HEBCELT MUSIC WORKSHOPS at AN LANNTAIR
THURSDAY 16TH JULY
Lewis Pipe Tunes with James Duncan Mackenzie
Time: 11am – 12pm
Community Room, An Lanntair
Admission: £8 / £7
BOOK HERE
Come and learn some pipe tunes from the Lewis Piping tradition. With specific focus on tunes by Pipe Major Donald Macleod and Pipe Major Peter R. Macleod, two of the island’s most prolific composers of pipe music.
James Duncan Mackenzie, from Back on the Isle of Lewis, is a well respected piper and traditional musician. Having studied traditional music at University of the Highlands and Islands and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, James toured internationally for over a decade with acclaimed folk band Breabach, recording four albums. An award-winning piper, composer and multi-instrumentalist, he has released three solo albums and a tune book of original compositions and remains deeply connected to Scotland’s rich traditional music scene.
Suitable for: anyone with some previous playing experience
Bring: your own practice Chanter
FRIDAY 17TH JULY 
Fired up Shetland fiddle tunes with Ross Couper
Time: 2 - 3.30pm
Community Room, An Lanntair
Admission: £8 / £7
BOOK HERE
Come and learn fired up Shetland fiddle tunes from Ross Couper! This class is best suited for intermediate to advanced.
Ross Couper is one of the foremost fiddle players of his generation. Coming from one of the fiddle capitals of the world, Shetland he has been playing the fiddle for over 25 years. Now in his early thirties he’s a member of Scottish dance legends Peatbog Faeries. As well as the Peatbogs, Ross plays in a duo with great Devon born guitarist Tom Oakes. In late 2020 Ross released an album with his brother Ryan Couper called ‘An Den Dey Made Tae’.
Suitable for: intermediate to advanced players
Bring: your fiddle
SATURDAY 18TH JULY 
Songwriting with Old Man Luedecke
Time: 2pm - 3pm
Community Room, An Lanntair
Admission: £8 / £7
BOOK HERE
Come hang out and learn songwriting techniques and skills with the five string banjo. We’ll discuss moods, tunings and rhythms to bring shape and accompaniment to our wildest complaints and passions. Bring your banjo or other stringed instrument if you like, and maybe we’ll write a song.
Old Man Luedecke is the recording name of two-time JUNO award winning and Polaris Prize nominated singer-songwriter Chris Luedecke. Known for his high energy banjo-driven stompers, touching guitar ballads, and dryly humorous stories, Luedecke has been making a soundtrack to an authentic life for nearly twenty years.
Suitable for: anyone with an interest in songwriting
Bring: your banjo or other stringed instrument if you like.
GAELIC TASTER SESSIONS
THURSDAY 16th + FRIDAY 17th July
Time: 12:30 – 1:30pm
Community Room, An Lanntair
Admission: £6 / £5
BOOK HERE
Corthom began Gàidhlig a thogail a bhios air leth feumail timicheal air làrach na Feis!
This is your chance to learn some simple day to day Gaelic and Some essential festival phrases! We can’t promise you will be fluent by the end of the festival but you will have been exposed to one of the worlds’ finest and most poetic of languages.
These sessions will be led by Sean Macleod, Gaelic Arts Officer with An Lanntair and Western Isles Libraries and our Volunter Gaelic Team.
HEBCELT FAMILY CONCERTS 
WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY: STORNOWAY TOWN HALL
11:30am - Donations at the Door
Bring along the young ones and relax in the company of some fine musicians. This fabulous family event provides the ideal opportunity for the young ones to experience their first festival concert. The event is free and unticketed but do get there early to avoid disappointment. Donations at the door for Macmillan Cancer Care.
SATURDAY: AN LANNTAIR
11:30am - Donations at the Door
SATURDAY (RELAXED PERFORMANCE) A relaxed performance that will offer a welcoming atmosphere primarily for individuals who might feel overwhelmed by the traditional festival setting. This performance is particularly accommodating for those with additional support needs, individuals who might produce involuntary noise, or anyone who prefers a less formal concert experience. The sound level will be kept to a lower level, the lighting level will be up and the capacity reduced for this performance. The venue has quiet spaces out with the auditorium should this be required.
