Organisers of the Blas Festival yesterday announced this year’s line-up and revealed young musicians and composers would play a prominent part of the event as part of Scotland’s Year of Young People.
Hundreds of younsterday from across the north will be taking to the stage to showcase the wealth of talent in the young generation.
Youngsters will also be gaining marketing and management experience through their role in organising and promoting the event.
Headline acts, meanwhile, include Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis, two winners of BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, Mischa Macpherson and Brìghde Chaimbeul, award-winning folk band Breabach and young electronic Celtic fusion group, Niteworks.
And Celtic rock group Wolfstone will perform at the Skye Festival for the first time.
Alasdair Gillies and Dolina Maclennan, both icons of Gaelic culture, will celebrate their 80th birthdays with special events in Skye and Lewis.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “In this Year of Young People it is great to see the Blas Festival showcasing the talent of so many young performers and creating new opportunities for the next generation of musicians and composers.
“This year’s programme, with its outstanding cèilidhs, concerts and other events delivered with the help of youth ambassadors, will celebrate and promote Highland culture to audiences coming from far and wide.
“Blas represents a key part of the Highland cultural exchange and the Scottish Government is committed to further supporting its growth, which will enrich Scotland’s cultural life and contribute to the promotion of Gaelic in Scotland.”
The annual event is organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with Highland Council and will take place during September 7-15.
It celebrates Gaelic culture and the thriving Scottish Traditional Music Scene over nine days of ceilidhs, concerts and events.
