THE STAGE IS SET FOR HEBCELT 2014

The 19th Hebridean Celtic Festival will be held from 16-19 July 2014.

Here are some facts about this internationally renowned and growing festival.

• HebCelt has a unique and spectacular setting in Stornoway in the island of Lewis.
• The two main stages are on the Castle Green in front of Lews Castle, while performances are also held in An Lanntair arts centre and throughout the rural community.
• This year HebCelt was selected for the fourth consecutive year as one of the top ten UK summer festivals by music magazine Songlines.
• The 2013 festival was the most successful in its history with ticket sales up 30 per cent on the previous year.
• Last year the festival attracted an audience of 16,000, with over half coming from outside the Hebrides.
• The huge influx of visitors from across Europe, the US, Australia and New Zealand helped generate around £1 million for the local economy.
• Levellers, Big Country and Donnie Munro will headline the 2014 festival. Cara Dillon, Rachel Sermanni, Duncan Chisholm and the Magnolia Sisters are also appearing. 
• HebCelt is a serial award winner and is regarded as one of the greenest festivals in the world.
• Last year it was the only Scottish festival to receive an Outstanding award from environmental campaign group A Greener Festival.
• It was also shortlisted in the Greener Festival category in the UK Festival Awards, alongside nine other festivals, including Glastonbury and in the Best Independent Festival category in the AIM Independent Music Awards.
• In 2011 it was ranked Best Large Festival at the industry-sponsored Scottish Event Awards and it won Best Event of the Year award at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards in 2004 and 2009.
• It is regarded by critics, performers and music fans as one of the top Celtic music festivals in Europe.
• HebCelt is a strong supporter of the Gaelic culture and is holding a Gaelic Showcase over the four days.
• Overseas visitors help swell the ranks of a 120-strong volunteer army that contributes more than 3,500 unpaid man hours over the course of the four days to help run the festival.
• Runrig, Julie Fowlis, the Peatbog Faeries and Duncan Chisholm are all in the HebCelt Hall of Fame and act as festival ambassadors.

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