Published: 10 Jun 2021
The Elephant Sessions
A range of top Scottish music artistes are to perform at this year’s HebCelt Survival Sessions, the hybrid live and digital event being staged by the Hebridean Celtic Festival Trust, 14 - 17 July 2021.
There will be a series of limited-audience live shows staged at the Stornoway Arts Centre, An Lanntair, featuring a special Between Islands show, Saltfishforty, Colin Macleod, Staran, Sian, Fara, and the Tumbling Souls which will all be live streamed for a global audience.
Pre-filmed digital content will provide a Survival Sessions exclusive special from the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, as well as music from the Elephant Sessions, and a range of pre-recorded curated content featuring local artists. Also included will be the 2021 offering of Postcards from Scotland which will feature an exciting range of top Scottish artists.
The Survival Sessions digital event will be bookended by two specially commissioned new works from Lewis native Josie Duncan and Skye trad/electronic fusion band Niteworks.
Caroline Maclennan, HebCelt Festival Director, said: “This is a very strong programme which showcases our culture and Gaelic. It is gender-balanced and offers a variety of shows which we believe will give us a fantastic bounce-back from the pandemic. We are making it as simple as possible to access, both in terms of platforms and ticket prices.
“Topping Wednesday through Friday will be a virtual festival club with Josie Duncan, Norrie Maciver, and Willie Campbell respectively. There will also be Gaelic language, song and story workshops in partnership with Lews Castle College UHI, and a whisky tasting event. This programme delivers a strong essence of the HebCelt experience. We are so grateful to the ticket-buyers, supporters, funders, volunteers and friends of the festival who have made this possible, and continue to help our chances of a full return in 2022. We hope that the Survival Sessions will be greatly enjoyed by all.”
For more information and tickets visit https://www.hebceltfest.com/booking
HebCelt is supported by Creative Scotland, EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and other public and private sector supporters.
Creative Scotland’s Siobhan Anderson said: “Community based with a firmly established international following, the much loved and revered Hebcelt opens up access to and enjoyment of the very best of Scotland’s Gaelic and traditional music. From family concerts to gigs featuring some of the country’s leading acts, local as well as up-and-coming talent, the festival’s hybrid programme will bring welcome connection between our talented artists and international audiences, leaving no one in any doubt about Scotland’s flourishing musical tradition.”
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Events are an important part of our communities and EventScotland is delighted to be supporting HebCelt’s Survival Sessions through Scotland’s Events Recovery Fund. The fund was specifically designed to support organisers to respond and adapt to the effects of the pandemic by trying new ideas. By embracing the hybrid format, trad music fans both in Scotland and around the world will be able to enjoy the very best of Scottish music across the festival’s 4-day programme.”
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Leader, Cllr Roddie Mackay, said: “The Hebridean Celtic Festival is a major success story for the Western Isles, reaching out to audiences, local, national and worldwide. The Comhairle is delighted to support this year’s HebCelt programme and it is great to see the festival return, even if it is in limited form. We wish everyone involved the very best and look forward to a return to the full programme in 2022.”
Between Islands Show
About HebCelt
HebCelt is supported by Creative Scotland, EventScotland, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and other public and private sector supporters.
The Hebridean Celtic Festival Trust is a not-for-profit charitable organisation firmly rooted within its community and is almost entirely managed and produced by voluntary effort.
Over its 25 years, the festival has grown from a small event attracting less than 1,000 fans to an international showpiece for roots, Celtic and traditional music, with annual attendances topping 18,000. In that time, it has generated more than £30 million for the local economy. It was crowned Best Cultural Event or Festival at the 2018 Scottish Thistle Awards and it won a Highly Commended accolade at A Greener Festival Awards. It also scooped the Festival of the Year award and the Grand Prix prize at the 2018 Scottish Event Awards and has twice been named Best Cultural Event or Festival in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.
About Creative Scotland
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. It enables people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. Creative Scotland also distributes funding from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery.
About EventScotland
EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events by securing and supporting an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events. It provides funding opportunities and access to resources and information to develop the industry.
EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation, alongside Business Events and Development teams. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.eventscotland.org or follow Twitter @EventScotNews and LinkedIn.
About Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is the local authority for the Western Isles and has supported the Hebridean Celtic Festival since its inception.
For more information, please contact: Peter Kane, 07742 308213; pkane@kanepartnership.com
