Monday 12 July to Friday 6 August Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail 2010, close to Shenval B&B. A 4 week ceilidh trail working in and around a variety of venues in Inverness, Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal. Offering afternoon informal music sessions &  Evening ceilidhs.  Most of the events are free of charge, with a few exceptions. 

Ceilidh Trail team members are Lead Professional musician, Cameron Kellow, accordion and the 4 Students musicians, Rachael MacDonald, Gaelic Song, bagpipes, small pipes and whistles, Alasdair Taylor, guitar, mandolin, banjo and bouzouki, fiddle and guitar. Emily Andrew, fiddle, Scots Song and step dance. For more info contact : Margo MacLennan, Telephone: 01463 663817
Details of the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail performances closest to Shenval B&B below.

Monday 12th. The Grand Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail Opening Ceilidh will be held in Urquhart Castle Visitors Centre close to Shenval Bed and Breakfast,  starting at 7.30pm. Tickets on sale from Service Point at Drumnadrochit or on the door.

 

Tuesday 13th. Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail Scottish Country Dance in the Craigmonie Centre in Glenurquhart High School Drumnadrochit near Shenval B&B. Pay at the door

Wednesday 14th.
Fort Augustus Locks - Informal Open Air Session. 4pm - 5pm

Ceilidh Dance at Fort Augustus Public Hall - 8pm - 10pm. £4/£3 pay at the door.

Thursday 15th.
Invergarry Hotel Ceilidh. 8pm - 10pm

Friday 16th.
 At 1 with music lunchtime concert at Inverness Town House
1pm - 2pm. £4/£3 pay at the door.

Jacobite Queen. Informal Open Air Session on the 2pm sailing

Inverness Hootananny’s CeilIdh 9.30pm-12.30am

Week 2: 19th July to 24th July
Monday 19th.
Urquhart Castle Veranda, Informal Open Air Session. 4pm - 5pm

Lovat Arms Hotel, Fort Augustus, Informal Session
8pm - 10pm with the Caledonian Trail Band.

 

Wednesday  21th.
Fort Augustus Locks - Informal Open Air Session 4pm - 5pm

Ceilidh Dance Public Hall - Fort Augustus. 8pm - 10pm. £4/£3 pay at the door.

Thursday 22th.
Invergarry Hotel Ceilidh with the Caledonian Trail Band. 8pm - 10pm

 

Friday 23rd. Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail Joint Ceilidh with Fèis Lochabair, at 8pm at the Glengarry Community Hall at Inververgarry. Tickets at the door £5/4 Family ticket (4) is £15

Saturday 24th.
Lovat Arms Hotel, Fort Augustus, Informal Session with the Caledonian Trail Band. 8pm - 10pm

 

Saturday 24th. Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail Traditional Music Stage at Inverness Highland Games, starting from 3-6pm.  Ceilidh Trailers will compere the event for the 9th year in succession.

Week 3: 26th July to 30th July
Tuesday 27th.
Urquhart Castle Veranda, Informal Open Air Session. 4pm - 5pm -Ceilidh Trail Trio

Wednesday 28th.
Fort Augustus Locks - Informal Open Air Session. 4pm - 5pm

Fort Augustus Public Hall Ceilidh Dance with the Caledonian Trail Band.
8pm - 10pm. £4/£3 pay at the door.

Thursday 29th.
Invergarry Hotel Ceilidh with the Caledonian Trail Band. 8pm - 10pm

Friday 30th.
Jacobite Cruises, Informal Open Air Session on the 2pm sailing

Inverness Hootananny’s Ceilidh with the Caledonian Trail Band.
9.30pm - 12.30am

 

Week 4: 2nd August to 6th August
Monday 2nd.
Urquhart Castle Veranda Informal Open Air Session with the Caledonian Trail Band. 4pm - 5pm

Lovat Arms Hotel Ceilidh, Fort Augustus with the Caledonian Trail Band. 8pm - 10pm

Wednesday  4th.
Fort Augustus Locks - Open Air Session with the Caledonian Trail Band. 4pm - 5pm

Ceilidh Dance Public Hall - Fort Augustus with the Caledonian Trail Band. 8pm - 10pm. £4/£3 pay at the door.

