Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival kicks off in the Highlands as event celebrates 21st year

The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival has kicked off on Thursday, marking 21 years of the event in the Highlands.

The festival will take place at the Belladrum Estate in Kiltarlity from July 31 until August 2.

Thousands are expected to descend on the festival, which will see headlining performances from Texas, Supergrass and Paul Heaton.

Other chart-topping acts set to perform include Tom Walker, Natasha Bedingfield, Example and The Hoosiers.

Scottish artists Skipinnish, Kassidy, Rianne Downey, and Tide Lines will also perform over the weekend.

The 2025 festival will platform local musicians, including 17-year-old swing singer Michael Lewis from Newtonmore, who has recently secured a musical residency at a renowned music venue in Texas, US.

Accordion playing sensation and Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist RuMac will perform on the Garden Stage, following on from his appearance in Danny Boyle’s new film, 28 Years Later.

Winners of this year’s Belladrum Tartan Hearts Festival talent search, Falasgair, will be one of the first performers on the Belladrum main stage from 4pm on Thursday.

The six-piece band, who hail from Skye and take their name from the Gaelic word for seasonal heather burning, are set to thrill fans with their high-energy take on traditional Scottish music.

Ahead of their Belladrum debut, Finn MacPherson of Falasgair said it is a “surreal feeling” to be playing the festival.

“Having attended Belladrum quite a few times since I was young, I never thought I’d see myself on the main stage playing alongside my pals,” he said.

He added that the festival really shows “the strength of the music scene” in the Highlands.

Robert Robertson, Belladrum talent search judge and lead singer of Tide Lines, said: “It’s brilliant that the festival will be opened by a young, island band playing traditional music with such dynamism and energy – they will have the place bouncing!”

Belladrum festival producer, Dougie Brown, said: “Belladrum is more than just a music festival – it’s a celebration of creativity, community and culture, all set against the stunning Highland backdrop.”

Coverage of the festival will be available on BBC Alba.