HebCelt Festival got off to a sun-soaked start in Stornoway on Thursday, with Mànran, FARA and Peatbog Faeries kicking off proceedings alongside an unlikely cast of celebrity guests including a Traitors winner and a Commonwealth Games swimmer.
Traitors champion Stephen Libby and swimming star Kara Hanlon received a rapturous welcome from the crowd when they walked out onto the main stage carrying the King’s Baton, part of its journey towards Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games next week. The pair had earlier led a parade through Stornoway, backed by the town’s pipe bands and a guard of honour from the local shinty team.
Also joining the celebrations were Pacific crossing record breakers The Maclean Brothers, who rowed across The Minch from Ullapool overnight, succeeding on their third attempt at the crossing just in time to make the festival’s opening night.
The baton, which carries a handwritten message from the King ahead of the Commonwealth Games, was winched off CalMac’s MV Loch Seaforth the previous evening as it crossed from Ullapool, to the delight of watching passengers. Kara and Stephen received it safely on the quayside before parading it on stage with Mànran and Gary Innes after the band’s first five songs, capping the moment with a giant selfie alongside the crowd.
“I’ve been coming to HebCelt now since I was a wee boy, so to be part of this year’s festival in a small way, but in a very special way, is a real pinch me moment,” said Stephen. “I really cannot believe this is happening to me, and for this to be done on home turf is just really special.”
Kara, who represented Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and recently retired from competitive swimming, said the moment was the perfect way to close out her career. “HebCelt has been a huge part of my upbringing every summer, with friends and family,” she said. “I represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and I just missed out this year, and I’ve actually just retired from the sport, so this is a perfect way of rounding off everything I’ve achieved in my career.”
The Maclean Brothers had set off on their crossing after cheekily asking HebCelt organisers if they could join the festival, who promised the trio a pint if they made it in time, delivering in front of Lews Castle as promised. “We just can’t wait to see some of our favourite bands, Valtos are a big favourite of all three of us, Mec Lir, Peatbog Faeries, Beinn Lee is going to be epic, and Mànran,” said Lachlan. Ewan added: “We’re so excited we made it, because there was a good chance we weren’t going to make it to be honest, because we’ve been turned back before, but we’re here.”
Peatbog Faeries’ appearance on the opening bill continues a long association with the festival, with the Celtic fusion pioneers having been inducted into the HebCelt Hall of Fame in 2010. Beyond the main stage, Thursday’s celebrations spread across the town, with family concerts in the town hall, Highland dancing in the town centre, street performances, a circus and a late-night ceilidh, alongside sets from Old Man Luedecke, Beinn Lee, Corina Macinnes and Alice Macmillan.
Friday’s line-up shifts focus to The Mary Wallopers, Valtos, Heisk, The Tumbling Souls and Sean Harrison and Band, alongside Colin Macleod, Kirsten Adamson and Emberline. Limited tickets remain on sale at hebceltfest.com.
Hebcelt 2026:
- Mànran and Peatbog Faeries open HebCelt with celebrity guests
- Maclean Brothers row through the night to reach HebCelt Festival
Image credits: Hebcelt
In this article: Peatbog Faeries, Stornoway, Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, The Minch, Ullapool, Caledonian MacBrayne, MV Loch Seaforth, The Mary Wallopers, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Generated by Wikidata Schema Link Builder.
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