The festival has Gaelic at its heart, and features the cream of young Highland talent, alongside the best known professional traditional musicians.

DONNA MACRAE discusses the present and future prospects for the Blas Festival

THE BLAS Festival was in the news earlier this year for the wrong reasons following the announcement of a planned 30% cut in the festival’s funding from Highland Council, as part of the current drive to make massive savings in spending.

GUITARIST Graeme Stephen was pointing out to me the other day that whenever he is involved in a Tune Up tour, it seems to snow. He won’t be disappointed this time, then, when he takes his excellent contemporary jazz sextet and special guest Ben Davis on the road in late February and early March, including dates in Perth, Inverness and Banchory.

Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness, Inverness, 11 September 2009

SUE WILSON celebrates a colourful conclusion to another successful festival.

SUE WILSON checks out the next generation alongside one of Scottish music’s enduring personalities.

FIONA MACKENZIE enjoys Gaelic songs old and new.

KENNY MATHIESON catches the duo in their customary supercharged form.

SUE WILSON discovers that airports can be fun.