Some of the biggest names in trad music are coming together for a spectacular series of intimate shows hosted by Outer Hebrides’ arts hub An Lanntair as part of the globally renowned HebCelt Festival celebrations.
The arts centre, sited in the town centre just a stones throw from the CalMac ferry terminal, has curated four days of world class performances running in partnership with Scotland’s third biggest outdoor music festival.
Their programme kicks-off with ‘Atlantic Blast’ - drawing together the extraordinary talents of Norrie Maciver, Alasdair White, Calum Alex Macmillan, James Duncan Mackenzie and DC Macmillan.
Underlining its role providing ‘arts and culture for all’, An Lanntair is pioneering a shift to its Thursday line-up by switching the day’s main concert to the afternoon instead of evening for the first time, allowing more young families to be involved.
They will be treated to performances by the Western Isles Trad Orchestra, an ensemble of local musicians celebrating the island’s rich musical heritage, and bringing together musicians of all ages and backgrounds.
Night time entertainment will follow with acclaimed Uist six-piece Beinn Lee, followed as always by the ever popular late night Festival Club live sessions on Friday and Saturday.
Showcasing contemporary Gaelic singing and songwriting for the Friday night gathering, the line-up comes from Òran Ùr, with an event of strong local cultural significance.
Featuring the brilliant Alice Macmillan, Ewen Henderson, Gillebride Macmillan, Innes White, Isobel Ann Martin, Mairi Macmillan and Seonaidh Macintyre, the show is expected to be among the hottest tickets of the week.
An Lanntair and HebCelt’s formidable reputations for delivering stand-out events comes to the fore again on Saturday night, with The Kalokerino Tapes by Maggie MacInnes, and a remarkable, very personal story of old meets new.
The internationally acclaimed composer, musician and singer will perform arrangements of previously unreleased songs from the archives of her mother, Flora MacNeill, the great trad singer from Barra.
The original archives were first recorded back in the 1950s and 1960s by Australian folklorist Dr James Kalokerinos, and reimagined today for an incredible tribute of song, performed in the main auditorium.
Alex MacDonald, Head of Performing Arts and Cultural Projects at An Lanntair, said: “This year our programme presents Gaelic music from its roots to modern composition, with a series of concerts which we think offers something for everyone.
“From Maggie’s MacInnes very personal tribute to one of the Hebrides best known tradition bearers - her mother, the late Flora Macneil - to the modern compositions showcased in Oran Ur, we have a stellar line up of musicians waiting to take the stage during the week including Ewen Henderson, Gillebride Macmillan, Innes White, Alice Macmillan, Norrie Maciver, Aly White and Isobel Ann Martin.
“We also open the programme with a boy band reunion, Hebridean style, in the form of Atlantic Blast, which I am particularly looking forward to. Add in the Beinn Lee Ceilidh band and the HebCelt debut for the Western Isles Trad Orchestra and it’s going to be another brilliant showcase for Island music and musicians.”
Michelle Shields, Artist Programmer at HebCelt, said: “An Lanntair delivers some of the most magical and unique moments of the festival year after year, bringing our island’s cultural and pioneering creative spirit to the fore.
“This year’s line-up demonstrates that, by ensuring those moments can be enjoyed by young families, celebrating the gift of storytelling, and through providing such a vital platform for showcasing our Gaelic traditions.
“It’s a brilliant line up all round. It's great to be able to bring back Atlantic Blast some 16 years since the first show, Beinn Lee are just so talented it's unreal, and anyone who gets along to see Maggie MacInnes is in for a treat.
“There’s such fun to be had too. No HebCelt week would be complete without a brilliant cèilidh and late night Festival Club to keep the party going for what is one of the most important weeks of the year for our community, with An Lanntair at its very heart.”
HebCelt recently announced Sian would be joining its arena line-up, alongside Colin Macleod, The Tumbling Souls, Sean Harrison and Band, Emberline and other local performers. Thursday’s main stage performances include headliner Manran, Peatbog Faeries and FARA, with The Mary Wallopers headlining on the Friday night, before legends The Saw Doctors close the festival on Saturday.
Demand for tickets across festival week is already tracking ahead of the previous two years, with music fans urged not to risk missing out and to buy in advance.
More information and tickets, HERE