The event is free but ticketed to ensure reduced capacity Book Here
HIGHLAND DANCING DISPLAY
Wednesday to Friday 2pm: Donations
THE NARROWS
Come and enjoy a display of traditional Highland Dancing from the Sharon Mackinnon School of Highland Dancing
Our talented troupe will performs flings, reels and jigs as well as the famous sword dance.
Displays will take place in the centre of the town outside Boots the Chemist.
RADIO NAN GÀIDHEAL at HEBCELT 
Thursday / Friday 12 – 3.30pm: Free
PERCEVAL SQUARE, STORNOWAY
BBC Radio nan Gàidheal will be broadcasting live afternoon sessions from HebCelt.
Emma Lamont and Niall Iain MacDonald host the cream of the festival’s performers, and you’ll be able to see them live in the centre of Stornoway
PIPE BAND PARADE
Thursday 5pm FROM PORTERS LODGE
Saturday 1pm FROM PORTERS LODGE
Donations
Follow the band as they kick off proceedings leading to the opening of the main arena for the Festival at the Castle Grounds on Thursday evening, and again on Saturday afternoon.
Featuring the pipes and drums of Lewis Pipe Band and the Lewis & Harris Youth Pipe Band.
LIFEBOAT FAMILY FUN 5K
Saturday from 10am
RNLI LIFEBOAT STATION
It might be festival Saturday, but this regular feature of the final day is part of the Stornoway Lifeboat annual celebrations and takes the runners from the town centre out the low road past Cuddy Point in the Castle Grounds and back again.
Not the most challenging route but a good way to blow away the cobwebs.
Registration from 10am; run starts at 10.30am. Contact Stornoway RNLI for more information Stornoway@rnli.org.uk
HEBCELT SHINTY CHALLENGE CUP
JUNIOR & WOMEN'S EXHIBITION – SATURDAY FROM 11.30AM: DONATIONS
HEBCELT SHINTY CHALLENGE CUP - SATURDAY 2PM: DONATIONS
BAYHEAD PITCH
The traditional clash between Lewis and Uist is an unmissable highlight of Festival Saturday; the camans swaying without warning, great athleticism, tremendous skill and never-say-die commitment will all be on show as the island rivals confront each other in the heart of Stornoway.
This year, alongside the senior match for the historic HebCelt Challenge Cup, you can also catch the rising stars of the game in the Junior Shinty Exhibition.
In a HebCelt first, this year will also feature a Women's Shinty Exhibition match.
If you’ve never been to a Shinty match, make these thrilling contests your first fast, physical, and packed with island pride.
FREE BREAKFAST @ THE FREE CHURCH
Sunday 8.30am Onwards
STORNOWAY FREE CHURCH, KENNETH STREET
https://stornowayfreechurch.com/
A FREE breakfast and a warm welcome await you in the M. A. Macleod Memorial Hall adjacent to Stornoway Free Church on Kenneth Street, in the heart of Stornoway.
The congregation of Stornoway Free Church has been delighted to offer this free breakfast on the Sunday of HebCelt weekend for many years. Festival goers who attend our breakfast event every year, can attest to both the sterling quality and generous quantity of the food at this regular feature of the island’s busiest weekend of the year.
Bacon and egg rolls, cereal, waffles, fruit, muesli bars, fresh juice, hot tea and fresh coffee are all prepared by a team of experienced volunteers who love to cook for old friends and new visitors.
You can also access free WIFI, facilities for charging mobile devices or even a shower!
Those who wish to hear traditional Gaelic psalm singing, would be made very welcome at our 11am church service, the whole service is delivered in English but includes Gaelic singing. However, there is absolutely no obligation to attend the church service after breakfast. So, whether you’re dashing off to catch the ferry, or staying a few more days to enjoy the sights, please come along and enjoy a free breakfast with us!
WITH THANKS TO ALL IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HELP ADD TO THE FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE BY ORGANISING OR HOSTING THESE EVENTS THAT SUPPORT MANY LOCAL CHARITIES.