Thursday 5th.
Invergarry Hotel Informal Session. 8pm - 10pm

Friday 6th.
Tartan Heart Festival – Belladrum Informal Open Air Session; Grass Roots stage  12noon - 1pm. Tickets from website:
www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk

Inverness Final Event - Hootananny’s Ceilidh. 9.30pm - 12.30am

 

 

Friday 6th and Saturday 7th. Close to Shenval B&B, The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival will feature music crossing all genres - indie, rock, Dance DJ, Celtic, Celtic rock, blues, roots, singer-songwriter and many more. On the performing arts side, expect dance, theatre, street theatre, cabaret & burlesque, comedy, poetry, literature, drama, debate and a wide variety of other entertainments plus workshops and tuition. All details form the FESTIVAL WEBSITE
 

Sunday  5th,  7.30pm at the STRATHPEFFER  PAVILION,  Tel.  01997 420124 : FAR & AWAY – IRELAND & CAPE BRETON evening with  Gerry O’Connor Trio, Buddy MacDonald, Goiridh Domhnallach, Rachel Davis and Noeleen Nî Cholla.
One of the finest venues in the Highlands will host some of the greatest musical talent from across the waters.  Gerry O’Connor has to be heard to be believed.  He has wowed audiences around the world with his stunning virtuosity. Gerry O’Connor has brought the banjo to places no other player had tread before. He has travelled the world - physically and musically - experimenting with everything from Irish to bluegrass to African and Asian, and back to Irish. Both as a soloist and as a member of the highly acclaimed Four Men and a Dog, Gerry has truly traced the banjo’s journey through the world of music.
 Noeleen Ní Cholla not only is a wonderful Irish Gaelic singer but has also learned Scottish Gaelic.  The Cape Breton artistes, as always, will keep you entranced with their ability and showmanship.

 

Sun 5th, 7.00pm CULLODEN  BATTLEFIELD CENTRE Tel. 01478 613355  THE JACOBITES  Fiona J MacKenzie Mhairi Hall Margaret Bennett Duncan Chisholm Rachel Walker.
 The new Culloden Battlefield Centre at Culloden Moor has received high praise for its exhibition and interpretation of the Highland’s most famous battle.  Tonight we gather together highly respected singers and musicians who will perform some of the haunting music and song to come out of the aftermath of this tragic event. The ticket price Includes visiting the exhibition and a glass of wine/soft drink and canapes   Arrive at 7.00 to visit the exhibition, mingle with other guests and enjoy the aperitifs!   Show starts at 8.00pm
MHAIRI HALL    Pianist and composer Mhairi Hall was born and brought up in Aviemore.  She has performed and recorded with many leading musicians, bands and singers and is regarded as one of the finest and most creative pianists from Scotland.
FIONA J MACKENZIE   Gaelic singer, Fiona J Mackenzie, from Dingwall  is well known for pushing the boundaries of Gaelic song and she is unafraid of experimenting with styles and genres.
RACHEL WALKER   Gaelic singer/songwriter Rachel Walker was brought up in Kinlochewe, Wester Ross, and developed a passion for Gaelic song at a very early age.    Now one of the top Gaelic singers in Scotland, Rachel released her third album Air Chall : Lost in January this year. 
DUNCAN CHISHOLM   Just over a decade after his debut album came the release of the sublime ‘Redpoint’. Noted for his beautiful lyrical playing, Duncan played for some time with Blazin Fiddles.  Duncan also performs in a duo with Ivan Drever and in the Julie Fowlis band.
MARGARET  BENNETT was brought up in a family of tradition bearers, Gaelic on her mother’s side and Lowland Scots on her father’s. Singer, storyteller, prize-winning writer, she is widely regarded as ‘Scotland’s foremost folklorist’.  Much in demand at festivals and international summer schools, Margaret is committed to ‘handing on tradition to new generations’.  She is also known for collaborations with her late son, Martyn—the recording of their Jacobite song ‘A Thearlaich Oig’ (from the CD Glen Lyon) features in the internationally acclaimed production, ‘The Black Watch’.  As the late Hamish Henderson wrote, ‘Margaret embodies the spirit of Scotland.’

