan h-uile duine a tha ag obair gu soar-thoileach airson Blas a thoirt gu ìre, agus cuideachd dhan luchd-amharc a th’air dearbhadh gu bheil na tha sinn a’ coileanadh tron fhèis a’ còrdadh riutha gu mòr.  Tha e na thoileachas mòr dhuinn gun urrainn dhuinn a h-uile tiogaid a th’againn a reic son tachartasan, biodh iad ann an tallaichean coimhearsnachd no air an àrd-ùrlar aig Eden Court, air mullach nam beann, no air bàta a’ siubhal Loch Nis.  Deagh thoiseach-tòiseachaidh a bh’ann agus tha sinn a-nis a’ coimhead air adhart gu iomadach oidhche mhòr eile.”

Bidh Blas 2011 a’ frithealadh mu 100 tachartas cultarail air feadh na Gàidhealtachd eadar 9 agus 17 Sultain. Tha an dàrna coimisean ùr a chaidh a chur air dòigh son na fèise ri fhaicinn an Inbhirnis a-màireach (Dimàirt 13mh) aig Eden Court.   ‘S e tachartas caran coltach ris an sgeulachd  ‘Peter and the Wolf’ a tha am “Balach na Bonaid” le dreach a’ chiùil traidiseanta a bhios tarraingeach do dhiofar aoisean. Seo a’ chiad uair a bhios an obair ùr thaitneach seo ri fhaicinn agus ri chluinntinn, le ceòl bhon chluicheadair piana iomraiteach à Gallaibh, Seumas Ros, agus sgeulachd ùr bhon sgrìobhadair iomraiteach Albais Seumas MacDhonnchaidh. Bidh an tionndadh seo ann an Gàidhlig le briathrachas Aonghais MhicNeacail. Bidh Wilma NicUalraig a’ lìbhrigeadh an sgeòil.

Le taic a bharrachd bho Iomairt “Eileanan na h-Alba” bidh Fèis Blas na bliadhna seo a’ comharrachadh agus a’ foillseachadh na tha sònraichte mu chuid de na làraich is suidheachaidhean eireachdail a tha mu chladaichean iomallach na Gàidhealtachd. Tha Blas 2011 a’ cur air adhart sreath de chèilidhean eileanach mar chomharradh air a bhliadhna iomraiteach seo is cliù nan Eilean fhèin ga sgaoileadh fad is farsainn. Agus ’s e fìor chèilidhean a bhios ann cuideachd le leithid Pòl MacCaluim, Iain MacAoidh, Lina NicLeòid agus sìleas Sinclair fhathast gu bhith a’ gabhail pàirt.

Cleas mar bha tachairt aig àm eile, nuair bha a’ chliar sheanchaidh ma sgaoil, bidh an luchd-ciùil a’ cur na Gaidhealtachd is nan Eilean fo ’n casan aig na cèilidhean eadar Eige, Malaig, Ratharsair agus Strathaidh mu thuath.

Airson a’ chiad turas, bidh còmhla-ciùil fa-leth a’ riochdachadh fèis Blas 2011 fad na Fèise.  Tha an còmhlan The Outside Track a’ cluich measgachadh de cheòl is òrain Albannach, à Canada agus an Eireann agus ri dannsa cuideachd agus tha iad air cliù a chosnadh air feadh an t-saoghail airson an làthaireachd. ‘S e meas air ceòl traidiseanta agus sannd a bhith ag ùrachadh agus a’ toirt air adhart stuth air a bhonntachadh air an dualchas a tha ceangal buill a’ chòmhlain, a bhoinneas do dh’Alba, Èireann, Ceap Breatann agus Vancouver.  Bheir iad am blas is dreach fhèin air an fhèis agus bidh hòro-gheallaidh dha-rìreabh nan cois.

