Fresh from Runrig to Blas for Dingwall singer
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AT the weekend she was on stage with Runrig at their emotional farewell concert in front of 26,000 fans.
Now Dingwall-based singer, Julie Fowlis, who sang the theme songs for Disney’s Pixar smash hit, Brave, will help put a shine on this year’s Blas Festival.
Ross-shire will next month host some of folk music’s biggest names during the festival.
Julie recently also featured on Runrig’s latest single, Somewhere. Now her attention turns to the Blas Festival, which takes place over nine days.
Julie, husband Éamon Doorley, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre have been working together over the past 18 months setting music to a diverse collection of poetry, inspired by the work of Seán Ó Riada, Padraigín Ní Uallacháin and others who breathed new life to Gaelic poetry. They will be performing on September 13 at Gairloch Community Hall.
Other events will see Portmahomack welcome Highland quartet Cruinn.
Featuring four Gaelic singers – James Graham, Fiona Mackenzie, Brian O hEadhra and Rachel Walker – Cruinn are renowned for their mixture of traditional and contemporary Gaelic songs with exquisite harmonies and arrangements.
Joining Cruinn at Carnegie Hall on September 10 will be newly formed trio, Assynt. Other significant Ross-shire events taking place will be Crossing the Minch a tribute to the late great Pipe Major Donald Macleod in Ullapool on September 8 and Clann: Family Ties at Lochcarron Village Hall on September 11 – an event celebrating musical family ties with West Kerry father daughter duo, Seamus and Mèabh Begley and Gaelic singer Maggie MacInnes and son Calum Park.
A new Gaelic song commission by BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner Mischa MacPherson will be performed in Applecross Community Hall on September 12.
Following a Ceòl nam Fèis showcase concert featuring 100 young musicians under the musical direction of Capercaillie’s Donald Shaw at the Spa Pavilion in Strathpeffer on September 14, Blas will culminate in an enormous concert at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness the next day.
Òran Mòr meaning Great (or Big) Song, will feature more than 1000 young musicians from Fèisean across Scotland as well as various youth music groups and initiatives.
The talented youngsters will take to the stage with the bands they have chosen including traditional music supergroups Skipinnish, Trail West and Breabach along with Brìghde Chaimbeul.
A new Gaelic song written by Gaelic student, Robbie MacLeòid, will be performed by every musician taking part in the concert, the largest event Fèisean nan Gàidheal has organised in its 30-year history.
For full programme details visit www.blas-festival.com
