Ewing welcomes Blas festival
TOURISM minister Fergus Ewing has welcomed this year’s Blas festival, which is expected to bring a significant number of visitors to the Highlands.
Blas 2014, the tenth anniversary festival, takes place from September 5-13.
International acts include the renowned Cape Breton fiddler, Howie MacDonald with piano player Marilyn Mackinnon.
Howie is one of Cape Breton’s best-known musicians having been a member of The Rankin Family.
Cherish the Ladies will also be appearing. They have toured all over North and South America, the United Kingdom and Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand, performing in the finest concert halls and at international festivals.
This will be their third visit to Blas having proved to be one of the most popular bands to appear at the festival.
As part of Highland Homecoming, this year’s Blas Festival will welcome some of the world’s strongest athletes who will be attending the Scottish Masters championship at the Northern Meeting Park.
A special ‘Welcome Home’ show – Do bheatha dhan dùthaich – takes place at Eden Court on Thursday, September 11, with a magnificent line-up of musicians.
The majority of Blas events this year offer an added bonus with the presence of locally produced food and drink at most venues giving audiences a taste, not only of Highland culture, but Highland food and drink.
A number of venues will have an enhanced food and drink offering, Feuch Blas (Try a Taste).
Highland Homecoming has received financial assistance from EventScotland and the Scotland’s Food and Drink Initiative.
The collaboration with Blas has been welcomed by tourism minister Fergus Ewing.
He said: "I am delighted that the 10th Blas Festival has been included within the Highland Homecoming programme which is taking place during September and October.
"The use of locally produced food at many of the events will help to build momentum towards the Year of Scotland’s Food & Drink in 2015, which will inspire the people of Scotland and visitors alike to celebrate Scotland’s outstanding natural larder and further develop Scotland’s reputation."
Details of the food and drink events, and the rest of the Blas programme, are available locally and through the festival website www.blas-festival.com.
