The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival is a music and arts festival, held on the Belladrum Estate near Inverness, in Scotland. It is normally held at the start of August. Founded in 2004, the festival has rapidly grown in popularity. The festival has sold out in advance every year since 2008.
The festival is well known for its wide ranging musical scope, as well as its family friendly atmosphere, with a large dedicated family camp-site, as well as free entry for children under the age of 12.
Previous acts that have played at the festival include Madness, Tom Jones, Two Door Cinema Club, Kaiser Chiefs, Ed Sheeran, Ben Howard, James, Manic Street Preachers, Deacon Blue, Texas Embrace, The Automatic, The Proclaimers, The Wombats, Travis, and many more.
Stages include, The Garden Stage (Main Stage set in Italian Gardens), The Hot House (Rock Indie, Alternative, Singer-songwriter), The Grassroots(folk, roots, acoustic), Venus Flytrap (comedy, wrestling, cabaret), The Seedlings (emerging and buzz new acts), Mother's Ruin (Dance and Electronic), The Verb Garden (talks, debates, films), The Burke and Hare (cabaret, performance, dj's), The Bella Bar stage, Free Range Folk Stage (singer-songwriters, traditional, acoustic based bands), Jazz Bar (new for 2016) and an array of busking stages.
Other areas of the festival include a dedicated children's area, with puppet workshops, arts and crafts, circus skills, dance and music classes and much more. The Walled Garden hosts a variety of alternative therapies, the Burke & Hare and Free Rage Folk stages, and re-enactment groups.
Over the years the festival has also hosted Ice-rinks, roller discos, Danny Maccaskills Drop & Roll, and a zip line.
Tartan heart fringe
Fringe
In previous years as well as the festival itself there was also a Festival fringe which centered around the 2 weeks surrounding the festival.
This finished in the early hours of Hootananny's on the Thursday prior to the festival.
The fringe's gigs had no entry-fee in some bars/pubs however others may charge, the fringe showcased a variety of Acts and Music Genres.
The Fringe set the mood in the run up to Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival on 8 and 9 August 2008, offering a musical trail around the Highlands for the intrepid music lover.
2004
It all began back in 2004 with 2,000 like minded people gathering for one day in Belladrum’s Italian Gardens, the stunning terraced arena that still forms the main stage. Since then, Bella has become a key fixture in the Scottish cultural calendar growing to its current capacity of 18,500 people over two and a half days (3 - 5 August 2017), with an additional headliner being added to the ceilidh warm up on the Thursday night in 2015.
[1]
Garden Stage
| Friday 14 August |
- Linda Gail Lewis & The Lewis Three
- The Grim Northern Social
- The Andy Gunn Band & Geno Washington
- James Grant & Friends
- Karen Matheson & Donald Shaw of Capercaillie
- The Lush Rollers
- The Peatbog Faeries
- The David Ogilvy Band
- Totó la Momposina
- Dionyssus
- Mystic Shoes
- Winners of the Hootananny's Battle of the Bands Competition
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2005
In 2005 the festival was on Friday the 12th & Saturday the 13th of August. This year it had five stages, ranging in size from the Grassroots Tent, which has a capacity of approximately 250 and is dedicated to small acoustic and folk acts, through to the Garden Stage, which is a natural amphitheatre that can hold several thousand people
In 2005, new features include the Seedlings Stage for new or unsigned artists and the Venus Flytrap Palais, a stage totally dedicated to the wonderful and sometimes, frankly, weird in music, theatre, cabaret and performance art.[2]
Garden Stage
| Friday 12 August | Saturday 13 August |
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Hothouse Stage
| Friday 12 August | Saturday 13 August |
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The Black Isle brewery Grassroots Stage
| Friday 12 August | Saturday 13 August |
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- Michael Marra
- Unholy Trinity - Ronnie Elliott, Terry Clarke & Wes McGhee
- Andy Gunn
- Foy Vance
- Heather MacLeod
- Calamateur
- Craig Anderson
- Ruth Sutherland
- Davy Cowan
- Feis Rois Ceilidh Band
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2006
[3]
Garden Stage
| Friday 11 August | Saturday 12 August |
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Hothouse Stage
| Friday 11 August | Saturday 12 August |
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The Black Isle brewery Grassroots Stage
| Friday 11 August | Saturday 12 August |
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Hail Seedlings Stage
| Friday 11 August | Saturday 12 August |
- The Rites
- Edgar Prais
- Our Small Capital
- Magdalen Green
- Endor
- The Galipaygos
- Employee of the Month
- Shutter
- Call to Mind
- Copy Haho
- Beerjacket
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- Jyrojets
- Drive-by Argument
- Invisbles
- Pop-up
- Marshall Arts
- Vivian Scotson
- The Side
- Hussys
- Mouse Eat Mouse
- Michael Rattray
- The Now
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Venus Flytrap Palais
| Friday 11 August | Saturday 12 August |
- I Can't Handle Me' Chantale MacCormick
- Jamboree/Wardrobe of Delights
- The Ralfe Band
- Hot Potato Syncopators
- Joe West
- The Laundrettas
- Kid Carpet
- Attic Lights
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- Flash Monkey & Rev Rum Tum Ti Bum Bum
- iLiKETRAiNS
- Illicit
