Irish folk heroes The Mary Wallopers have been announced as joining the trio of acts to headline HebCelt Festival in July alongside The Saw Doctors and Mànran.
They are the first band in history to ever sell-out a massive five night run at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow, earning themselves a place in the legendary venue’s Hall of Fame in December - only weeks after The Saw Doctors also played back to back shows.
With the Irish-double bill now confirmed as performing in Stornoway this summer, demand for tickets is expected to be strong with fans urged to buy early so as not to miss out on joining what is now Scotland’s third biggest summer music festival.
Skye-born electronic Celtic duo Valtos are also bringing their dynamic, award-winning music to the stage for a fusion filled Friday, while luxuriant electrobrass French collective FÜLÜ - adored across Europe for their brass heavy, jazzy, percussive, almost trance like carnival-meets-techno rhythms - are added to the bill.
Valtos co-founder Martyn MacDonald said: “When we played HebCelt in 2024 we didn’t know what to expect but it turned out to be one of the best festivals we’ve ever played. The crowd, the setting, and the line-up are next level and we loved every minute of it. Also as a half Leòdhasach myself, I feel like I'm coming home.”
Acclaimed fiddle player Laura Wilkie joins, as do Orkney quartet FARA. Much loved Lewis singer songwriter Colin Macleod, indie trad stars Dlù and Harris-based music pioneer Iain “Costello” Band all join the outstanding line-up. There is also a debut appearance for brand new, up and coming local band Emberline.
Award-winning singer, piper and accordion player Calum MacColl - best known as the Mod gold medal winning Gaelic singing weather forecaster on BBC Scotland - is to perform in the Isle of Harris Gin Ceilidh Tent.
Emerging talent is also to the fore with Glasgow based rising star Kirsteen Harvey, boasting a top four iTunes track ‘Near, Far and Wide’ and the BBC Introducing featured ‘Senses’, added to the bill.
She’ll be joined by the latest BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Rachel Groves - after the harpist secured a coveted chance to perform at HebCelt in partnership with the broadcaster thanks to her win.
HebCelt Festival’s artist programmer Michelle Shields said: “We’re overjoyed to have The Mary Wallopers making their HebCelt debut this year and completing our amazing trio of headliners along with The Saw Doctors and Mànran.
“It’s an unashamedly upbeat line-up of high-tempo, Celtic roots and trad with a huge Irish infusion too, a dash of French, hint of Canadian and an extensive line-up from Lewis too.
“We’ve got some wonderful songwriters joining us, a whole host of absolutely beautiful vocalists, and we will be showcasing a range of pioneering, adventurous and emerging artists too - so there really is something for everyone.
“Our partnership with BBC Radio Scotland to bring the Young Trad Musician of the Year here is also something very important to us with our emphasis we have on showcasing emerging new talent, so we are thrilled to be welcoming Rachel Groves.
“We are very proud of our record platforming female talent across our stages too, so we are delighted the likes of Kim Carnie, Michelle McManus, and Kirsteen Harvey are among all those performing.
“The response so far has been brilliant, especially for weekend tickets, so our advice is not to leave it too late because demand is already proving higher than some previous years, which we’re grateful and delighted about.”
Gaelic Singer of the Year Emma Scalpay and 2024 Danny Kyle Award winners Dàna will also feature, alongside Kirsten Adamson and The Tanagers, daughter of the late Big Country frontman Stuart Adamson; broadcast and singing favourite Michelle McManus and The Flaming Blackhearts; all-female sextet HEISK; Siobhan Miller Band; Scottish Jazz Awards nominee Niamh Corkey are also performing.
So too are local artists The Tumbling Souls, who sold out their gig at Celtic Connections in January, Sean Harrison and Band, Uist six-piece Beinn Lee, Canadian singer-songwriter Old Man Luedecke, and Glasgow folk singer Michael McGovern and Band.
Celtic fusion stars the Peatbog Faeries, MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards Scots Singer of the Year nominee Jarad Rowan; genre-busting quartet Mec Lir; and award-winning singer, songwriter and harpist Chloe Matharu were also all previously announced.
More details and tickets are available now HERE