Tha còignear anns a’ chòmhlan: Mairi Rankin à Mabou ann an Ceap Breatann air an fhidhill, a’ seinn agus ri dannsa;  a bhana-sheinneadair Norah Rendell a chaidh a chur air adhart ann am farpais Seinneadair Traidiseanta na Bliadhna ann an Canada air duiseal, fìdeag agus a’ seinn; Ailie Robertson a bha anns a’ chuairt dheireannach de dh’Fharpais Traidiseanta a’ BhBC airson Òigridh air a’ chlàrsaich agus a’ dannsa; Fiona Black, a bhuinnig farpais Fame Academy a’ BhBC air a’ bhocsa; agus Cillian Ó Dalaigh bho Trazz leguitar, a’ seinn agus a’ dannsa.

Bidh The Outside Track a’ nochdadh aig an fhèis air feadh na Gàidhdealtachd bho Ulapul gu Port-Rìgh, InbhirGaraidh, Baile a’ Chaolais, Port MoCholmaig agus Poll Iubh. Bidh an còmhlan cuideachd a’ tadhal air sgoiltean air feadh na Gàidhealtachd mar phàirt de Phrògram Foghlaim Blas, air a cho-òrdnachadh le Oifigeach Ceanglan nan Ealan aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, agus trom bi timcheall air 5,000 duine cloinne a’ faighinn cothrom gach bliadhna.

Airson a’ chiad uair bhon thòisich Fèis Blas seachd bliadhna air ais bidh sgrìobhaichean Gàidhlig, fo sgèith Chomhairle nan Leabhraichean, an làthair aig tachartasan tron Fhèis a’ toirt togail do dh’ìomhaigh litreachas na Gàidhlig.  Bidh cothrom ann cuideachd leabhraichean Gàidhlig a cheannach agus Comhairle nan Leabhraichean a’ foillseachadh an stuth as fheàrr bho sgrìobhaichean aig tachartasan thall sa bhos, leithid aig Port-Adhar Inbhir Nis agus aig “Balach na Bonaid” aig Eden Court, Dimàirt, 13mh Sultain.

A bharrachd air sin, bidh Comhairle nan Leabhraichean a’ comharrachadh ceud bliadhna bhon rugadh am bàrd Somhairle MacGillEain is dithis sgoilearan a th’air a bhith a’ sgrùdadh a chuid bhàrdachd, Derrick McLure agus Peadar MacAoidh, a’ leughadh cuid dhen bhàrdachd.  Bidh sin aig 7.30f Dihaoine 16 Sultain ann an Cathair Eaglais an Naoimh Anndra an Inbhirnis mar phàirt den chuirm “Hallaig”.

An co-bhuinnn ri Urras Shomhairle, thèid Hallaig, ceòl a chaidh a dhealbh leis an neach-ciùil ainmeil à Inbhir Nis Stuart MacRath, air a mhisneachadh le tè de na pìosan bàrdachd as cumhachdaiche  agus as ainmeile a sgrìobh Somhairle, air adhart ann an Cathair Eaglais Inbhir Nis agus Sabhal Mòr Ostaig san Eilean Sgitheanach, Dihaoine agus Disathairne 16 agus 17mh Sultain.

Chaidh “Hallaig” a lìbhrigeadh bho thùs aig Fèis Cheilteach Ghlaschu ann an 2009, nuair a chaidh a mholadh gu mòr. Bidh an gnothach air a stiùireadh air gach oidhche leis an t-sàr neach-ciùil Coinneach MacThòmais, agus a-measg na chuir ris a’ dealbh a’ chiùil bha Mairi Anna NicUalraig, Eilidh NicChoinnich, Marie-Louise Napier, Ailean Dòmhnallach, Blair Dùbhghlas, Dòmhnall Seathach agus Ailean MacEanruig.

An cuideachd Còisir Gàidhlig Inbhir Pheofharain air an dà oidhche iomraiteach san t-Sultain, bidh Coinneach MacThòmais fhèin, Brian McAlpine, Gordon Gunn, Dougie Pincock, Jenna Cumming, Rhona NicAoidh, Alasdair Whyte, Màiri McCarthy, Jack Evans agus Su-a Lee.

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