Isles festival is off to a flyer

LOGANAIR is officially backing the Western Isles’ newest music festival this summer by transporting an ABBA tribute act – Abba-A-Rival.

Loganair is supporting Benbecula’s Eilean Dorcha Festival by carrying the four members of the group and their instruments free of charge.

Abba-A-Rival are a Scottish-based group that have toured all over the world.

The group contain a team of West End standard singers and musicians, including founder member Leona Marie, who has had three top- 40 hits and sung with many famous names.

Assistance is also being provided to Stornoway’s HebCelt festival, as the carrier offers complimentary seats to headline act Eddi Reader and her band.

The first Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF) is planned for July 29 and 30 and will take place on Benbecula at Liniclete Machair.

EDF includes live performances from top artists, workshops, open-stage sessions, family activities, dancing, food, drink and merchandise sales.

This year’s acts include Donnie Munro and Friends, Skipinnish, the Vatersay Boys, Abba- A-Rival, Stop The Clocks, Resurrection, Trail West, The Tailormade, Chunks and Soladale.

The Hebridean Celtic Festival, or HebCelt, is an international event taking place between July 13 and 16 in Stornoway. Headliners to date include Runrig, Van Morrison, The Levellers and KT Tunstall.

This year Runrig, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Hayseed Dixie will all be taking to the stage.