Tain musician Cameron Ferguson (19) wins competition for major gig slot at Belladrum Festival
A FORMER Tain Royal Academy pupil is “blown away” after winning a big break at the most eagerly anticipated music festival in the Highlands.
Cameron Ferguson will be the opening act on the Belladrum Hot House stage this year, after winning a talent search launched in collaboration with BBC ALBA.
And it’s all thanks to the public vote.
BBC ALBA teamed up with Belladrum to find the best of Scotland’s up-and-coming musical talent, with artists from across the Highlands taking part.
Following a rigorous judging process, Tain-born songwriter Cameron Ferguson (19) has now been chosen by public vote to open the festival’s main stage on Thursday July 25.
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Cameron and his band — made up of Glasgow-based Cameron Hill (19), Lanark-based Calum Duncan (19), Alness-based Jamie Mackay (26) and Inverness-based David Bromham (19) — have been tearing into the Scottish music scene since 2022. The band supported Glasgow stars, Declan Welsh and the Decadent West, at their sell-out Barrowlands show.
Cameron Ferguson said: “Our hearts have been warmed by the amount of support during the public vote. It has blown us away.
“Massive love to everyone who voted, it wouldn’t have been possible without you. Also, a huge thanks to BBC ALBA and the Belladrum team for the opportunity.
“As an artist from the Highlands, I feel incredibly proud to be opening the Hot House Stage this year.
“The band and I are absolutely ecstatic and can’t wait to get up on that stage to showcase some homegrown rock ‘n’ roll, straight from the Highlands.”
Cameron will also play an acoustic session in the BBC ALBA studio which will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Calum McConnell, commissioning executive at BBC ALBA, said: "We're always eager to spotlight emerging, local talent and so it’s great to be able to showcase Cameron’s exciting brand of driving rock music on the main stage of the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival – especially in its milestone 20th anniversary year.
“We look forward to celebrating the vibrant mix of music and arts that Belladrum is known for, and to sharing the performances of this year's talented line-up with our national audience."
Dougie Brown, Belladrum festival producer, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with BBC ALBA on our talent search to open the main stage and can’t wait to welcome Cameron to the festival.”
Click here to watch BBC iPlayer live coverage of Belladrum, from July 25.