 

Mon 6th, 7.30pm Half an hour’s drive from Shenval B&B, at INVERNESS MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY  tel. 01478 613355  :   TALES OF THE CITY  with Ruairidh Mac ‘Ill Eathain, Ruairidh MacMillan, Brian MacAlpine,  Kirsteen MacDonald and Louise Hay.
Blas aims to celebrate the Highlands and what better location to hold an event than Inverness Museum and Art Gallery? This venue on the banks of the river promotes the art, history and heritage of the Highlands is the perfect setting for this Blas event. Tonight’s show brings together music, song, tales and images of the beautiful Highland capital city of Inverness.   
KIRSTEEN’Ssinging career started at a young age, regularly attending Mods and winning prizes for singing and recitation.  She has gone onto win the two highest accolades for solo singing at the Royal National Mod as a senior, winning the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal in Dunoon in 2006 and more recently, the Traditional Gold Medal in Falkirk in 2008. 
RUAIRIDH MACMILLAN   Originally from Nairn in the Scottish Highlands, fiddler Ruairidh Macmillan is quickly making a name for himself in the world of Scottish Traditional music.  In February 2009, Ruairidh was awarded the prestigious title of ‘BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year’.
LOUISE HAY is a vibrant piper, playing highland, small and border pipes as well as the fiddle and originally hails from Blairgowrie in Perthshire. 
RUAIRIDH MACILLEATHAIN (Roddy Maclean) is a Gaelic journalist, broadcaster and writer. He has a broad knowledge of the linguistic and cultural heritage of Gaelic Scotland and is the author of “The Gaelic Place Names and Heritage of Inverness”. He enjoys telling and hearing old stories.

 

Wednesday 8th,  7.30pm, EDEN COURT INVERNESS ,tel.01463 234234. THE GATHERING with  The Clarsach Society,  Inverness Fiddlers,  Canntaireachd,  Inverness Gaelic Choir and  The Cheryl Heggie School of Dance. Tonight’s event is a selection of such groups who will demonstrate how vibrant our living traditions are.  With such an array of skills, this show is one for all the family to enjoy.
INVERNESS GAELIC CHOIR (COISIR GHÀIDHLIG INBHIR NIS)  has been performing for over 70 years but has more recently been shaking up the Gaelic choral scene with a diverse program and innovative approach.
CHERYL HEGGIE SCHOOL OF DANCE.  From Evanton in Rosshire, Cheryl Heggie is fast becoming one of the most sought-after Highland dance teachers in the area.   In February 2002 Cheryl founded her first dance school in Culloden.  Her commitment and passion for Highland dance was recognised and one year later Cheryl was approached to take on the Evanton Highland Dance School.
The CLARCACH SOCIETY  exists to promote the clarsach, or harp, and to help players.  Membership is open to all persons of any age or ability, including non-players.  The Highland Branch is one of eleven branches within the Society, which help to coordinate players and teachers in local areas, and occasionally offer concerts and workshops.
INVERNESS FIDDLERS   Formed in 1977, Inverness Fiddlers have over 60 players from all backgrounds. The main event in their calendar is the Fiddlers Rally held in Eden Court in February every year which attracts players from all over Scotland.

CANNTAIREACHD   Three years ago Canntaireachd formed under the umbrella of Fèis na h-Òige.  A vocal group of Gaelic speaking teenagers all of whom have gone through Gaelic medium primary education in Inverness and are now in various secondary schools around the Highland capital area, they meet weekly. They have built up quite a reputation for themselves as leading exponents of Gaelic vocal harmony singing.

