THIS month, nearly 1000 young musicians will come together to showcase their talents and demonstrate their passion and enthusiasm for Gaelic music alongside the top names in traditional music at the biggest event in Fèisean nan Gaidheal’s 30-year history.
With support from the Year of Young People, the Blas Festival, organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with the Highland Council, is providing a platform to showcase outstanding young musical talent in a large-scale showcase, Òran Mòr. Meaning Great (or Big) Song, this musical extravaganza will take place at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness on Saturday, September 15. It will feature young musicians from Fèisean and various youth initiatives from across Scotland including the Highland Council youth music groups and the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music.
One of the highlights of this event will be a brand new Gaelic song written by up-and-coming young Gaelic songwriter and Glasgow-based Gaelic student, Robbie MacLeòid. His song, Bèo an Dòchas (Living in Hope), was written specifically for Òran Mòr and will be sung by all the young people, under the musical direction of Donald Shaw, and led by young Gaelic singer, Annia MacGillivray from Tain.
The talented youngsters will share the stage with the bands they have chosen including traditional music supergroups Skipinnish, Trail West and Breabach as well as BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winners, Gaelic singer Mischa MacPherson and piper, Brìghde Chaimbeul.
For the full programme and details of how to purchase tickets, visit www.blas-festival.com
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