- Session A9
- Puppetry of the Pops (Nathan Evans)
- Mama's Brand New Bag
- Meg & Peg Go To The Fest (The Reduced IMPs)
- Mark Dean - the Yodelling Mix Meister
- Cape Reality (Jeep Solid & Graeme Roger)
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2007
[4]
Garden Stage
| Friday 10 August | Saturday 11 August |
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Hothouse Stage
| Friday 10 August | Saturday 11 August |
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The Black Isle brewery Grassroots Stage
| Friday 10 August | Saturday 11 August |
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Hail Seedlings Stage
| Friday 10 August | Saturday 11 August |
- The Needles
- Theatre Fall
- Sergeant
- The Wallbirds
- Lowtide Revelry
- Luva Anna
- Strike the Colours
- Micheal MacLennan
- Haight Ashbury
- Brendan Campbell
- Caley Ceilidh Trail
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- Action Group
- The Vivians
- Make Model
- Figure 5
- Le Reno Amps
- Our Luna Activities
- Foxface
- Baxter
- Sorren MacLean
- FiveFifteen
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Venus Flytrap Palais
| Friday 10 August | Saturday 11 August |
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- Invernetian Masked Ball/ Secret Chamber Orchestra
- Club Noir & The Martians in the intermission
- Tunng
- Murdina Morag - The Musical with the Love Pylons
- Kate Nash
- Fake Bush
- Orchestre del Sol
- The Seven Plots by R.I.P.
- Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man
- The White Cat/ Jaberwocky
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2008
2008 saw the Tartan Heart Festival win the award for the best Grass Roots Festival (2008)[5]
[6]
Garden Stage
| Friday 8 August | Saturday 9 August |
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Hothouse Stage
| Friday 8 August | Saturday 9 August |
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The Black Isle brewery Grassroots Stage
| Friday 8 August | Saturday 9 August |
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- Edwyn Collins
- Pete Wylie
- Lisa Knapp
- Wallbirds
- Dennis Hopper Choppers
- Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
- The Mercury Men
- Wynntown Marshalls
- Jake Cogan
- Feis Rois
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Hail Seedlings Stage
| Friday 8 August | Saturday 9 August |
- Abigail Gray
- The Kazoo Funk Orchestra
- Jocasta Sleeps
- Jack Butler
- Captain and the Kings
- Root System
- 28 Jacks
- Manor Park Elite
- Battle for Bella Winners
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- Shutter
- Twin Atlantic
- Edgar Prais
- Paper Planes
- Alto Elite
- Injuns
- The Draymin
- Dotjr
- Ketimine Deco
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Venus Flytrap Palais
| Friday 8 August | Saturday 9 August |
- Baby Beat (for Kids)
- Rhythm & Rhyme (for Kids)
- Yusef Azak
- Reggae Woodland Roots
- Derek Meins
- The Blank Album
- Orchestra del Sol
- The Cyriac Review Cabaret Show (Adult Only)
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- Baby Beat (for Kids)
- Bruce Fummey (Adults Only)
- Animal Behaviour
- The Parsonage Choir
- Four On Six
- Kerieva
- Izo Fitzroy & The Royal Bastards
- The Cyriac Review Cabaret Show (Adults Only)
- The Invernetian Masked Ball (Adults Only)
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2009
The 2009 festival took place on the 7th and 8 August, and the headline acts were the Editors and Ocean Colour Scene[7]
Garden Stage
| Friday 7 August | Saturday 8 August |
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Hothouse Stage
The Black Isle brewery Grassroots Stage
| Friday 7 August | Saturday 8 August |
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- Seth Lakeman
- Aberfeldy
- The Lost Brothers
- Rory McLeod
- Sam Issac
- Phil Lee
- Ballachulish Hellhounds
- Jonathan Jeremiah
- Alex Cornish
- Feis Rois
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Hail Seedlings Stage
| Friday 7 August | Saturday 8 August |
- The Side
- Sergeant
- St Deluxe
- Flood Of Red
- Bronto Skylift
- Healthy Minds Collapse
- Cast Of The Capital
- Washington Irving
- Colour Coded
- Battle4Bella Winners
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- Our Lunar Activities
- Punch & The Apostles
- Unicorn Kid
- Party Horse
- Sucioperro
- The Naked Strangers
- Cruisers
- Cassidy
- Three Times Daily
- Battle4Bella Winners
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Potting Shed Stage
| Friday 8 August MIR FRIDAY AT 5 POTTING SHED |
Mother's Ruin DJ Stage
| Friday 7 August | Saturday 8 August |
- Colin Gregory
- Robbie Dunsmore
- Araya
- Alex Tronic
- Technocelt
- Bourbon Surf
- Esko
- Frog Goes ERP
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- Colin Gregory
- Robbie Dunsmore
- Esko
- Dolphin Boy
- Plexus
- Butterscotch
- Joystick Discothèque
- Look Mum It's the DJ's
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2011
- The David Latto Band (Potting Shed Stage)
2012
[8]
Garden Stage
| Friday 8 August | Saturday 9 August |
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Hothouse Stage
| Friday 8 August | Saturday 9 August |
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- Bobok
- Dog is Dead
- Headphone Disco
- Iain McLaughlin & The Outsiders
- Karima Francis
- Little Mill of Happiness
- Man Like me
- The Blackout
- The Milk
- Willie Campbell & The Open Day Rotation
- Zombie Militia
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2013
Garden Stage (Main Stage) saw James headline along with Twin Atlantic, Pigeon Detectives, Alabama 3, Seasick Steve and many more.