 

Thursday  9th,  7.30pm INVERNESS  EDEN COURT – ONETOUCH THEATRE, Tel. 01463 234234. AN EVENING OF CLASSIC PIPING with  Angus MacColl,  Angus MacColl Junior, Ashleigh Bell, Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band and  Brìghde Chaimbeul.
Some of the most respected and best loved pipers from the Highlands have been gathered to perform at the One Touch Theatre in Inverness.  Topping the bill is the legendary piper Angus MacColl.  He wows audiences whenever he plays and is sure to bring out piping enthusiasts from near and far for tonight’s event.  He is joined by excellent piper Angus MacColl (Junior), local piping star Ashleigh Bell, and Inverness’ own Northern Constabulary Community Pipe Band.  
 ANGUS MACCOLL (SNR) & ANGUS MACCOLL (JNR)   Angus is ranked among the world’s greatest pipers who has distinguished himself by winning the Gold Medal at Inverness (1992), the Clasp (1993) and the Gold Medal at Oban (1996).   He was also winner of the Glenfiddich Invitational (1995), winner of the GS MacLennan,  San Diego 1997 and, in addition to being placed first in the senior ceòl beag at both meetings, he finished 2nd overall at the 1997 Glenfiddich Invitational. He won the Clasp at Inverness in 1998 and won of the Donald MacLeod Competition in 1999.  Also perfoming is Angus MacColl jnr.  Angus is a member of the Oban HighSchool Pipe Band and often performs at competitions and events.
ASHLEIGH BELL  started learning the bagpipes at the age of 10 under the instruction of PM Andrew Venters. After  two years studying under his instruction she moved on to study Piobaireachd from PM Niall Matheson whilst also receiving light music lessons from Norman Gillies before he sadly passed away in February 2006. She has been actively competing in junior competitions throughout her piping years with major successes being, Overall Cowal champion 2006, 2007 Dunrobin Castle Champion 2004, 2005 and 2007 1st in the National Mod Scottish Junior champion 2006. 
NORTHERN CONSTABULARY COMMUNITY PIPE BAND is a voluntary group of musicians drawn from the Police family and members of the public of the City of Inverness and its environs. We play and practice in our own free time throughout the year at Police Headquarters, Inverness on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
BRÌGHDE CHAIMBEUL   Eleven-year-old Brìghde Chaimbeul is from Skye and has already made a considerable reputation for herself in piping circles. In 2009, at age ten, she becamethe youngest-ever winner of the Under-15 Pìobaireachd Competition at the Strathclyde Police Junior Piping Championships, and in 2009 also became the youngest-ever to win a Pìobaireachd medal at the prestigious Northern Meeting. 

Friday 10th,  7.30pm, 30 minutes drive from Shenval B&B, the PHIPPS HALL IN BEAULY HOSTS a  HIGHLAND DINNER & DANCE  with Iain MacPhail and his Scottish Dance Band and Pur.  The pre-show supper can be purchased through the Local Box Office, tel. 01463 782213, or online www.blas-festival.com
The beautiful highland village of Beauly always makes visiting acts and audiences feel at home.  In this evening’s quality event will bring you the best in food, song and dance.  Enjoy an optional scrumptious meal followed by melodious Scots & Gaelic song.  Then kick back the chairs and dance the night away from one of the top dance bands in the land.
 IAIN MACPHAIL AND HIS SCOTTISH DANCE BAND    Driven by the irresistible forces of music and subtle rebellion, Iain has become one of the great innovators on the Scottish music scene with his original approach to the orchestration, syncopation and chord formation of tunes, and his band’s cachet big sound created by the cream of Scotland’s dance musicians.
PUR (SHONA DONALDSON AND KATIE MACKENZIE)   Pur consist of Scots singer and fiddler, Shona Donaldson and Gaelic Ross-shire singer Katie Mackenzie.  
Suppers at 6pm to 6.30pm.  Concert and Dance starts at 7.30pm.

