Big Country to headline HebCelt Festival

HebCelt Fest 2014

Wednesday 16th to Saturday 19th July 2014
Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, HS1 2BW, Scotland MAP
£79 for a weekend ticket, £61 concessions, £19 for under 14s

Daily capacity: 16,000

Last updated: Thu 6th Mar 2014

Scottish rockers Big Country are latest headline act announced for Hebridean Celtic Festival this summer.

The five-piece group is the second headline act to be announced for the event, following confirmation that former Runrig frontman Donnie Munro will play the previous evening.

The 19th HebCelt, based in Stornoway in the island of Lewis, Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland from Wednesday 16th to Saturday 19th of July 2014. The line-up will also include Canadian band Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys (Friday) and local Lewis outfit Willie Campbell and the Open Day Rotation (Saturday).

Festival director Caroline Maclennan, said: “Big Country has been one of the biggest names in the music business for over 30 years and one of the most successful bands to come out of Scotland.

“We are delighted the band will make HebCelt one of its festival dates this year and it will give our audience something special on the Friday night.”

Big Country was originally formed in 1981 by the late Stuart Adamson and fellow guitarist Bruce Watson, both natives of Dunfermline. They were joined later that summer by drummer Mark Brzezicki and bass player Tony Butler, the line-up that recorded the classic debut album ‘The Crossing’ in 1983.

The group was known for a string of hits such as 'In a Big Country', 'Fields of Fire', 'East of Eden' and, 'Look Away'. Adamson died in 2001 and the band subsequently reformed to mark its 25th anniversary, later joined by former Alarm singer Mike Peters who spent three years as frontman.

The new line-up sees Bruce Watson (guitars/vocals); Mark Brzezicki (drums, vocals); Bruce’s son, Jamie Watson (guitars/vocals) and former Simple Minds bassist/vocalist, Derek Forbes, joined by Simon Hough, ex-frontman for both Denny Laine (Wings) and Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy)

Bruce Watson said: “We are really looking forward to playing in this beautiful part of the country. Can't wait!”

Further headliners will be announced soon. As well as the music there's also a full programme of family entertainment, as well as a street arts programme with walkabout, workshops and fire shows.

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Tickets are priced as follows:
Advance Arena Weekend £79
Advance Arena Weekend Concession £61
Advance Arena Weekend Child Ticket (6 - 14) £19
Advance Arena Weekend Infant Ticket (0 - 5) FREE

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