Fort William’s Nevis Centre is the venue to be on Friday, September 16 when the Blas 2011 Festival and Lochaber Gold comes to town. A whole new meaning will be applied to the famous historical rallying call “Lochaber no More!” when some of the High School former pupils and VIPs and a stellar cast of musicians get together – with a surprise guest appearance or two into the bargain. All of the music being played and songs sung will revolve around Lochaber, with the performers and all the tunes coming from the area itself.

As part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Lochaber High School, Blas festival organisers have invited a group of some of the school’s illustrious former pupils, who have spread Lochaber’s fame far and wide, to reminisce and rejoice in their collective and individual past. From the world of politics and sport they will arrive, with no super-injunctions to protect their identities. They will be accompanied by some of the best musicians to have emerged from Lochaber’s vibrant music scene to provide a heady concoction of wit, repartee and entertainment.

Amongst those joining the list of celebrities will be Catherine Macleod, who was media adviser to Alister Darling (former Chancellor of the Exchequer), Donald Park of the SFA, Charles Kennedy MP, footballer Duncan Shearer and a glittering array of local musical talent which will feature, along with others, the Lochaber High School pipe band. Find out all you ever wanted to know about them!

Keeping all of this in line will be two compères, also former pupils: Hugh Dan MacLennan and shinty superstar Gary Innes. Both have a well-known shared interest in shinty and have combined to head up an intriguing mix of nostalgia and fun the evening before the 2011 Camanachd Cup Final which this year links up with the Blas festival.

Hugh Dan MacLennan said: “We know our former school colleagues will have tales to tell and who knows we may have a surprise or two up our sleeves.  We are particularly pleased to confirm that we will have two special guest appearances from the great fiddler Angus Grant as he celebrates his 80th birthday and Fergie MacDonald, who isn’t 80, but will be making one of his legendary comebacks following a successful operation earlier this year. I suspect they will show the young guns a thing or two before the night is out.”

Gary Innes’ role as musical director of the show will make up for his lack of playing involvement in the Camanachd Cup Final at Inverness the next day. He said: “I have no doubt that the work done by the Fèisean movement in Lochaber has been the driver which enabled us all to discover our roots and offer us the opportunity to develop our talents as musicians. Some of us don’t go so far back in the history of the school as others, but we are all part of it and this will be a great tribute to the school and what has gone on the area. This promises to be a cracking evening’s entertainment and I am so proud to be appearing on stage with so many important and wonderful people.”  Gary will now be having his tongue removed from his cheek!

Lochaber Gold is just one of a range of top quality musical events being staged by the 2011 Blas Festival organisers celebrating the rich heritage of the Highlands and Islands in the year of Scotland’s Islands.  Blas is now firmly established as the premier Gaelic festival celebrating Highland culture.

Source: Fèisean nan Gàidheal