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Latest Press Release

FANTASTIC LINE-UP FROM BLAS 2010 TO BE BROADCAST EXCLUSIVELY ON BBC ALBA

With Blas 2010 commencing this week, BBC ALBA is delighted to announce that it will be providing exclusive programmes from the festival to be broadcast on the channel throughout September and October.

Blas is a true celebration of the rich cultural heritage, music and language of the Highlands and cameras from BBC ALBA will be there to capture the festivities as four concerts are recorded over the course of the festival.

Events take place all over the Highlands from small venues in the remotest of areas to large venues like Eden Court in Inverness. Offering the opportunity for communities to experience and enjoy live music and Gaelic performance, the festival will not only feature leading artists in traditional music and Gaelic, but will also offer opportunities for young musicians to play and learn too.

The exclusive BBC ALBA package will be presented by Mod Gold Medallist Kirsteen Macdonald. Each of the four programmes will be an hour in duration and will feature highlights from the following top concerts:

  • Friday 3rd Sep – Blas takes off at Hanger 2, Inverness Airport featuring Shooglenifty, Skerryvore and Niteworks.

  • Saturday 4th Sep – Blas grand opening concert, Empire Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness featuring Bodega, Meantime, Bruce MacGregor and Friends, Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trailers and Iain Morrison and Band.

  • Wednesday 8th Sep – Àrainn Shuaineart (The Sunart Centre), Strontian, Acharacle featuring Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain with support from Margaret MacLellan.

  • Thursday 9th Sep – Nevis centre, Fort William featuring Donnie Munro and Band as well as Ingrid Henderson, Iain MacFarlane and Ewan Robertson.

Television coverage will kick off with performances from the legendary Donnie Munro and Band with full broadcast details including:

  • Programme 1 – Nevis Centre on Saturday 18th Sept at 9pm and repeated on Friday 24th Sept at 11.30pm.
  • Programme 2 – Eden Court on Saturday 25th Sept at 9pm and repeated on Friday 1st Oct at 11.30pm.
  • Programme 3 – Hangar 2 on Saturday 2nd Oct at 9pm and repeated on Friday 8th Oct at 11.30pm.
  • Programme 4 – Sunart Centre on Saturday 9th Oct at 9pm and repeated on Friday 15th Oct at 11.30pm.

The Blas festival has been devised by the Highland Council in partnership with Fèisean nan Gàidheal and the Promoters Arts Network (PAN). The Highland Council has contracted Fèisean nan Gàidheal to work with PAN and others to develop this festival for the Highlands.

Full information on all Blas 2010 events is available on www.blas-festival.com.