Artists from Ireland, the USA, Belgium, England and Scotland will play to locals and visitors from over 40 countries, ranging from Norway to Australia and many points in between, at this year’s four day Hebridean Celtic Festival.

The headline acts include The Saw Doctors, Four Men and a Dog, Shooglenifty and top Scottish bagpipe stars, Red Hot Chilli Pipers.  Also appearing are the award winning stars Seth Lakeman, Gaelic singing Julie Fowlis and there will be swing and bluegrass from America’s Hunger Mountain Boys who hail from Massachusetts, as well as a UK debut for Belgian bagpipe outfit Griff.

Other leading Scottish talent will include Karine Polwart, Mairi Smith, the Battlefield Band’s renowned fiddler Alasdair White, and the acclaimed Mary Ann Kennedy & Na Seòid (The Heroes), a gathering of some of the finest Gaelic singers in a generation. Also appearing will be The Chair from Orkney and the famed Bodega which was formed at the Musical Centre for Excellence in Plockton in 2005.

Caroline MacLennan, the Festival Director said: "The festival this year will deliver more shows than ever before with top Celtic music performers taking the stage and a great deal of real variety on offer from different countries.

"We attract over 15,000 festival-goers who will be able to enjoy three shows per night in our big blue marquee instead of the normal two so we are increasing the number of gigs. There will also be a number of other events and gigs played in venues across Lewis and Harris, especially at An Lanntair, the excellent arts and music centre in Stornoway."

Leo Moran, founder member of The Saw Doctors said: "We are very excited to be playing at this year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival. It always attracts massive crowds who know their music. The atmosphere is tremendous, as is the welcome we get there. We are really looking forward to playing our part in another successful HebCeltFest."

Ted Weber of The Hunger Mountain Boys said: "We played in Stornoway once before and it was our favourite gig in the UK. We are desperate to come back and perform there in front of such knowledgeable crowds that really enjoy their music."

Festival line up: Sawdoctors, Shooglenifty, Four Men and a Dog, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Seth Lakeman, Julie Fowlis, Mairi Smith, Karine Polwart, Mary Ann Kennedy & Na Seòid, Hunger Mountain Boys, Bodega, The Chair, Griff, Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson, Saltfishforty, Damien O’Kane & Shona Kipling, Calum Alex MacMillan & Alasdair White, Skipinnish

News about ticket bookings can be found online at www.hebceltfest.com from MARCH 1st 2008.