• Young artists set to feature at world renowned music festival
• Chance to perform to international audience. 

AND NOW WELCOME TO THE STAGE - YOU

Friday the 13th will be a lucky day for an up and coming artist or group who will be given the opportunity to showcase their talents at one of the summer’s hottest music festivals.

This year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival, which will be headlined by The Waterboys, The Proclaimers and Kassidy, is offering a performance slot for a new band or singer during the four-day flagship event.

The 17th HebCelt, which runs from 11-14 July, attracts visitors from around the world and already fans from across Europe, the USA and Canada have snapped up early bird tickets.

The One Step Further competition is open to any young band or performer, aged between 18 and 25 at the time of the festival, playing a genre of music that reflects the general programming of the event.

The winner will be able to perform live on 13 July in front of the festival audience on the second stage within the main HebCelt arena.

Festival Director, Caroline MacLennan, said: “This is an incredible opportunity for an individual or group to present their talent to a large audience who are always keen to hear new music.

“The festival supports emerging talent from throughout the Celtic nations. However we recognise that it can be challenging for those starting out to break through, especially at a major event like the festival, so we want to encourage applicants to think creatively about how best to present their work to get that start.”

The competition is supported by internationally renowned musician Phil Cunningham, well known as a champion of young talent.

He said: “This is a fantastic idea from the festival organisers which could give an individual or group the chance of a breakthrough at a major event.

“Playing to a live audience is the ultimate for a performer and where better than HebCelt for young artists or bands in the Celtic genre to make a name for themselves.”

Entrants need to prepare a promotional pack in electronic format to sell their music to the judges. This should include high resolution imagery, a biography and links to three good quality recordings of their music. To enhance their pack they can also include links to their live video performances.

Submissions should be sent, marked HebCelt New Talent Submissions, by email to [email protected] by midnight on Friday, 6 April.

Judging will take place throughout the month with the winning artist or artists being chosen by 27 April.

The HebCelt organisers will also offer the winner £200 towards expenses to attend the festival as well as passes to enjoy the rest of the event.

Boy Who Trapped The Sun: Although still young in years, Lewis born singer-songwriter Colin Macleod champions old fashioned musical virtues – well-crafted melodies, evocative lyrics, warmly heartfelt vocals – to timeless effect on his debut Fireplace which was released in 2010. He appeared at the festival for the first time in 2011.

BWTTS and Niteworks photographs to Leila Angus

The 17th HebCelt takes place between 11th and 14th July 2012 and will, for the second year running, have two main stages on the Castle Green in front of the Lews Castle in Stornoway, as well as perormances in An Lanntair and throughout the rural community.

The Hebridean Celtic Festival emerged victorious as Best Large Festival at the industry-sponsored Scottish Event Awards 2011, in a three-way final with Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and Glasgow’s Celtic Connections. 

The HebCelt is now an annual magnet for an audience that far outstrips the Lewis town’s own 10,000 population, injecting more than £1.5 million annually into the local economy.It attracts people from around the world, including countries such as the USA, Australia, Germany, France, Spain, Norway and many others.It is regarded by critics, performers and festival-goers as one of the top Celtic music festivals in Europe.

The festival is made possible through the support of funders, advertisers and a vital and large volunteer workforce. HebCelt relies on scores of volunteer workers who clock up over 3500 unpaid hours during the event.

HebCelt has twice won the Best Event of the Year award at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, which is voted for by the public.

HebCelt has been hailed as one of the UK’s top 50 festivals by the Daily Telegraph, one of the top five by The Scotsman, and in 2011 one of Songlines Magazine’s Top Ten Summer Festivals.

A large quantity of children under 14 can attend concerts at the Festival Arena each night for free if accompanied by someone who is 18 or older.
HebCelt has its own YouTube channel, Facebook and Twitter.