Skipinnish frontman’s online concert to welcome world to Highland showcase Blas Festival
Skipinnish front man, Norrie MacIver, will start the celebrations for the 20th Blas Festival with an online performance live on the opening night this Friday as audiences around the world are invited to join in the festivities.
Homegrown talent, alongside internationally renowned traditional musicians, will entertain audiences across the Highlands & Islands, and online, this month as part of the 20th Blas Festival.
It starts on Friday (September 6) and runs until September 14.
SEE ALSO
Skipinnish confirmed for The Gathering 2025
Highland music and Gaelic culture at heart of Blas
Norrie MacIver, originally from the Isle of Lewis, is well-known as the singer with folk supergroup, Skipinnish, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, with special performances at Edinburgh Castle and Bught Park already under their belt this summer.
Blas, which means taste or sample in Gaelic, celebrates Highland music, Gaelic language and culture and this year there will be a variety of online concerts as well as 25 in-person events, meaning music fans across the world can take part in the festival.
Norrie’s concert, which will feature a variety of Gaelic music, new and old, including fan favourites, will be livestreamed on the Blas Facebook page, as well as his own page, on Friday at 9pm.
The following day, at 5pm, there will be the chance to learn songs from Lochaber with award-winning Gaelic singer, musician and broadcast, Mary Ann Kennedy.
Two of the Highland’s finest musicians, Ewen Henderson and Ingrid Henderson will perform the songs of Duncan 'Ban' MacIntyre, marking 300 years since his birth, during a Facebook Live session on September 11 whilst Alec ‘Valtos’ Macdonald will host an online Gaelic proverbs session on the 10th.
Saturday, September 14 will see another Hebridean favourite, Iain ‘Costello’ MacIver host a concert live on Facebook.
Blas has become a staple in the Gaelic culture calendar since Highland Council established the event, in 2004, as a small-scale festival with three events.
This year, Blas, which is organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with Highland Council, will visit communities across the Highlands and Islands including Inverness, Portree, Borve (Isle of Lewis), Dingwall, Ballachulish, Newtonmore, Invergarry, Gairloch and Golspie.
The festival highlights the Highlands’ rich culture and heritage with events showcasing a mix of old and new Gaelic songs, traditional music and stories in a variety of venues from small village halls to arts centres.
Arthur Cormack, chief executive, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Blas Festival organisers, said: “2024 marks the 20th Blas Festival, which was created as a result of The Highland Council’s desire to have a festival, in its area, which would match the vitality of Cape Breton’s Celtic Colours.
“And as we celebrate 20 years of Blas, we are looking forward to welcoming audiences from around the world to our events, both in-person throughout the Highlands and Islands and online, to celebrate our rich musical and Gaelic.”
Concerts taking place in venues throughout the Highlands & Islands include music and song from Scotland and Ireland by Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John Mcintyre in the stunning Inverness Cathedral; local up and coming band, Cala, with support from Black Isle sibling duo, Donald and Peigi Barker, will entertain a home crowd in Eden Court Theatre; BBC Radio 2 Folk award winner and piper, Brìghde Chaimbeul, and her father, renowned poet and writer, Angus Peter Campbell, will appear for a special performance of music and poetry in Inverness; Sian, a Gaelic vocal harmony group, whose members often perform with Niteworks, Trail West and Valtos, will perform in Skye, Lochinver and Newtonmore; there will be beautiful new music from Royal National Mòd medalists Màiri Callan, Ruairidh Gray and Alice Macmillan in Staffin and Inverinate; and ceilidhs galore including with the Robert Nairn Ceilidh Band in Roybridge where they will be joined by award-winning Gaelic singer, and BBC Scotland weather presenter, Calum MacColl.
The full programme of events can be found at www.blas.scot along with details of how to purchase tickets.
