HebCeltFest success

Award-winning artists who took part in this year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival hailed it a huge success after organisers laid on new venues and returned to its roots as it celebrated its 20th anniversary

Projected figures are expected to put crowd numbers in the region of 14,000.

This year’s line-up included artists who took part in the original HebCelt, others who have found worldwide acclaim after making their debut at the Stornoway-based festival, including fiddler Alasdair White, and other local talent including acclaimed singer/songwriter Iain Morrison.

It demonstrated the strength and depth of the festival that has delivered more than £20 million to the economy, raising the island’s profile and celebrating the best of the Hebrides.

This year’s celebration also helped to showcase local island food, drink and produce, continued its promotion of Gaelic, strengthened its links with tourism operators and businesses and further boosted its green credentials through an innovative Ecocups initiative.

The festival presented its biggest and most diverse programme to date with more than 50 hours of music and arts events staged in the main arena in the grounds of Lews Castle and other venues across the island.

Audiences included visitors travelling from throughout the UK and Europe as well from the US, Australia, Japan, Canada, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates – giving the island another huge economic boost during times of continued austerity across the UK.

HebCelt director Caroline Maclennan said: “The 20th festival was a real milestone for us. To have continually staged an event like this in our relatively remote part of the world for two decades, against a backdrop of challenging economic conditions, is a huge achievement.

“We have seen HebCelt grow from a small local, festival attracting 1,000 people, into an international festival which attracts over 50% of our audience from off-island, many coming from all parts of the world. We are still very rooted in our community and we are grateful for our loyal local following.”

HebCelt 20 hailed a success

22 July 2015