Skye singer celebrates
A man described as one of the most beautifully melodic and expressive Gaelic singers will celebrate his 80th birthday in Skye as part of next month's Blas Festival.
Born in Glasgow in 1938 to Gaelic-speaking parents from Skye, Alasdair Gillies has been surrounded by song his whole life, whether at the steady stream of Glasgow ceilidhs he sang at, competing at the Royal National Mòd where he won the coveted Gold Medal in 1957, or studying part-time at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow while also studying dentistry.
A regular on BBC and STV, Alasdair also appeared at the King’s Theatre in Edinburgh and recorded his first album in 1963 for Thistle Records. Always keen to experiment with different genres, he recorded Gaelic versions of Beatles’ hits and Puppet on a String alongside Puirt a Beul.
He will take to the stage alongside Alastair Macdonald, Christine Primrose, Donald Black, John Carmichael, Griogair Labhruidh and others to celebrate his 80th birthday on Saturday September 8 at Àros, Portree, at 7.30pm.
Alasdair said: ‘I am really looking forward to appearing at the Blas Festival, especially in Skye, where my heart lies. I will be joined by a few friends, old and new.
‘I am particularly delighted to have Christine Primrose with me, along with Griogair and Donnie Black. Folk singer Alastair Macdonald and accordionist John Carmichael will be doing their own thing, as well as giving me musical support, as they have done over the years.’
Blas is organised by Fèisean nan Gàidheal in partnership with The Highland Council and will take place from Friday September 7 until Saturday September 15. It celebrates Gaelic culture and the thriving Scottish traditional music scene over nine days of concerts, cèilidhs and larger events in venues across the Highlands and Islands.
Other headline acts include Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis, two previous winners of BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards Mischa Macpherson and Brìghde Chaimbeul, Celtic rock group Wolfstone, who will perform at Blas for the first time, award-winning folk band Breabach, young electronic Celtic fusion group, Niteworks and the highly-acclaimed RURA.