Multi-award-winning trad supergroup Mànran will join Irish rockers The Saw Doctors as headliners at next year’s HebCelt Festival.
It follows their smash performance as part of Saturday’s all-star Hoolie in the Hydro line-up celebrating Scots comedy legend Billy Connelly- organised by the band’s founding member Gary Innes and cementing their place as folk-rock legends.
Formed in 2010, Mànran are one of Scotland’s most internationally recognised modern trad bands. The seven-piece features Gary (accordion), Kim Carnie (vocals), Ewen Henderson (fiddle, pipes, vocals), Marcus Cordock (bass), Ryan Murphy (uilleann pipes, flute), Aidan Moodie (guitar, vocals), and drummer Mark Scobbie.
The announcement comes after Kim was crowned ‘Gaelic Singer of the Year’ at the Trad Awards. Gary won ‘Trad in the Media’ for presenting his BBC Radio Scotland show Take the Floor.
They are no strangers to HebCelt having delivered much loved shows over the years since their very first appearance as a band there in 2011. They later released a live version of their song Òran na Cloiche recorded in 2019 to mark the festival's 25th anniversary. However, their 2026 return will mark their first ever headline show.
Gary said: “Being able to announce our headline slot at HebCelt so soon after such a huge Glasgow show feels like a real celebration for us. We’re already looking forward to bringing something special to Stornoway, and after what has been such a brilliant year, we really cannot wait.
“We’ve been lucky enough to perform at HebCelt on several occasions, and we’ve a deep affection for the festival - the people, the island, the atmosphere - and returning this time as headliners next summer means a great deal to all of us.”
HebCelt artist programmer Michelle Shields said she had been bursting to share the news as an early Christmas present for music fans, and was delighted they are returning to headline the Thursday night.
She said: “Announcing Mànran as our second headliner is brilliant news. Every time they have performed at HebCelt previously, the crowd reaction has been brilliant, and they will absolutely smash it as headliners. We’re delighted they will be joining us again.
“They’ve had a brilliant year as a band and as individuals in their own right, so we know that they will put on a very special show for us. It’s definitely one to look forward to, and something of an early Christmas present for our audience.
“With The Saw Doctors and so many other great performers already announced too, and with more still to come, it's shaping up to be another brilliant summer ahead.”
Celtic fusion legends the Peatbog Faeries, MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards Scots Singer of the Year nominee Jarad Rowan; genre-busting quartet Mec Lir; and former Merchant Navy navigator turned award-winning singer, songwriter and harpistChloe Matharu were previously announced part of next year’s line-up.
Local artists The Tumbling Souls, Sean Harrison and Band, and Uist six-piece Beinn Lee will be joined by Canadian singer-songwriter Old Man Luedecke and acclaimed Glasgow folk singer Michael McGovern and Band.
Kirsten Adamson and The Tanagers, daughter of the late Big Country frontman Stuart Adamson; broadcast and singing favourite Michelle McManus and The Flaming Blackhearts; all-female sextet HEISK; Siobhan Miller Band; Scottish Jazz Awards nominee Niamh Corkey; 2024 Gaelic Singer of the Year Emma Scalpay; and Danny Kyle Award winners Dàna will also feature along with The Saw Doctors.
The third headliner and final acts will be announced in the New Year.
HebCelt 2026 will take place in Stornoway from 15 to 18 July.
Tickets and more information are available HERE