Music
Hebridean Celtic Festival
Lewis
Four stars
Deacon Blue, The Fratellis and Eddi Reader helped make this year's Hebridean Celtic Festival the most successful yet. A record-breaking number of tickets were sold for the three-day festival which celebrates the best of contemporary and traditional culture, in a dramatic setting at the foot of Lews Castle.
The multi-award winning festival supports young talent and has a partnership with the Year of Young People programme, and aspiring artists were given the opportunity to shine in front of audiences from across the world.
Among this year’s acts was Rosie Sullivan, a 16-year-old singer-songwriter from Lewis. She performed on the Acoustic Stage and instantly won the audience over with songs reflecting her life living on Lewis. Sullivan has been writing songs since she was five-years-old and has performed at various venues including VIAM Wembley and Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival.
Iona Fyfe, 20, from Aberdeenshire, is a rising star with her contemporary folk music blended with traditional Doric and Scots songs. Fyfe created a euphoric atmosphere at HebCelt with her soft yet powerful vocals. She stood out to festival organisers after winning the Next Steps award which secured her a spot on the Islands Stage and she has carved a name for herself with performances across Scotland. Both Fyfe and Rosie Sullivan are great examples of what’s to come.
HebCelt drew to a close on Saturday night as Deacon Blue took to the main stage. The audience was left cheering on for more before the band returned once more for a final show-stopping performance.
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