The Hebridean Celtic Festival, HebCelt Fest as it is known for short, brings together people with ties to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, those with none, people who come from nearby on the isle of Lewis where the fest is held, people who travel from Africa, North America, Australia, all across Europe, and all across Scotland.
Musicians, festival organizers, volunteers, vendors, concert goers, children, adults, teenagers, elders, English speakers, Gaelic speakers, families, island natives, travelers from afar — they all are part of HebCeltFest.
This season, HebCelt Fest takes place 12 through 15 July.
It is centered in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland’s Western Isles, with main concerts at stages on the grounds of Lews Castle overlooking the harbour and at An Lanntair art center.
Energy, creativity, connection, community: these are all hallmarks of the festival’s program this season — and all its seasons, really, as HebCelt, well into its third decade now, began with an audience of around one thousand and now draws more than 18,000 people.
This summer, you’ll have the chance to take in:the style and energy of Peat & Diesel, the wildly popular trio began just a few years back as friends kicking around song ideas at Saturday Sessions on the island. The Proclaimers have been building their sound and energy in music for more than three decades across Scotland and the world. “We know [The Proclaimers] will put a huge smille on our audience’s faces and have them singing and s=dancing all night long,’ said HebCelt Festival Director Graham MacCallum.
Skerrvore, three time winners of Live Act of the Year and longtime Festival favourite, will bring their Celtic rock fusion energy to headline on the Thursday.
Those are the headliners at the Arena stages and well worth your attention. Across the three stages in the Arena area on the grounds of Lews Castle and in the performance space at An Lanntair nearby, there will be more than thirty other acts taking the stage. It is a stellar line up.
I pointed you to highlights of the An Lanntair series in this story.
As for what is set for the Arena stages, given the level of talent HebCelt offers, you’ll enjoy whatever you choose.
I’ve decided, though, to point you to several of my top picks.
Fara offers both song and tune, both trad and original material in their set. They are three fiddlers from Orkney: Jeana Leslie, Kristan Harvey, and Catriona Price, and keyboard player Rory Matheson, who hails from Assynt in Scotland’s northwest..
Each has a number of other projects on the go, but when they get together their sounds and stories , which often draw on landscapes and tales of their homeplaces,.are distinctive, original and creative. It is music that is within Scotland’s tradition but not bound by it. They are also one of my favorite bands to see play live.
Paul McKenna has a powerful voice, and he knows how to put power in word, too, often drawing on themes of social justice. He and his band draw on both Scottish and Irish roots, in a dynamic, array of original and traditional material, along with songs by like-minded authors.
Siobhan Miller has been appearing at music festivals across Scotland since she was just beginning her teenage years — and winning awards fo her singing at them, too. Alongside her extensive solo ventures, Siobhan’s unique vocal style has been honed through collaborations with many of Scotland’s top musicians , among them Eddi Reader, with whom she has toured widely, and Jeana Leslie of Fara, with whom she recorded a duo album. She’s also been part of Brian O’Donovan’s Christmas Celtic Sojourn in New England in the US, and you may have noticed Siobhan appearing in Outlander,. as well.
Concertina, guitar, and fiddle are acoustic instruments, that’s true. When Mohsen Amini, Graeme Armstrong, and Benedict Morris join up as Talisk to play them, however, they create energy and power enough to stand well alongside any electric ensemble. They’re clearly having a really fine time doing that too, with original and tradition based tunes that challenge you to come along on the fast paced journey.
Kim Carnie takes listeners on travels too, through both English and Gaelic song. Carnie knows well how to infuse her own and others’ songs with the many colors of her outstanding voice. She is part of the top band Manran and one of the all star collective that is the band Staran.
With great stage presence and fine musicianship. she’s well able to engage those who come to hear all on her own as well, which Heb Celt audiences will have a fine chance to appreciate.
Hannah Rarity has a voice that compells you to listen, too.
A thoughtful singer of music in Scots, she’s also a great interpreter of contemporary song, and a fine songwriter in her own righf. Her taste and skill in choosing music was recognized recently when she was invited to work as co-musical director for the opening concert of Celtic Connections 2022.
Uplifting, fresh, honest and powerful music…created by three fiddles, mandolin and guitar: that is the basis of what the five women of Kinnaris Quintet offer.
Drawing on influences from traditional Scottish and Irish music, bluegrass, old-time, classical, and original compositions, the harmonies, energy, and drive of Laura Wilkie, Aileen Reid, Fiona MacAskill, Laura-Beth Salter, and Jenn Butterworth communicate love of music, and love of making music together.
N’famady Kouyaté brings his audiences adventure and joy too. He is originally from Guinea (Conakry) in West Africa, where his family is part of the griot tradition of storytellers. With song and African instruments expect N’famady, now resident in Wales, to offer material from his heritage tradition as well as perhaps mash-ups of traditional Guinean songs with Welsh lyrics.
There are many more musical adventures to be had as HebCelt Fest unfolds this summer. Sharon Corr will come from Ireland, Gwilym Bowen Rhys,from Wales, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys from Canada, Niteworks from their background in Skye, Heron Valley from the varied landscapes of Scotland’s west…and there is much more.
At indoor concerts An Lanntair, you will hear stories of Shetland told through fiddle by Catriona MacDonald, as well as a range of other creative presentations.
If you plan to attend HebCelt, at this writing tickets from single day to full weekend events are available at the fest’s website.
You will want to take transport and accommodation into your plans:
The Outer Hebrides are islands. Unless you are already on the islands, which are forty miles off the northwest coast of Scotland, you will need to take travel by air or sea into account.
Accommodation, too, and transport within the islands if you arrive or stay outwith Stornoway where the festival takes place.
None of this is especially difficult, but it does require planning to make sure you are not caught short with what you require.
The HebCelt website and that for Outer Hebrides tourism may be helpful with this, as will that of CalMac, the main ferry operator.
You might be wondering where you‘ve heard of the Isle of Lewis before… this is one big reason, which you’ve likely seen on calendars, in history books, and suggested through animation in the movie Brave: Calanais. It is on the west coast of Lewis, about forty miles west of where HebCelt, in the east, takes place.
Whether you will be attending HebCelt in person this year or not, you may want to have a look around online for the artists mentioned above, and check out the festival on social media, too.
Photograph of Hannah Rarity courtesy of the artist; photograph of Talisk by Paul Jennings and courtesy in Innes Campbell Communications; photographs of Fara, Arena stages at HebCelt, ceilidh dancers, and HebCelt from across the way at evening courtesy,of Innes Campbell Communications.
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