 

Sunday  12th, 7.30pm Only 30 minutes from your Shenval  B&B  accommodation, BLAS GRAND FINALE AT EDEN COURT , INVERNESS, tel  01463 234234,  with Kiltearn Fiddlers, Fèis na h-Òige / Fèis a’ Bhaile, Buddy MacDonald , Goiridh Domhnallach,  Rachel Davis,  Eilidh MacKenzie -Saoghal Sona and Breabach.
Well, it’s been quite a week and a half, hasn’t it?  This grand finale sums up what Blas is all about. Young and more seasoned artistes take to the stage to give you a performance which will leave no doubt in your mind as to how healthy and vibrant our Gaelic Highland culture is these days.  If you’ve been to finales in the past you’ll know how much fun they are.  See you next year!
KILTEARN FIDDLERS  are celebrating their 20th year. The group emerged from a Fèis Rois traditional fiddle class set up in 1990 at Kiltearn Primary School, Evanton, Ross-shire under Alpha Munro.
SAOGHAL SONA (EILIDH MACKENZIE) A new commission by the accomplished Black Isle based bàrd Eildih Mackenzie, Saoghal Sona is a show of new songs written about news events over the past year.  The only thing that is instead of the usual doom and gloom which we normally get from our media, all the songs tell a story of joy!  With performances from some of our top news readers, musicians and singers, this show will definitely leave a smile on your face.
FÈIS NA H-ÒIGE & FÈIS A BHAILE.  Two of Inverness’ finest fèis groups come together to perform for you this evening. Both groups offer various Gaelic artstuition to young folk at different times over the year and have raised the musical standards and achievements of young musicians performing in the area. 
GOIRIDH DÒMHNALLACH  (Jeff MacDonald) is a Gaelic singer, composer, storyteller and educator who was fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from some of Cape Breton’s best tradition-bearers.
BUDDY MACDONALD’S   career as a singer, song-writer, entertainer, guitarist, began thirty five years ago, on the Northern Shores of Cape Breton Island,
RACHEL DAVIS.  Born and raised in the Village of Baddeck on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island.  As well as playing fiddle, Rachel has studied Cape Breton step-dancing, Bodhran and Gaelic singing.
BREABACH  are one of the most inventive and diverse bands to have emerged from the Scottish folk scene in recent years.   Nominated in the Scots Trad Music Awards for ‘Best Up and Coming Artist’ in 2006 and ‘Best Folk Band’ in 2007 and 2008, Breabach’s huge sound is dominated by the twin Bagpipes of Calum MacCrimmon and Donal Brown. This is complemented by the extraordinary fiddle playing of Patsy Reid and is further supported by the charismatic guitar playing of Ewan Robertson. 

 

Sun 24th Tea and Tunes with The Tim Kliphuis Trio, at Glenurquhart Public Hall, 10 mns from Shenval B&B, 4pm. Dutchman Tim Kliphuis is fast gaining a reputation as one of the most imaginative, exciting and entertaining violinists on the acoustic scene. He combines Gypsy Jazz, Classical, Folk, World Music and Tango to create an inspired and daring fusion with soulful melodies, driving rhythms and funky chords.
Tim Kliphuis, Roy Percy and Nigel Clark are three of the finest musicians around today, whose musicianship is only outdone by their banter. "Stephane Grappelli's style is alive and well in the hands of Tim Kliphuis" - Nigel Kennedy; "Ear-caressing" - Sir John Dankworth. Judge for yourself HERE

NOVEMBER
Fri 12th Sarah-Jane Summers Trio, at Glenurquhart Public Hall, 10 mns from Shenval B&B, 8pm. Originally from Inverness and now running the Royal Scottish Art, Music and Drama school Junior traditional music course, Sarah-Jane was a pupil of the late local Abriachan fiddle master, Donald Riddell.  She adds a Norwegian flavour to the old Highland style, with incendiary results.