Heb Festival crowds

Thousand of visitors are engulfing Stornoway for the four-day Hebridean Celtic Festival this week.

Despite a delay in getting the giant blue marquee onto the island - due to poor weather affecting its despatch from T in the Park - it was ready to open to a mass of revellers after an overnight effort by local electrician Norman ND Macleod scaling the three storey high tent to rig a mass of lights.

Eddi Reader is the main performer tonight supported by Peatbog Faeries and Manran while KT Tunstall will be a big draw tomorrow. Up to four thousand people are expect to attend each remaining main show on top of a busy series of concerts, music classes, circus skill workshops and fringe events on the island.

The launch of a second stage, under the Scottish Islands celebration sponsorship, for up-and-coming bands has been a big hit with foot stomping revellers and encores from young Skye band Niteworks who were accompanied by a thrilled group of teenage Gaelic singers from Lewis.

Visitors are enthralled by the event's stunning backdrop of the Lews Castle and bordered by the fishing boats and yachts moored in the port below.

In the early hours as the party went on scores of people paused to take photos of the full moon shimmering across the water edge to the festival arena.

Country folk group Ahab played to hundreds in the second tent on Thursday night. Calum Adamson, guitar player and singer with the band, said it was an amazing, welcoming festival in a beautiful location.

He said: "We've performed at loads of festivals this year and this is by far the best. It is very open and welcoming and there is no arrogance about it as you could find elsewhere.

"I come out of my hotel and it looks as if I'm walking into a picture postcard. It's like being in Narnia - it is very picturesque.

Festival chairman Murdo Maclennan says the event has attracted huge numbers of festival goers who are boosting the local economy.

He said: "There is a termendous buzz around the town. Many people who are coming here for the first time will want to return."

He added: "We had a good start to the festival and the second Scottish Islands stage is working really well."

Mr Maclennan said the arrival in harbour of a spectacular fleet of traditional sailing ships from the Tall Ships race the harbour added to the fun atmosphere.

Town centre entertainment in Stornoway included circus skills workshops, music tuition outdoor music as well as pub sessions.

The festival commands an audience of 17,000 over the four day event pulling in visitors from countless countries and injects about £1.5 million into the local economy.

Foot stomping crowd at Celtic Festival 16/7/11

Eddi Reader at the festival