The Hebridean Celtic Festival 2018, Stornoway, Lewis 

Day 3: Saturday, July 21

ROSIE Sullivan from Lewis was on the Acoustic Stage at 3pm on Saturday for one of this year's final performances. The young singer-songwriter has broken a lot of ground in the music industry, composing songs as young as 12.

This was her first debut at the prestigious Hebridean festival and at first, she announced that she was feeling slightly overwhelmed and surprised by the mass gathered inside waiting for her.    

As soon as she picked up her guitar, everyone sat in silence, taking in every word of her sensational self-composed lyrics. One woman looked around, nodding in approval at how talented Rosie was.

Following this, Rosie performed an original called, "Intimacy" which was written as she sat by Barvas beach near her home on Lewis. This was a very soothing song which made the audience feel calm and comfortably at home, as they sat by the stage.  

Her friend and pianist, introduced as Alex, joined on stage as they switched it up a bit and played a cover of: "Right To Be Wrong" by Joss Stone. Everyone began singing along to the R&B Soul song released in 2004.

To wrap up her show-stopping performance, Rosie played a cover of "Shotgun" from George Ezra's 2018 album, "Staying at Tamara's". This had the whole audience toe-tapping, whistling and clapping along to the beat.  

On the main stage, a Gaelic community arts organisation, Fèisean nan Gaidheal, of around 20 young people from Lewis, Harris, Barra, North and South Uist, were on stage ready to play.

This was part of the As na H-Eileanan: From The Islands performance. One choir group featured a specially-commissioned Gaelic song by singer-songwriter, Eilidh Mackenzie. This was a landmark moment for the choir who performed its first debut on the main festival stage.

In the LWP Stage, the Gaelic performances took a modern twist, as the lights lowered, a thick mist appeared, and strobe lights started flickering. The Isle of Skye's Niteworks were welcomed on and the crowd went wild.

There was drums playing, vibrant-pink lights flashing as techno-dance music played in the background. The band's energy was infectious as everyone found themselves dancing and fist-pumping along.  

Green lights and electronic music transported the audience into a video game with, "Your Two Little Puppy Eyes". Allan MacDonald, raised his bagpipes up into the air, like a toast to the audience to start dancing.

People were on each other's shoulders as some interpreted ceilidh dancing. A snare drum soloist came out making the whole audience feel like they were in a charged marching parade. 

Everyone gave a huge Hebridean welcome to Glaswegian pop-rock band, Deacon Blue on the main stage. The audience sang along with Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh for, "Wages Day".

The band announced to the audience that they were very honoured to be at HebCelt, as this was their first debut.

Ricky then, jokingly told the audience, "The organisers said, 'please organise some country dancing', so we said we would try and do that, so organise yourself in sets. This is going to be Dashing White Sergeant; take your partners!"  

Drummer Dougie Vipond hit his drumsticks together for the classic: "Real Gone Kid", which had the whole audience jumping around, shortly followed by hit single: "Dignity."

And, just as everyone thought that was HebCelt finished for 2018, Ricky Ross said "I think we should go... Nah! One more!"

As the lights dimmed to mark the end of the multi-award winning festival, a little boy called Michael shouted, en route to the exit, "On yersel, Deacon Blue!" and I couldn't help but laugh.

I felt ecstatic and ready for a fourth day ... I can't believe just how phenomenal this experience was. So, what next HebCelt?

Sophie McLean is a guest of HebCelt 2018 as part of The Year of Young People 2018

HebCelt takes place July 18-21

Visit hebceltfest.com