Latest news with #NinaNesbitt
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Female-led HebCelt festival begins on Lewis
Thousands of festival-goers are in Stornoway for this year's HebCelt music festival which has a line-up of 70% female icon Lulu is appearing alongside other performers like Nina Nesbitt, Josie Duncan, Isla Scott and Eddi Reader. Organisers said the event had doubled the population of the Western Isles town, with more than 17,000 fans attending Lews Castle Green. There has been criticism in recent years of male domination of the music industry and some festival line-ups. A spokesperson for HebCelt said 200 volunteers were involved in running the festival with confirmed visitors from South Korea, China, USA and Australia. Organisers said 70% of the music acts were female-led or featured female line-up also includes bands like Tide Lines, Skerryvore and Trail West. HebCelt, which was first held in 1996, is expected to generate money for the local economy, with hotels, bed and breakfasts and campsites reportedly event is supported by organisations including Creative Scotland, Western Isles Council, NHS Western Isles, Lewis Wind Power and SSEN. NHS Western Isles has launched a summer safety campaign, urging festival-goers to drink in moderation. Colum Durkan, director of public health for NHS Western Isles, said: "One of the main concerns is dehydration. "The temperatures are higher and we've had a lot of good weather recently."If people are drinking alcohol, rather than soft drinks or water, they are at greater risk."HebCelt runs until Saturday night.
Glasgow Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
The Lathums rock Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 before intimate gig
Their sound was as smooth as the material draping their platform. Golden microphone stands galore, they brought their blend of guitar-heavy rock to Glasgow Green. Perhaps in a mismatch of scheduling,g as they were competing with the likes of Scottish favourite Nina Nesbitt. Or the victims of a crowd eagerly awaiting acts like Jade and Gracie Abrams later in the day - it was a quieter gathering than they deserved. The Lathums rock Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 show before intimate gig (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: Fan travels from Japan to see singer of huge band at Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 Say My Name highlighted them at their best - belting vocals and guitar riffs and solos shredding across the sun-soaked park. Blending between full-force rock tracks and indie numbers in the style of fellow English bands like The Courteeners, their depth of sound sets them apart. Their frontman, dressed in a cowboy hat, sunglasses, and a 70s-style cardigan, has an incredible voice, and the band provides harmonic backing that layers their sound. There's No Time At All was a highlight and got the mid-afternoon crowd dancing out of their lull. Singalong 'La La La La La, make peace not war' got the crowd further on side, and the crowds that had covered the sun seemed to be sung away. Rhythmically tight and with blistering solos, they're a no-nonsense guitar, drums and bass band. The Lathums (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: LIVE Acts known for other bands have been going SOLO at TRNSMT READ MORE: Singer dedicates song to wife on Glasgow TRNSMT 2025 main stage The Lathums are heading into the city centre tonight to play at King Tut's for an after-festival party. Fans heading there are in for an absolute treat from this six-piece sensational band. I'm sure that the hundreds that gathered at TRNSMT will have been turned into fans - I certainly was. And I've no doubt that they're a band that'll be back at Glasgow's festival - hopefully playing to a packed crowd like they deserve.
