An Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter is swapping smash hits for smash KNITS - after joining forces with a sustainable artist for her new range of merch. Laura Silverstone, who performed with Frank Turner at the Corn Exchange in September and is a previous grand finalist on TV’s Got Talent Show in Spain, wanted something different to represent …
HebCelt Festival smashes records with £4.4m boost to island economy
Top Scots music festival HebCelt boosted the Outer Hebrides economy to the tune of £4.4m after a record breaking financial performance. This year’s four-day celebration, which featured Lulu, Tidelines and Skerryvore as headliners in July, generated £400,000 more income for the area compared with 2024’s event, and was up by almost £700,000 on 2023. New …
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Groundbreaking songwriting pilot for people in recovery inspired by new music
A new single about learning to live life in recovery from alcoholism has inspired a groundbreaking songwriting project for people in recovery to be trialled in Glasgow next year. ‘Yesterday’s Promises’ by Americana-Indiepop trad band The Tumbling Souls, from Lewis, is a part-biographical look back at the early musical career of Willie Campbell and the …
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HebCelt Festival honoured for ‘Outstanding Contribution’ to tourism in Outer Hebrides
HebCelt Festival has been honoured with a rare tourism ‘Oscar’ for its work promoting the islands as a must-visit destination. Visit Outer Hebrides presented the festival with a special award for ‘Outstanding Contribution To Tourism’ at what was only the second Our Tourism Community Awards ceremony held at the Cabarfeidh Hotel in Stornoway. The festival, …
IDM Energy named national winners of The John Caudwell Award
The co-founders of Highlands and Islands based electrical and renewables experts IDM Energy have won the major national award announced at this year’s Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Iain Macphail and Kyle Smith were crowned ‘National Winner 2025’ of The John Caudwell Award, named after the philanthropic billionaire and founder of Phones4U. The Highlanders …
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‘There are so many creative people hiding their struggles – they think they have to’ – Laura Silverstone
“It just felt so… cringe,” blushes Laura Silverstone. “It just felt so, I don’t know, girly.” The singer-songwriter is sitting cross-legged in the trusty van she has called home for the past eight years or so. It’s strewn with plants, pictures, instruments, cosy blankets, vegan food and hand-crafted mugs. She’s talking, of course, about her …
Constant Follower’s shock android warning at music awards over AI
A top Scots songwriter turned up to the Scottish Album of the Year Awards styled as a futuristic android pop star - in a dramatic warning against the rise of AI use in music. SAY Award nominee Stephen McAll, of experimental folk group Constant Follower, attended the £20,000 prize ceremony at Dundee’s Caird Hall with …
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HebCelt announce festival slot for winner of BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award
The multi award-winning HebCelt Festival has announced a new partnership with BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2026 - offering the winner a prestigious performance slot at next summer’s festival in Stornoway. The collaboration brings together two of Scotland’s most respected cultural platforms to shine a spotlight on the next generation of …
HebCelt records most successful year in its history as early bird tickets go on sale
This year’s HebCelt Festival was the most successful in the event’s 28-year history as its investment in new technology, infrastructure and enhanced sponsorship packages paid dividends. Tickets for Saturday’s headliners Skerryvore sold-out, as did local fringe events, with Lulu only a handful of tickets away from achieving the same. More than 18,500 attended the festival, …
Musicians risk being ‘AI-brushed’ from history as fake bands flood streaming platforms
A group of acclaimed Scottish songwriters and performers has warned musicians risk being ‘AI-brushed’ out of existence unless urgent action is taken by the music industry and government to protect human creativity from artificial intelligence. Tumbling Souls - a Scots supergroup featuring members of 90s indie darlings Astrid, trad favourites Hò-Rò, and festival stalwarts Boys …

