The countdown to this year’s HebCelt festival has now begun in earnest – with under a month to go – as its HQ in Stornoway town centre opened yesterday.
The major event – which has generated more than £25million in its 24-year-old history – will feature almost 30 international acts in its main arena, including headliner KT Tunstall.
The Francis Street base will provide a focal point for local people and visitors to buy and collect tickets and merchandise, as well as finding out information about the multi award-winning festival that will run from July 17-20.
The shop will be open Monday to Saturday from 10am-5pm.
During festival week the hours will be extended to 6pm, with late opening until 8pm on Wednesday July 17.
Festival director Caroline Maclennan said: “The opening of the HebCelt shop is always a special occasion as it means the festival is very close.
“A town centre presence gives everyone a chance to pop in and I’m sure the place will be buzzing for the next three weeks.”
As well as KT Tunstall, famous for songs such as Suddenly I See, headliners also include The Shires and Tide Lines.
Events will also be taking place in various venues in Lewis and Harris.
The Hebridean Celtic Festival is a not-for-profit charitable event firmly rooted within its community and is almost entirely managed and produced by voluntary effort.
The festival has grown from a small event attracting less than 1,000 fans, to an international showpiece for roots, Celtic and traditional music.
Last year it was crowned Best Cultural Event or Festival at the 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 was named Best Cultural Event or Festival in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards for the second time in three years.