Hebridean Celtic Festival
Encyclopedia
The Hebridean Celtic Festival (Scottish Gaelic: Fèis Cheilteach Innse Gall) is an international Celtic music
festival, which takes place annually in Stornoway
on Lewis
, in the Outer Hebrides
of Scotland
. The biggest headliners to date have been Runrig
, The Waterboys
, Proclaimers and Van Morrison
. Many other acts take part in the event, including visiting international artists, solo artists and local musicians.
The main arena is situated on the Castle Green, in front of Lews Castle
. Other events take place in the An Lanntair
arts centre and elsewhere in Stornoway. There are also concerts in the villages of Borve and Breasclete
in Lewis, and Northton in Harris.
Organised largely by a dedicated volunteer force, the event established in 1996 has seen growth over the intervening years. Over and above the music, the Festival also offers workshops, street arts, Gaelic storytelling, language tasters, and opportunities to explore areas rich culture and heritage. A more recent addition is an annual inter island shinty
match for the Hebcelt Trophy,http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/sport/Heb-Celt-Shinty-match-pitches.3940008.jp played for the first time in 2007, this is played between Lewis Camanachd
and Uist Camanachd
.
Now firmly established as one of Scotland’s great summer music festivals and the area's flagship event, the population of Stornoway swells by half during July to accommodate the annual pilgrimage of festivalgoers.
One of the most enduring UK festivals, in 2009 the event was voted 'Event of the Year' at the Scot Trad Music Awards, the annual awards ceremony organised by Hands up for Trad, celebrating Scottish traditional music. In 2011 the festival was voted one of the top 10 music global festival by Songlines
.
The Hebridean Celtic Festival, now in its 16th year, continues to attract thousands of visitors from around the world from as far away as North America, Australia and New Zealand. The festival continues to overcome a variety of challenges thrown up by its distance from key markets and the changed economic climate.
The 2011 event will feature KT Tunstall
, Seth Lakeman
, Peatbog Faeries
, Stornoway
, Dàimh, KAN, Rachel Sermanni, Mànran, Ahab, The Boy Who Trapped the Sun, Open Day Rotation, The Cole Porters, Tim Edey & Brendan Power, Mairearad & Anna, Rua Macmillan, RURA, Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag, Saltfishforty, Woodrenbox with a Fistful of Fivers, Kitty the Lion, Niteworks, and more....
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
festival, which takes place annually in Stornoway
Stornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
on Lewis
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
, in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The biggest headliners to date have been Runrig
Runrig
Runrig are a Scottish Celtic rock group formed in Skye, in 1973 under the name 'The Run Rig Dance Band'. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included songwriters Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald. The current line-up also includes longtime members Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, and more...
, The Waterboys
The Waterboys
The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
, Proclaimers and Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
. Many other acts take part in the event, including visiting international artists, solo artists and local musicians.
The main arena is situated on the Castle Green, in front of Lews Castle
Lews Castle
Lews Castle is a Victorian era castle located west of the town of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. It was built in the years 1847-57 as a country house for Sir James Matheson who had bought the whole island a few years previously with his fortune from the Chinese Opium trade...
. Other events take place in the An Lanntair
An Lanntair
An Lanntair is an arts centre in the town of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The centre is home to a cinema, and art gallery. Previously located in the Town Hall, in September 2005 An Lanntair moved to its current new building overlooking the harbour. This building features a 50-seater...
arts centre and elsewhere in Stornoway. There are also concerts in the villages of Borve and Breasclete
Breasclete
Breasclete is a village and community on the west side of the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland.One of the main services in the village is Breasclete Primary School, which has a current total of 27 students...
in Lewis, and Northton in Harris.
Organised largely by a dedicated volunteer force, the event established in 1996 has seen growth over the intervening years. Over and above the music, the Festival also offers workshops, street arts, Gaelic storytelling, language tasters, and opportunities to explore areas rich culture and heritage. A more recent addition is an annual inter island shinty
Shinty
Shinty is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands, and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread, being once competitively played on a widespread basis in England and other areas in the...
match for the Hebcelt Trophy,http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/sport/Heb-Celt-Shinty-match-pitches.3940008.jp played for the first time in 2007, this is played between Lewis Camanachd
Lewis Camanachd
Lewis Camanachd AKA Comann Camanachd Leòdhais in Scots Gaelic, is the senior shinty team from the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. The club entered North Division Three for the first time in 2011. This was the first time a team from the Western Isles was allowed to compete in league shinty...
and Uist Camanachd
Uist Camanachd
Uist Camanachd is a shinty team from the Western Isles, Scotland. The club is based in North Uist but draws its players from the whole archipelago from Berneray to Eriskay.-Roots of shinty in Uist:...
.
Now firmly established as one of Scotland’s great summer music festivals and the area's flagship event, the population of Stornoway swells by half during July to accommodate the annual pilgrimage of festivalgoers.
One of the most enduring UK festivals, in 2009 the event was voted 'Event of the Year' at the Scot Trad Music Awards, the annual awards ceremony organised by Hands up for Trad, celebrating Scottish traditional music. In 2011 the festival was voted one of the top 10 music global festival by Songlines
Songlines
Songlines, also called Dreaming tracks by Indigenous Australians within the animist indigenous belief system, are paths across the land which mark the route followed by localised 'creator-beings' during the Dreaming...
.
The Hebridean Celtic Festival, now in its 16th year, continues to attract thousands of visitors from around the world from as far away as North America, Australia and New Zealand. The festival continues to overcome a variety of challenges thrown up by its distance from key markets and the changed economic climate.
