A spectacular concert featuring fifteen top international singers and musicians playing alongside over forty young Highland Fèis students, is to be staged as one of the key events at this year’s Blas Festival, the leading Gaelic and Traditional music event staging 53 music events across 48 venues in the Highlands.

It is the first time ‘Harvest’ has been staged in the Highlands and is a spectacular gala concert created, written and directed by Donald Shaw of the famous Scottish group, Capercaillie. The show is a multi-faceted celebration of the musical interplay between Europe’s various Celtic traditions. The stellar international line-up includes Capercaillie’s Karen Matheson,  Ewen Vernal and Mike McGoldrick, Guadi Galego from Galicia, Karan Casey from Ireland, Highland musicians Anna Massie, Aidan O’ Rourke and James MacIntosh and Brittany’s outstanding flautist Jean-Michel Veillon.

‘Harvest’ is being co-ordinated by Fèis Rois, presently celebrating twenty one years of tuition, promotion and development of Gaelic language and traditional arts in the Highlands.

Fèis Rois Director Rita Hunter said: “ It is a dream come true to be staging Harvest in the Highlands and for our young Fèis participants to share a stage with these outstanding musicians.  Donald Shaw is an inspirational and very generous musician and as Music Director he will leave a great legacy with the student musicians.   We believe ‘Harvest’ will provide one of the musical highlights not only of the Blas Festival, but the whole year celebrating Highland culture, Highland 2007.”

Festival Director Donna Cunningham said: “Harvest will be a spectacular show, combining recognised international stars with some of the best local talent in the region. It is a fantastic prospect to have all of this musical and singing ability on stage and the Blas Festival is sure the people of the Highlands will greatly enjoy the show."

The main sponsor of this year’s festival is the Clydesdale Bank. Alan Holland, Managing Partner of the Bank's Financial Solutions Centre in Inverness said: "Clydesdale Bank are delighted to support BLAS during 2007, Scotland's Year of Highland Culture. Clydesdale Bank has a long history of supporting community events and activities throughout Scotland and we are delighted we now have this partnership in place with a flagship project, throughout the Highlands, which will benefit locals and visitors alike."

‘Harvest’ will feature at the Aviemore Highland Resort on Friday 7th September at 7.30pm; and at the Nevis Centre in Fort William on Saturday 8th September, also at 7.30pm.

Information about Blas Festival events is available from the website www.blas-festival.com

Tickets are available by telephone hotline: 01463 782213; from venues staging the festival shows; or on-line at www.thebooth.co.uk

The BLAS Festival primary sponsor is Clydesdale Bank. Other sponsors and supporters include The Highland Council, Highland 2007, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Scottish Arts Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Jacobite Cruises, Highland Flying School, Highlander Music, BBC Radio Scotland and Live Music Now Scotland.

For more information and photographs please contact:
Peter Kane
01463 871600
07742 308213
info@kanecommunication.com
 
Notes to editors:

• The festival director is Donna Cunningham and the artistic director is
  Brian Ó hEadhra.
• The BLAS festival is in its third year. It was created as a result of The Highland Council’s desire to create a new festival for the Highlands which would match the vitality of Cape Breton’s Celtic Colours Festival.
• The BLAS festival makes a virtue of featuring home-grown talent alongside internationally-renowned traditional musicians. Gaelic plays a very prominent part in every BLAS event.
• The festival is supported by a network of promoters and volunteers, approximately 400 in number.
• The Blas Festival will stage events in Inverness, Lochaber, Skye & Lochalsh,
  Ross-shire, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey, Sutherland, and Caithness.
• The Blas Festival Team:
  David Boag (Development Manager, Fèisean nan Gàidheal)
  Arthur Cormack (Director, Fèisean nan Gàidheal)
  Donna Cunningham (Festival Director)
  Brian Ó hEadhra (Artistic Director)
  Ingrid Henderson (Lochaber Fèisean Development Officer)
  David Gilbert (PAN Board Member)
  Rita Hunter (Fèis Rois Manager)
  Duncan MacInnes (PAN Administrator)
  Peter Kane (Press & Media Manager)
  Nicola Marshall (Development Officer, Fèisean nan Gàidheal)
  Judi Menabney (Arts Manager, Highland Council)