Hebridean Celtic Festival 2006
12-15 July 2006
Background and context
The programme
Journalism and reviews
The Hebridean Celtic Festival – HebCelt – takes place in Stornoway from 12-15 July 2006.
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Based in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis and now in its eleventh year, this annual international music festival features major artists from Celtic music genres. The Festival’s emphasis is on promoting the richness of Gaelic heritage and culture within an international programme, and the Festival continues to place events in more rural communities around the islands of Lewis and Harris. The marquee set up in the grounds of Lewis Castle can accommodate up to 5,500 people, making it the venue for one of the largest parties in the north of Scotland. 17,000 people attended HebCelt in 2005, and its popularity continues to grow. |
HebCelt has played host to some of the greatest Celtic musicians, and the Festival has a worldwide reputation for an intoxicating mix of top quality music, indigenous Gaelic culture and stunning island scenery. In 2004 it won Event of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards. The Festival is an event of international repute playing a crucial role in the preservation and development of the rich culture of Celtic music that is the heritage of an international community.
The HCF Trust is a charitable company established to support the Festival and includes all founder members of the event. Their dedication, together with a vast team of volunteers recruited annually to assist the core management team, produces a unique event that many people feel part of, reflecting the true community spirit of the Festival.
The main events of the Festival take place in the marquee at Lewis Castle and at An Lanntair. Community Events, Workshops and Young Festivellers programmes run alongside the main Festival, and Fringe events offer many opportunities to learn more about the indigenous culture of the Hebridean Islands.
Main events
Wednesday 12 July: Lewis Women at An Lanntair.
Thursday 13 July: Julie Fowlis is supported by Bodega at An Lanntair and The Levellers play the Marquee with Mauvais Sort.
Friday 14 July: Blazin' Fiddles support Hothouse Flowers in the Marquee and Buille is supported by Saltfishforty at An Lanntair.
Saturday 15 July: Afro Celt Sound System and Dòchas appear in the Marquee, The Crooked Jades and Teine are at An Lanntair.
Community events
The community events take some of the top performers at the Hebridean Celtic Festival to more remote parts of Lewis and Harris.
| This year, Julie Fowlis appears at Breasclete Community Centre, Bodega travel to the Uig Community Centre on Lewis, Buille perform in Tarbert Hall, Harris, The Crooked Jades visit Northon, Harris and Saltfishforty play the Old School Centre in Shawbost. |
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Genealogy researcher and writer Bill Lawson will present songs, stories and slides from St Kilda at the Harris Hotel in Tarbert as part of the community programme.
These events are supported by Breasclete Community Association, Uig Community Centre Association, Harris Arts Festival, TOSC, Ness Social Club.
Young Festivellers
The Town Hall in Stornoway is open to all youngsters from 10.30 am to 12 noon on Wednesday 12 - Friday 14 July for face-painting, hair-decoration, arts activities and general fun. From 13-15 July, tePooKa present Creative Chaos and Subliminal Anarchy at the festival site with daily street theatre, crazy characters, circus workshops, games on the streets and an all-new circus cabaret area.
There are also free family concerts at An Lanntair from 4.00 - 5.00 pm, Wednesday 12 - Saturday 15 July.
Workshops
Tunes and Songs for Sessions is held from 1.00 - 3.30 pm, Wednesday 12 - Friday 14 July at An Lanntair. Participants should be at an intermediate level or above, and will be taught in groups for melodic or accompaniment instruments or voice. Hosted by Lews Castle College, Benbecula, tutors will include Julie Fowlis, Eamonn Doorley, Brian O'Headhra, Sandy Brechin and Bruce MacGregor.
Cuairt, Còmhradh is Sgeul in Stornoway (Wednesday 12 - Friday 14 July), is a unique opportunity to learn some everyday Gaelic and experience local storytelling through an introductory class or a storytelling walk around the castle grounds.
Fringe events
Pub sessions take place each day during the Festival, from 12.30 - 6.00 pm at the Star Inn and McNeills, and at 6.00 pm at An Lanntair.
Western Isles tour guide Mary McCormack leads leisurely strolls through Stornoway on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 July.
Stornoway Trust ranger Kevin Brown leads daily walks through the Trust area.
Bæringen Folkdance group perform traditional Norwegian dance outside An Lanntair on Friday 14 July.
The Lewis Highland Games take place on Saturday 15 July at Tong Community Hall.
The Sail Hebrides Maritime Festival takes place from 10-15 July.
Island Lives is a photographic exhibition at the Museum nan Eilean that looks at aspects of the history and day-to-day lives of the communities of Lewis and Harris, from the time of the first human settlement on the islands to the present.
Festival Club
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The Festival Club, sponsored by HAIL, takes place from Wednesday 12 July - Saturday 15 July at An Lanntair. The Club hosts performances from a wide range of artists, as well as a dedicated area for informal sessions. Doors open at 11.00 pm. |
This year HebCelt ran a competition for aspiring journalists to cover the Festival. Sarah Hunter (24) from Edinburgh and Susan Szymborski (23) from Evanton, Ross-shire were the winners of the competition supported by HAIL, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, BBC Radio Scotland, The Radio Café and www.tradmusic.com. Sarah and Susan will report on the 2006 Hebcelt Festival, and their work will be published on the Trad music website. The initiative will raise the profile of the Festival while providing training and learning opportunities in journalism for Sarah and Susan.
Reviews of each day of the Festival will be online starting from Thursday 13 July. Be sure to visit the HebCelt website to see what's been happening.
| For more information on tickets and the programme, visit the Hebridean Celtic Festival website. |
The Hebridean Celtic Festival receives funding from the Scottish Arts Council and the Scottish Arts Council National Lottery Fund. For a full list of the Festival's supporters visit the Hebridean Celtic Festival website. |