The 2011 event will feature KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall
Kate Victoria "KT" Tunstall is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist from St Andrews, Scotland. She broke into the public eye with a 2004 live solo performance of her song "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" on Later... with Jools Holland...
, Seth Lakeman
Seth Lakeman
Seth Bernard Lakeman is an English folk singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who is most often associated with the fiddle and tenor guitar, but has also mastered the viola and banjo...
, Peatbog Faeries
Peatbog Faeries
The Peatbog Faeries are a largely instrumental Celtic fusion band. Formed in 1991, they are based in Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.Their music embodies many styles and influences, including folk, electronica, rock and jazz, - but their main influence is traditional celtic music...
, Stornoway
Stornoway (band)
Stornoway is a British alternative indie folk band from the Cowley area of Oxford. It consists of singer and guitarist Brian Briggs; multi-instrumentalists Jon Ouin and Oli Steadman, and the latter's brother Rob on drums. The band is usually joined by trumpeter Adam Briggs and violinist Rahul Satija...
, Dàimh, KAN, Rachel Sermanni, Mànran, Ahab, The Boy Who Trapped the Sun, Open Day Rotation, The Cole Porters, Tim Edey & Brendan Power, Mairearad & Anna, Rua Macmillan, RURA, Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag, Saltfishforty, Woodrenbox with a Fistful of Fivers, Kitty the Lion, Niteworks, and more....
Past bands performing at the Hebridean Celtic Festival
- The ProclaimersThe ProclaimersThe Proclaimers are a Scottish band composed of identical twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid . They are probably best known for the songs "Letter from America", "I'm On My Way" and "I'm Gonna Be ". The band tours extensively throughout Europe and other continents...
- Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
- RunrigRunrigRunrig are a Scottish Celtic rock group formed in Skye, in 1973 under the name 'The Run Rig Dance Band'. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included songwriters Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald. The current line-up also includes longtime members Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, and more...
- The Saw DoctorsThe Saw DoctorsThe Saw Doctors are an Irish rock band. Formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, they have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in Ireland, including three number ones. Their first number one, "I Useta Lover," topped the Irish charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1990, and still holds the record for the...
- Imelda MayImelda MayImelda Mary Higham, Clabby , known as Imelda May, is an Irish vocalist and musician. She began her career in music at 15 and released her debut album in 2005. She also plays the bodhrán and guitar...
- CapercaillieCapercaillie (band)Capercaillie is a Scottish folk band, founded in the 1980s by Donald Shaw and fronted by Karen Matheson. They have seen four of their albums placed in the UK Albums Chart, and continue to perform and record to the present day.-History:...
- Fiddlers' BidFiddlers' BidFiddlers' Bid are a Shetland based instrumental group known for playing contemporary arrangements of traditional Shetland fiddle tunes. The seven piece line-up consists of four fiddles, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and piano/Clàrsach....
- Finlay MacDonald Band
- Salsa CelticaSalsa CelticaSalsa Celtica are a Scottish musical group famed for playing a form of music that is a fusion of salsa music with traditional Scottish instruments, including elements of folk and jazz.-History:...
- Davy SpillaneDavy SpillaneDavy Spillane is a songwriter and a player of uilleann pipes and low whistle.early yearsDavy was born in Dublin in 1959 . At the age of 12 he started playing the uilleann pipes. His father encouraged him and inspired him with his love of all music genres...
- Natalie MacMasterNatalie MacMasterNatalie MacMaster, CM is an award-winning fiddler from the rural community of Troy in Inverness County, Nova Scotia, Canada who plays Cape Breton fiddle music....
- Dougie MacLeanDougie MacLeanDougie MacLean OBE is a Scottish singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist.His career started with a traditional band, The Tannahill Weavers, in 1976. His solo career started in 1981 and since then he has recorded numerous albums...
- The WaterboysThe WaterboysThe Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 by Mike Scott. The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York, and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a...
- Moving HeartsMoving HeartsMoving Hearts is an Irish folk-rock band formed in 1981. They followed in the footsteps of Horslips in combining Irish traditional music with rock and roll, and also added elements of jazz to their sound.-Career:...
- Peatbog FaeriesPeatbog FaeriesThe Peatbog Faeries are a largely instrumental Celtic fusion band. Formed in 1991, they are based in Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.Their music embodies many styles and influences, including folk, electronica, rock and jazz, - but their main influence is traditional celtic music...
- Treacherous Orchestra
- Julie FowlisJulie FowlisJulie Fowlis is a Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.-Musical career:Fowlis grew up in North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides, in a Gaelic-speaking community, and has been involved in singing, piping and dancing since she was a child.She is a...
- Red Hot Chilli PipersRed Hot Chilli PipersThe Red Hot Chilli Pipers are an ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers formed in Scotland in 2004. They entered and won the BBC talent show When Will I Be Famous? They are named after American rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers....
- Four Men and a DogFour Men and a DogFour Men and a Dog is an Irish traditional band that emerged in 1990 during the Belfast Folk Festival. The band plays Irish traditional music with a mixture of different other genres, including rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, swing, salsa, polka and even rap. They originally had their name because of...
- NiteworksNiteworksNiteworks is an Electronic Celtic fusion band from the Isle of Skye. The band are known for writing new songs in Scottish Gaelic and melding the bagpipes and traditional Gaelic song such as puirt a beul with techno and house beats.-History:Niteworks came together in early 2008...