The line-up for the international music festival HebCelt has been announced, with iconic Scottish duo The Proclaimers headlining the Main Stage.
The infamous musical pair, who have been firm festival favorites over the years, will be joined by more than 35 artists performing across two stages over the course of the weekend at the vibrant Isle of Lewis event.
Recently crowned Event of the Year for the third time at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and taking place between 12th and 15th July 2023 at the iconic Stornoway harborside location, under the shadow of Lews Castle.
The festival’s 26th edition boasts an amazing line-up of the very best musical talent Scotland and the UK has to offer. Thursday will see Isle of Lewis country music band The Tumbling Souls and award-winning folk singer Siobhan Miller take to the Main Stage, with all-female folk quartet Fara headlining the Islands Stage.
On Friday, multi-award-winning power trio Talisk will entertain audiences on the Main Stage, while the Islands Stage will feature trad fusion band DLÙ, 2021’s Gaelic Singer of the Year Kim Carnie and neo-trad trio Project Smok.
On Saturday, The Proclaimers will headline the Main Stage, with five-piece folk group The Paul McKenna Band, the critically acclaimed Kinnaris Quintet and electronic Celtic fusion outfit Niteworks also set to put on an incredible show for thousands of festival goers.
The line-up on the Islands Stage includes BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2018 Hannah Rarity, dynamic three-piece The Langan Band and award-winning power-folk trio The Trials of Cato.
The festival will also see the return of its jam-packed fringe program, bringing activities for all the family to the streets and venues of Stornoway.
Local audiences and fans from across the globe are expected to flock to the event, which generated a £4.2 million boost to the Lewis economy this year and saw early bird tickets sell out in record time.
HebCelt Festival Director, Graham MacCallum, said: “It feels fantastic to unveil such an exciting line-up – we’ve packed it full of the very brightest stars from the Scottish music scene and beyond. The Proclaimers will be a spectacular headline act that we know will put a huge smile on our audience’s faces and have them singing and dancing all night long. We’re looking forward to making this the best HebCelt yet and can’t wait to welcome music lovers to the Hebrides for this special event in July.“
Charlie and Craig Reid of The Proclaimers said: “We are delighted to be coming back to Stornoway and Hebcelt for the first time in ten years. It is a unique festival and one that all musicians look forward to playing.”
Next year’s HebCelt will take place on 12-15 July 2023 and weekend tickets are available now, visit www.hebceltfest.com. Day tickets and the HebCelt 2023 schedule will be released in 2023.
HebCelt is supported by Creative Scotland, EventScotland and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.