FACT FILE: Belladrum Tartan Heart

Published on Friday 23 May 2008 17:02

It may be small in scale but it's big in heart, with a refreshing mix of indie and folk, a world away from the clamour of city life

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!