BBC ALBA teams up with Belladum Tartan Heart Festival to find up-and-coming artist to open main stage
As Belladrum prepares to welcome acts such as Texas, Supergrass, Paul Heaton, Tom Walker and Natasha Bedingfield, the search is on for a winning homegrown talent.
BBC ALBA has teamed up with the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival once again with a new quest to find the best up-and-coming musical talent from the Highlands and Islands.
The winner will be given the chance to open the festival’s main stage at the Hot House Arena on Thursday July 31.
Applications, which are open to solo artists and bands, where at least 50 per cent of its members have a Highland home address, can be submitted from today until 11.59pm on Sunday June 8.
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Known for its unique and diverse showcase of music and the arts, the festival has grown in popularity over the past 20 years, now attracting thousands of visitors.
True to its longstanding support of Scottish artists, BBC ALBA is supporting the search, providing a platform to propel newcomers onto the celebrated Scottish music scene, as well as an additional opportunity for the winner to record an acoustic session in the BBC ALBA studio at the festival.
Calum McConnell, commissioning editor at BBC ALBA, said: “While there is nothing quite like the atmosphere of being in the field at a festival, shoulder to shoulder with fellow music and arts fans, BBC ALBA remain committed to bringing the magic of Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to audiences who can’t be there in person, as we have done for the past 13 years.
“Our festival highlights are always a popular fixture in BBC ALBA’s summer schedule, and this year will be no exception.
“The addition of the talent search will shine an even brighter light on the incredible creativity emerging from the Highlands and Islands.”
Musicians can apply by submitting a biography and link to their music to tartanheart@bbc.co.uk, with entries judged by a panel of experts, including representatives from the BBC and Belladrum, alongside an independent musician appearing at the festival, before the shortlist goes to a public vote.
It is expected that the public vote will open on Friday June 13 on the Belladrum website, closing on Friday June 20, ahead of Belladrum Tartan Heart Music Festival 2025 from Thursday 31 July to Saturday 2 August.
Belladrum festival producer, Dougie Brown, said: “We’re so excited to be teaming up with BBC ALBA once again to uncover and celebrate the next wave of incredible Scottish talent.
“This opportunity is so much more than a performance slot - it’s a potential launchpad for an artist’s future.
“Over the years, we’ve seen past talent go on to build amazing careers, and that journey often starts right here, on the Belladrum stage.
“Our partnership with BBC ALBA has been instrumental in showcasing not just the festival, but the creativity and energy coming out of the Highlands and Islands.
“Fourteen years on, it’s still a huge moment when a fresh new voice gets the chance to share their music with thousands, both on site and at home.
“We can’t wait to see who takes that spotlight this year.”
Last year’s talent search winner, Cameron Ferguson, said: “Almost a year on from winning the 2024 Belladrum talent search, I can still say that opening up that stage was the proudest moment of my musical journey to date.
“The feeling of playing on a stage I had once only dreamed of playing was surreal, especially one so close to home.
“Thank you Belladrum, you’ve opened a lot doors for the band and I. We will be back soon enough!”
Belladrum brings together top musical acts, comedy, cabaret, spoken word, dance, drag and even wrestling as part of the annual family-friendly festival.
New names added to the festival line up in recent weeks include The Pigeon Detectives, Example, The Hoosiers, Irish singer and songwriter CMAT and Scottish folk rock and pop favourites Skipinnish and Tide Lines.
For more information and tickets, go to tartanheartfestival.com.
Those unable to attend can see the best of the festival with live coverage across the weekend on BBC ALBA, or on BBC iPlayer.
