Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival adds host of further acts to line-up
A HOST of new names have been added to the line-up for this year's Belladrum Festival.
The announcement, which comes as the festival gears up for its 20th anniversary celebrations, includes a mix of returning favourites and artists making their first visit to the Highland event.
A band with one of the most long-standing relationships with Belladrum, Twin Atlantic, will make a very welcome return headlining the Garden Stage this summer. Having first performed on the emerging artist stage ‘The Seedlings’ way back in 2008 and going on to deliver their first UK festival headline slot in 2013, the organisers are said to be "over the moon" to welcome them back.
Rock music legends Toyah Willcox and Robert Fripp will also be hitting the festival stage as Toyah & Robert. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Willcox has had eight top 40 singles (‘It’s A Mystery’, ‘I Want To Be Free’) and released more than 20 albums, while composer, record producer and author, Fripp is best known as the guitarist, founder and continuing member of legendary rock band King Crimson.
The UK’s biggest country music export The Shires are also joining the bill. The band has achieved three consecutive UK top three albums, four number one UK country albums, 100 million streams, two Gold-certified records, and countless sold-out headline shows.
- Related: BELLADRUM, 20 YEARS ON: 'Temple of love' will host competition winners as they renew vows two decades after they wed at the romantic spot near Beauly
- Related: Belladrum festival names Inverness-based Elsie Normington Foundation as its charity partner for 2024
- Related: PICTURES: 'Considerable' investment to transform historic Belladrum building into wedding venue
Also returning is Kenny Anderson – also known as King Creosote – over his career he has collaborated with the likes of Jon Hopkins, KT Tunstall, Beta Band’s Lone Pigeon, and had his songs covered and performed by artists including Patti Smith and Simple Minds.
Next up is Scottish singer-songwriter Hamish Hawk, from Edinburgh, who creates musical pen-portraits as vivid in lyric as they are in melody. He creates chamber pop songs that have swallowed both a dictionary and a compendium of modern urban (and island) fairytales.
The festival's organisers are also delighted to welcome Jamie Lawson, who was the first act signed to Ed Sheeran’s Gingerbread Man Records and is known for his beautiful hit single ‘Wasn’t Expecting That’ from his self-titled number one album.
Other acts joining the line-up English post-punk band The Futureheads, whose debut album in 2004 spawned singles, ‘First Day’, ‘Decent Days and Nights’ and their iconic Kate Bush cover ‘Hounds of Love’.
Elsewhere, new line-up announcements include folk/electronica Skye band Niteworks who will take to the stage us as part of their final tour; Scottish Trad Act of the Year winners Trail West; Tiktok ‘Wellerman’ sensation
Nathan Evans; Scottish Indie Rock band Lucia & The Best Boys; funk and disco band High Fade; alternative pop duo Siights; Americana rock band Morganway; husband and wife duo My Darling Clementine; festival favourites The Dangleberries; Inverness's own soul band Scooty and the Skyhooks; and also Phil Lee – The Mighty King of Love; The Countess of Fife; Samba Sene and Diwan; Calum MacPhail; redoloent; Phillip Jon Taylor; Murdo Mitchell; Niall McCabe; Kenna Ross; and Calum Campbell.
Organisers are also pleased to welcome the daughter of Linda Gail Lewis who headlined the first Belladrum in 2004, Mary Jean Lewis, calling the news the "perfect way to celebrate our 20th anniversary!"
"Things are starting to pick up pace at Bella HQ and plans are taking shape for our 20th anniversary," said Dougie Brown, event producer. "We are delighted to be welcoming back many Bella favourites from over the years like Twin Atlantic and King Creosote, along with some exciting artists making their Bella debuts.
"Watch this space as there is still so much more to come including the line ups for our Trailer Trash, Ice House, Seedlings, Burke & Hair, and Venus stages along with our full entertainment programme and much more"
Tickets are available now from https://tartanheartfestival.gigantic.com/belladrum-tickets