The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Laura Silverstone on HebCelt debut and islands and Basque similarities
Her gig will be at the Isle of Harris Gin Ceilidh Tent from 3.15pm on Friday July 18 and she cannot wait to experience the festival. Having spent time living on the Isle of Skye, she's spent the last eight years living the van life and travelling around anywhere she can to perform live music. She has new music in the pipeline too, having recorded at Lipaka Studios in Germany with sought-after producer Bob Vogston, and headline shows in Glasgow and Edinburgh are to take place soon. Originally from the Basque Country, she's been loving how busy she is and cannot wait to get on stage at HebCelt. She said: 'I feel like my feet have barely touched the floor since the album came out. It's been busy, it's been lovely, I feel really grateful. 'I'm over the moon to be there. I'm thrilled. Terrified, but thrilled. I want to breathe in as much of the music as I possibly can. It's a little bit scary, but in a really exciting way. It's like that mix of anticipation, excitement and nerves.' HebCelt festival takes place next week (Image: Supplied) One of the main draws for her about HebCelt is the amount of women who are on the bill alongside her. Lulu is one of the headliners but another Scot is also high on Silverstone's list with Nina Nesbitt also performing. She continued: 'It's going to be quite astonishing to hear so many really great, talented female singers as well. It's going to be amazing. 'I think women have a completely different viewpoint in so many things, so many aspects of life. When women make music, it can be so different and so much closer to me. It gives you a completely different view of the same topics from a very different perspective. 'So I'm really grateful to be able to see so many women. 'I hope I get to meet NATI. We're like the same age and we live in the same area and it'd be so cool. Lulu is just an absolute legend. There's also Eddi Reader and Nina Nesbitt. I'm really excited to see Nina Nesbitt. I love her music.' Silverstone credits living in Scotland as being a big part of her growing career and believes the Hebrides is similar to where she grew up in the Basque Country. She added: 'I've always, always said that about Scotland, how it's so beautifully culturally rich whilst at the same time being so appreciative of other cultures. I think a lot of places in the world should learn from Scotland about that. 'It's a community of its own as well. There's so much going on around Gaelic language and culture. As an outsider, to just appreciate it and relate it back to my own Basque-culture, there was a mutual appreciation and fascination for each other's culture. Read More 'In the same way that I was interested and wanting to learn more about it, the response was always to want to know more about the Basque culture and the Basque language. 'I used to live on the Isle of Skye, which is where I first converted my van. So I did a little bit of exploring while I was there. I went to Harris and Lewis and absolutely loved it. I remember driving and the weather was beautiful and I remember thinking my main worry for today is where am I going to see the best sunset? It was amazing. 'It feels like you're somewhere on the edge of the world. I do remember thinking, oh my God, it's so far away, and then thinking, actually, this is probably one of the safest places in the world. Seeing all the stuff that's going on around the world, in Europe and everywhere, I would just be like yeah, no, I'm happy here. 'I got the sense of community in a way that you only see in areas where everybody knows each other and everybody's so friendly and so welcoming. I didn't get much of a chance to do much music at the time so with HebCelt, that's what I'm there for.' HebCelt will take place on the Isle of Lewis from July 16 to July 19 and a new funding boost has meant that, along with Lewis Wind Power, it can expand its support to Gaelic culture and youth activities. The Culture & Business Scotland Fund has made an investment equal to 50% of Lewis Wind Power's sponsorship of key festival outreach work. It means more funding is available to sponsor engagement projects including the likes of Gaelic-led morning workshops which use storytelling, craft, Gaelic singsongs, a zine wall and more to broaden access to Gaelic arts and culture. Welcoming the news, Chair of the HebCelt Festival Board Iain Macphail said: 'Lewis Wind Power's incredible and long-standing support for HebCelt already plays a vital role in showcasing local talent and creating cultural opportunities. 'Thanks now to the generous support of the Culture & Business Scotland Fund, we are able to expand that benefit into the heart of our community, unlocking new ways for young people, families, and Gaelic speakers to engage with culture creatively.'
The Herald Scotland
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
HebCelt festival nominated for prestigious events award
It takes place on Friday, October 3 in Inverness and comes with the festival due to take place next week from July 17 to July 20. Ticket sales have been increasing since the opening of an official shop while the hot weather that is expected is also seeing more people buy their weekend passes. Work is already underway on the festival site with the main tent being readied while new look hospitality bars are also in place, and a new contactless payment system. Headliners for the festival include Tide Lines, Lulu and Skerryvore while other acts include Beluga Lagoon, Nina Nesbitt and Eddi Reader. Read More Iain Macphail, HebCelt Director and Chair of the Board, said: 'To be shortlisted in what are widely regarded as the region's event Oscars just days before we open the gates to this year's festival is utterly brilliant news. 'It's amazing recognition for our team, our volunteers, supporters, sponsors and every single person who plays a part in what we do every year. 'We're all thrilled, it's put a real spring in our step as we continue to put the finishing touches to this year's event which promises to be one of the best yet. 'The queue has been out of the door pretty much constantly since we've opened. We can hardly catch our breath - it's been amazing. 'Sales have been going crazy, everyone says they are so excited to be coming along, they are buying all our new style t-shirts and other merch too. 'With the weekend forecast as it is, we'll be lucky if there are any bucket hats left by the time the first concert begins. 'It's going to be brilliant, we can't wait to get out there.'