Mothers Ruin Stage (DJ Stage)
| Friday 2 August |
Saturday 3 August |
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- Filth DJs
- Ally McCrae
- Them & Us
- Mike Mcdonald
- Bullwhack
- Esbjerg
- Connor Bryne
- Alottaryhthmman
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- Jakk It & Saizme
- Sounds Clash DJs
- Count Clockwork
- Aaron Russell
- Alan Macpherson
- Digitized
- Shameless
- Alan Grant
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2015
Garden Stage (Main Stage)
| Friday 7th Augustday Garden Stagei |
Saturday 8 August |
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- Manic Street Preachers
- Idlewild
- Stornoway
- Hayseed Dixie
- Prides
- Torridon
- Fun Box
- Head North
- Vigo Theives
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- Kaiser Chiefs
- The Stranglers
- Martha Reeves
- Manran
- King Creosote
- James Brown is Annie
- The Dangleberries
- Silver Coast
- Dorec-a-Belle
- Rhythm Wave
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Hothouse Stage
| Friday 7 August |
Saturday 8 August |
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- Superheros Disco
- The Sunshine Underground
- Drenge
- JP Cooper
- Louis Berry
- Adam French
- The LaFontaines
- Model Aeroplanes
- Hidden Charm
- JuneBug
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- The Cuban Brothers
- Rival Sons
- Fatherson
- Kill it Kid
- Honey Blood
- Neon Waltz
- AKAska
- Winter Tradition
- Vukovi
- Hector Bizerk
- Iain McLaughlin and the Outsiders
- Frozen Disco (kids)
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Grassroots Stage
| Friday 7 August |
Saturday 8 August |
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- The Dolly Parton Story
- Eddi Reader
- Martin Stephenson & The Dainties
- Dizraeli and The Small Gods
- Blackbeards Tea Party
- The Skull Kids
- The Shee
- Have Mercy Las Vegas
- The New Madrids
- Siiga
- The Elephant Sessions
- Caledonian Ceilidh Trail
- Spinning Tots
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- MacFloyd
- Villagers
- John Langan Band
- Tantz
- CoCo and the Butterfields
- RURA
- Rusty Shackle
- Miss Irenie Rose
- Jamie Lawson
- The Goat Roper Rodeo Band
- Willie and Tabs MacAskil
- Feis Rois
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2016
Garden Stage (Main Stage)
| Thursday 4 August |
Friday 5 August |
Saturday 6 August |
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- The Darkness
- Beardymans Dream Team
- Tiggs D'Author
- Main Street Blues
- Torridon
- Stephanie Urbana Jones & The New Madrids
- The Retrophones ft Colin Steele
- Woodentooth
- Rock Challenge
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- Two Door Cinema Club
- Super Furry Animals
- Bombskare
- Skippinish
- The LaFontaines
- Grousebeater Sound System
- Fun Box
- Elephant Sessions
- James Mackenzie
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- Madness
- Wilko Johnson
- Donald Shaw and Diane Garisto perform: Graceland
- Breabach
- CC Smugglers
- The Dangleberries
- Spring Break
- Inverness Military Wives Choir
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Hothouse Stage
| Friday 5 August |
Saturday 6 August |
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- The Orb
- Alabama 3
- Dreadzone
- Gun
- Whyte
- Astrid
- Man Made
- Catholic Action
- Sinderins
- Nieves
- Schnarff Schnarff
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- Hot Dub Time Machine
- Circa Waves
- Public Services Broadcasting
- Lucy Spraggan
- C Duncan
- The Hunna
- Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5
- Man of Moon
- Lional
- The Lush Rollers
- The Side
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References
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