Now that the festive season is a fading memory and we are
into the fourth week of the new year, it is time to turn our attention again to
the multi-award winning HebCelt Festival, which will have its 21st staging
during the period 13th to 16th July 2016. Already some very attractive acts have been announced for
this year’s event. Scottish rock legends Runrig will be headlining and will
close the event on Saturday, 16th July. Also making a welcome return to the
HebCelt stage is the ever-popular Julie Fowlis, who will be performing
on the night of Friday, 15th July. Julie was one of the first inductees to the
HebCelt Hall of Fame and is an ambassador for the Festival. She last performed
there in 2012. Another famous Scottish name at this year’s event is the
hugely talented and experienced John McCusker who will be appearing
with his band. John joined the legendary folk outfit, Battlefield Band as a 17
year old and remained with them for 11 years, until 2007. Since 2008, he has
been a member of Mark Knopfler’s band, appearing at many of the world’s great
venues and has shared a stage, and recording studio, with some of the most
illustrious performers of our time. Also appearing this year is Hayseed Dixie, a band
from the heart of the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee in the USA, who
will take to the stage on Thursday, 14th July; the Scottish up-and-coming
girl-band, Fara, who are fast making a big name for themselves on the folk
music scene and Talisk, winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award who,
despite only coming together in August 2014, have made a big name for
themselves and have already landed slots at some of Britain’s biggest
festivals, including Cambridge Folk Festival, Celtic Connections and Fairport
Convention’s Cropredy Festival. We will keep you posted on further additions to the list, as
they are announced. In the meantime,
however, it cannot be over-emphasised that, due to high demand during Festival time, people are advised to organise
accommodation well in advance. |