Leading performers at the 21st Hebridean Celtic Festival will next week feature is a series of live performances and free gigs to be broadcast on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal.
The station’s Caithream Ciùil programme will be airing three days next week presented by Seonag Monk and Emma Lamont during the award-winning HebCelt.
The first programme on Wednesday 13th from 2pm-4pm, from the BBC studios in Stornoway, will showcase the festival’s sell-out opening show, Hebridean Women, which includes some of the very best female vocalists from the Outer Hebrides – Julie Fowlis, from North Uist; Mary Smith and Isobel Ann Martin (Lewis), Cathy Ann MacPhee (Barra) and Kathleen Macinnes (South Uist). Wednesday will also feature music from this year’s Ceilidh Trail.
On Thursday between 2pm-4pm the show will broadcast free live concerts at Martin’s Memorial Hall in Stornoway featuring husband and wife singer-songwriters Brian ÓhEadhra and Fiona Mackenzie, who will record their first album together in 2016 for release next year; as well as Americana, rock and alternative country band Orphan Colours; ceilidh band Urban Teuchtars, fronted by Gaelic singers Kathleen MacInnes and Sineag MacIntyre, from South Uist; and Dundee Indie band The Hazey Janes.
Friday from 3pm-5pm will see sets from Yorkshire singer songwriter Bella Gaffney, who won a prestigious stage slot at HebCelt as one of nine finalists in the CalMac Culture Music contest; James Edwyn, from the Glasgow sextet James Edwyn & the Borrowed Band; alt-country blues singer-songwriter from Tennessee, Amythyst Kiah; and RURA, who were nominated for Folk Band of the Year (Scots Trad Music Awards 2012) and the Horizon Award (Radio 2 Folk Awards 2013).
In addition, recordings for the ‘Rapal’ sessions will feature re-formed band Astrid on Thursday, one of Scotland’s most exciting live acts, Woodenbox, on Friday and Lewis singer songwriter Miss Irenie Rose and local artists The Sea Atlas on Saturday.
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal music producer John Murray said: “The 21st HebCelt is a special occasion and we are excited to be involved again, giving our listeners a flavour of what is sure to be another outstanding festival.
“It’s a great opportunity for music fans to come along for free to see some of the artists at the festival and I hope many will join us next week.”
HebCelt director Caroline Maclennan added: “The live concerts are a big attraction during festival week. We are indebted to Radio nan Gàidheal for its continuing support for HebCelt which helps showcase our wide ranging programme.”
The 21st HebCelt will be held from 13-16 July in Stornoway. Runrig will head a line-up of nearly 70 acts over the four days, including the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Hayseed Dixie, Julie Fowlis, Astrid, John McCusker and Breabach.
HebCelt has grown from a small event attracting less than 1,000 fans, to an international showpiece for roots, Celtic and traditional music, drawing an audience of around 15,000. It is estimated it has generated more than £20 million for the local economy over two decades.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
In 2015 the Hebridean Celtic Festival was selected as one of the top 10 UK summer festivals for the fifth year in succession by influential publication Songlines.
In 2014 HebCelt was voted Best Event or Festival at the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.
In 2011 it was ranked Best Large Festival at the industry-sponsored Scottish Event Awards and it won Best Event of the Year award at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards in 2004 and 2009.
For more information contact
John Ross
System2
01463 724593; 077300 99617
johnross@system2.eu