Hebridean Celtic Festival 2011

The annual Hebridean Celtic Festival will be back to celebrate its 16th Anniversary at Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland from Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th of July. Expect three days of music featuring top international artists set against the backdrop of the Gaelic culture and Hebridean heritage. The event is expected to attract 15,000 people over 3 days.

Line-up

KT Tunstall, Seth Lakeman, Stornoway, Peatbog Faeries, KAN, Rachel Sermanni, Mànran, Dàimh, Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag, Niteworks, Saltfishforty, Open Day Rotation, The Boy Who Trapped the Sun, Ahab, Kitty the Lion, Woodenbox, Fistful of Fivers, and more.

Many complementary events are also hosted by community groups around Stornaway and the islands of Lewis and Harris catering for a variety of tastes both musical and otherwise. There are also workshops often given by many of the festival's performers, which includes masterclass sessions. Also included are the ever popular Gaelic language tasters, lectures and children's entertainment plus numerous pub sessions in Stornoway and the surrounding area.

Tickets

Ticket prices are not yet confirmed. Tickets for the festival will go on sale on 14 April.

2011 sees the establishment of the Scotland's Islands stage which will offer more choice of acts within the one main site.

There's also a full programme of family entertainment, as well as a street arts programme with walkabout, workshops and fire shows.

This year it is expected that the festival will be once again operating a cashless system for the bars through the introduction of bar tokens in an attempt to reduce queuing.

Shinty

Shinty was a huge part of the culture of the area up until the early part of last century, its now on the resurgence thanks to the Camanachd Association. Bayhead Pitch (turn right when crossing the bridge to the Castle Grounds) on Saturday afternoon sees Uist play Lewis for the HebCelt Challenge Cup, an opportunity to see this historical sport being played by the Islands' biggest shinty rivals.

Transport

There are good public transport links, flights available to Stornoway and a regular ferry service.

There will be more information here when available.

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