In Lochaber the festival will celebrate the 80th birthday of button accordion legend Fergie MacDonald with an all-star line-up at the Nevis Centre. The 25th anniversary of the highly successful Fèis Lochabair will be marked with the return of some of the fabulous musicians it has produced over the years at the celebratory Cèilidh in Caol along with guests Fras and Aonghas Grant.
Thanks to support from Argyll and Bute Council and Marine Harvest, Blas will also reach Argyll with Gaelic singer Mary Ann Kennedy performing songs from her new album, An Dàn, in An Talla, Tiree along with the Donald Black Band and young people from Fèis Thiriodh. The Angus Nicolson Trio will appear in Oban with Gaelic singers Freddie MacKenzie and Mary Catherine MacNeil as well as musicians from Fèis Latharna.
Hugh Dan MacLennan, Gary Innes and crew will celebrate Shanty’s Heroes, including Ballachulish piper and composer Willie Lawrie, at an event in Kinlochleven, while this year’s Blas commission Dìleab Uilleim – the Gaelic Song legacy of Rev William Matheson – will visit Mull where Willie served as a minister for a number of years. Jo MacDonald will introduce songs sung by Robert Robertson, Rachel Walker and Alasdair Whyte accompanied by Ross Wilson.