Wales Online
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Dundee to host Scottish album awards for next three years
Dundee to host Scottish album awards for next three years The city's Caird Hall will host this year's ceremony on November 6 and then again in 2026 and 2027, marking the first time it has been held outwith the central belt in the award's 14-year history. The Guildhall in Hull city centre as the city was named as the UK City of Culture 2017 Dundee will host the Scottish Album of the Year (Say) Award ceremony for the next three years, the award's organisers have announced. The city's Caird Hall will host this year's ceremony on November 6 and then again in 2026 and 2027, marking the first time it has been held outwith the central belt in the award's 14-year history. The venue takes over the from Stirling's Albion Halls, which hosted the event from 2022-2024, with the ceremony moving to a different part of the country every three years. The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), which runs the award, made the announcement a week before submissions for this year's prize open on July 1. To be eligible albums have to meet the Say Award criteria, including being released between June 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025. This year's eligible artists include Primal Scream, Franz Ferdinand, Nina Nesbitt and Erland Cooper, among many others. Article continues below Previous winners of the award include Young Fathers, Mogwai, Fergus McCreadie and Auntie Flo. Robert Kilpatrick, chief executive and creative director of SMIA said: "Following three incredible years hosting Scotland's national music prize at Stirling's Albert Halls, the SMIA is both delighted and proud to be calling Dundee's iconic Caird Hall the new home of the Say Award. "Established in 2012 and originally hosted in Glasgow, we introduced our Host City model in 2016 to broaden the Say Award's reach, deepen place-based impact and ensure nationwide cultural benefit. "Since then, we've worked in three-year cycles to move the ceremony across the country; supporting regional industry development, establishing local partnerships and celebrating the strength and diversity of Scotland's ever-evolving recorded output in a range of cultural contexts. Mr Kilpatrick said they had long aspired to hold the ceremony in Dundee, and that now was the "perfect time to do so". He went on: "From iconic artists and grassroots music venues to major cultural institutions and a proud DIY spirit, it's a place where creativity, innovation and collaboration are deeply embedded, and we're honoured to be adding to its rich musical heritage. "Through our partnership with Leisure & Culture Dundee, V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council and Unesco Dundee City of Design, we're excited to amplify the city's creative identity and welcome over 1,500 guests from across Scotland, the wider UK and beyond to our 2025 Ceremony on Thursday 6 November." In recognition of Dundee's status as a "cultural powerhouse" – and the UK's first and only Unesco City of Design – the trophies for this year's awards are set to be created by a local Dundee designer. The 2025 ceremony will feature a performance by 2024 winner Redolent, and the winner of the Say will take home £20,000 along with the coveted award, while nine runners-up will each receive £1,000. Alongside the main prize the winner of the Modern Scottish Classic Award will be announced, recognising a cherished album from Scotland's past that still inspires Scottish musicians today. The winner of the Sound of Young Scotland Award will also be named, with a young and emerging artist being given a funding package to support the creation of their debut album. Councillor Lynne Short, Dundee City Council's spokeswoman for culture, sport and history said she was "delighted" the city had been chosen to host the award. "Music of all kinds provides the soundtrack to our city, whether it's the vibrant busking culture we have in the city centre, open-air gigs by established acts at Slessor Gardens or up and coming grassroots bands in many of our small pubs and clubs," she said. "We have always been a city with a passion for music, and I am delighted that the SMIA has chosen to make Dundee the home of the Say Award for the next three years in a way that recognises this." Anna Day, head of libraries and culture at Leisure & Culture Dundee said she "couldn't be happier" the award was coming to Dundee. Article continues below "As the musical heart of the city for generations, Caird Hall is ready for a bold new chapter," she said. "Partnering on the Say Award marks a major step in our broader ambition to re-energise what the Caird Hall offers to audiences, artists and partners. We now can't wait to welcome the Scottish music community through its doors and onto its stage." Early bird Say Award Ceremony tickets on sale now at
