This year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival was the most memorable in the expanded event’s 16 year history say organisers.
Festival chief Murdo Maclennan is delighted with the “positive feedback.”
Mr Maclennan said: “This festival has been one of the most memorable in our history. It’s been a huge success. “
He added: “We’ve received an overwhelming positive response. Visitors said every night was a different experience this year.”
The introduction of a second stage meant there was “continuous music from the start to the last encore.”
Mt Maclennan highlighted: “The Scottish Islands stage was a huge success with the bands saying how they got close to the audience while the audience felt they were listening to the music in informal club atmosphere.”
Scots singing sensation KT Tunstall brought the finale to a thrilling close on Saturday night, blasting out her top hits as the 3,500 plus fans in the giant blue tent were whooping, cheering and dancing and singing along.
Tipped for future appearances at the festival are rising stars country folk group
Ahab who played in the jam-
Young Skye band Niteworks also deserve a return invite even if its to reward the hard core of cheering fans imported from their home isle. The backing vocals of female teenage Gaelic singers from Lewis also went down a storm on Thursday.
Also appearing in the smaller tent was local lad, singer-
Revellers partied well into the early hours with Stornoway’s pubs and clubs open longer and live music on in different venues.
An extra ferry and additional flight were timetabled today for mainland visitors who have to be at work on Monday.
The festival is worth around £1.5 million to island businesses and provides a vital tourism boost.
“Most memorable” Hebridean Celtic Festival was big success 17/7/11
KT Tunstall headlined this year’s festival