WHAT?
The smiley, happy Highland festival, Belladrum opens with a ceilidh and closes with a masked ball. It's all about good, unpretentious fun, and the music fits that mould too, with a focus on Scottish sounds from Idlewild to Edwyn Collins and the Waterboys, though Scouting for Girls, Rachel Unthank and Cold War Kids are also in there.
Festival frenzy: if you're devoted to new music, midges and your wellies
Festival flop: if you're more Justin Timberlake than Justin Currie
WHEN?
Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August
WHERE?
Belladrum Estate, near Beauly in Inverness-shire
(Google map)
HOW MUCH?
Adult weekend tickets: £80
Adult Saturday tickets: £50.
(Both include parking and camping)
Children 12 & under: free
GETTING THERE?
• By car
Take the A862 West from Inverness towards Beauly. Approximately nine miles from Inverness, turn left onto the A833 signposted Kiltarlity and Drumnadrochit. After approximately one mile, turn left at the second gate lodge on the left on this road which has red gables and is signposted Belladrum (If you go as far as Brockie's Lodge Hotel on the A833, you have overshot the turning) - you are now on the single track public road that runs through Belladrum Estate.
• By bus
Citylink will be running special direct services from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aviemore, Dunfermline, Perth, Pitlochry, Inverness and Stirling to Belladrum on Thursday 9th August, returning Sunday 12th August. Citylink will also operate a special return bus service from Inverness Bus Station to Belladrum on 10 - 12 August. Citylink also operates scheduled coach services from all major Scottish cities.
Book tickets by going to their website and following the Belladrum link.
• By train
Trains run regularly from Inverness to Beauly Station, about 2 miles from Belladrum. For general information on how to plan your journey and all timetables, see the National Rail Enquiries website
THE LINE-UP?
• Friday 8th August
Scouting For Girls
Jefferson Starship
Idlewild
Justin Currie
Baka Beyond
The Vatersay Boys
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset
Old Blind Dogs
Kathryn Williams
The Brute Chorus
Dennis Hopper Choppers
Southern Tenant Folk Union
Cage The Elephant
Big Hand
Captain and the Kings
Union Avenue
The Leonard Jones Potential
Caledonian Ceilidh Trail
• Saturday 9th August
The Waterboys
Cold War Kids
Nouvelle Vague
Edwyn Collins
Salsa Celtica
Dreadzone
Attic Lights
Infadels
Lisa Knapp
The Wallbirds
Kissmet
Blah Blah Blah
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
Elle s'appelle
The Dangleberries
The Parsonage Choir
Friends of The Bride
Lowtide Revelry
Feis Rois
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk
What do you think of this year's line-up?
Who would you like to see added to the bill?
Were you there last year?
Leave your comments below!
