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 …
Stage by Stage: Michelle Shields on leadership, legacy and the sound of HebCelt
For HebCelt’s Michelle Shields, the road from sparkly wristbands to programming the main stage has been as natural as it’s been extraordinary. Born and raised just a short walk from Lews Castle Green, her connection already ran deep. Looking back at what has been her coming-of-age wrapped in music, it seems obvious now that she’d …
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Cultural leaders call for gender balance in live music ahead of International Women’s Day discussion
Cultural leaders in the Outer Hebrides are urging the music industry to make gender balance a fundamental requirement for live events. HebCelt’s Operations Co-Ordinator Carol Ferguson, the festival’s Artist Programmer Michelle Shields, and An Lanntair art centre’s Head of Performing Arts and Cultural Projects Alex Macdonald, say more opportunities are needed. Ahead of the Isle …
HebCelt Festival welcomes ‘game-changing’ Creative Scotland funding
Organisers of the award winning HebCelt Festival have hailed a new three year funding deal announced by Creative Scotland as “game-changing”. It has been awarded £270,000 over the next-three years - the first time multi-year funding has been allocated to the festival this way. They will receive allocations of £90k each year, taking them to …
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Happy Camper! Van-living Spain’s Got Talent finalist makes Celtic Connections debut in Glasgow
A van-living travelling troubadour who came within just a few votes of winning TV show Spain’s Got Talent will make her debut at Celtic Connections tomorrow (Tues). Laura Silverstone wowed judges with her singing and guitar playing including her trademark technique of using lap chords, making it all the way through the live grand finals …
HebCelt Festival delivers vital £12million economic boost to Western Isles over three years
The award-winning Hebridean Celtic Festival has provided a vital £12 million economic lifeline to the Western Isles over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic while helping secure dozens of jobs, organisers have revealed. Analysis highlights a £4.1 million boost to the local community from the 2024 festival alone, marking an increase of £600,000 …

