Cameron Ferguson has been announced as the opening act for this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, after being named as the winner of a talent search launched in collaboration with BBC ALBA.
BBC ALBA teamed up with The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to find the best of Scotland’s up-and-coming musical talent last month, with artists from across the Highlands and Islands submitting their best work to win a slot on the Belladrum main stage. Following a rigorous judging process to whittle the budding talent down to a shortlist of just five, Tain-born songwriter Cameron Ferguson has now been chosen by public vote to open the festival in its 20th anniversary year.
Cameron’s music encapsulates a punchy guitar style, with dreamy open chords and hard-hitting lead, combined with bass that locks in with the solidity of the drums. With lush synth sounds and cutting vocals, Cameron presents a unique style.
Since late 2022, Arabella-based Cameron (19) and his band – made up of Glasgow-based Cameron Hill (19), Lanark-based Calum Duncan (19), Alness-based Jamie Mackay (26) and Inverness-based David Bromham (19) – have been tearing into the Scottish music scene, having played at legendary venues, such as King Tuts in Glasgow. To close 2023, Cameron Ferguson supported rising Glasgow stars Declan Welsh and the Decadent West following their sellout Barrowlands show.
Celebrating 20 years of Belladrum – and its longstanding support of Scottish artists – the search brings the spirit of the much-loved family festival to life, with the best talent ‘homegrown in the Highlands and Islands’ now given the opportunity to open the main stage on Thursday 25 July, kicking off the weekend of live music and arts.
Belladrum brings together top musical acts, comedy, cabaret, spoken word, dance, drag and even wrestling as part of the annual family-friendly festival, with Cameron joining the star-studded line-up which includes Deacon Blue, James Arthur, Twin Atlantic and Sugababes.
Cameron Ferguson said: “Our hearts have been warmed by the amount of support during the public vote. It has blown us away. Massive love to everyone who voted, it wouldn’t have been possible without you. Also, a huge thanks to BBC ALBA and the Belladrum team for the opportunity. As an artist from the Highlands, I feel incredibly proud to be opening the Hot House Stage this year.
“The band and I are absolutely ecstatic and can’t wait to get up on that stage to showcase some homegrown rock ‘n’ roll, straight from the Highlands.”
Cameron will also have the opportunity to play an acoustic session in the BBC ALBA studio which will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer as part of the broadcaster’s festival coverage.
Calum McConnell, Commissioning Executive at BBC ALBA, said: “We’re always eager to spotlight emerging, local talent and so it’s great to be able to showcase Cameron’s exciting brand of driving rock music on the main stage of the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival – especially in its milestone 20th anniversary year.
“Belladrum is a highlight in our summer festival schedule, and we are excited to bring the best of the weekend to viewers across the country, thanks to funding from MG ALBA. We look forward to celebrating the vibrant mix of music and arts that Belladrum is known for, and to sharing the performances of this year’s talented line-up with our national audience.”
Dougie Brown, Belladrum festival producer, said: ‘We are delighted to have partnered with BBC ALBA on our talent search to open the main stage and can’t wait to welcome Cameron to the festival. Supporting the next generation of Highlands and Islands artists is at the heart of Belladrum and we look forward to watching Cameron’s journey!”
Musicians were invited to apply to the BBC ALBA Belladrum talent search by submitting a bio and link to their music, with entries judged by a panel of experts, including Megan MacLellan, presenter of BBC Radio nan Gàidheal’s ‘new music’ show Rapal, Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist Julie Fowlis, and Belladrum representatives.
The shortlist then went to public vote on the Belladrum website, with Cameron narrowly beating out fellow finalists and Highlands and Islands natives Ali Macfarlane (a singer-songwriter from the Isle of Skye), Scotstown Dance Band (an indie-ceilidh group from the Western Highlands), HJEM (a dynamic four-piece band born and raised Inverness) and El Sartel (a Scottish indie band from Skye and Lochalsh).
For those unable to attend Belladrum, BBC ALBA will be bringing the best of the festival to viewers at home with its annual live coverage broadcast across the weekend, available on BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer. A series of BBC iPlayer exclusives are also set to go live from Friday 26 July, with 33 live sets from a mix of artists performing on the Garden Stage and Hot House Stage, as well as special BBC ALBA acoustic sessions.
Watch live or on demand from Thursday 25 July: Belladrum on BBC ALBA.
Black Camel Pictures will produce An t-Eilean (The Island), created by Nicholas Osborne and co-written by Patsi Mackenzie, with Tom Sullivan as director
BBC ALBA has commissioned a brand-new TV crime thriller (4 x 60’) which will be the biggest and most high-profile Gaelic drama series in the channel’s history.
With a budget of over £1 million per episode, the ambitious four-part series, An t-Eilean (The Island), is set to put Gaelic-language drama on the global map with a gripping storyline from screenwriter/creator Nicholas Osborne (producer of Remember Me and License to Wed), co-written by screenwriter Patsi Mackenzie (Buidheagain and An Clò Mòr).
Produced by BAFTA-winning Black Camel Pictures (makers of hit TV show Annika) and directed by Tom Sullivan (best known for his award-winning film Arracht), An t-Eilean (The Island) is set to air to an international audience with support from MG ALBA and global distributor, All3Media International. Development of the project has been supported by Screen Scotland.
Set against the elemental landscape of the Outer Hebrides, An t-Eilean (The Island) is a compelling crime story that follows a family caught up in a murder investigation very close to home. When their mother is found murdered in the family castle, four adult children return to the Scottish island of their birth as their father is questioned over her death.
Bill Macleod, commissioning editor at BBC ALBA, commented: “An t-Eilean is a game-changer for BBC ALBA as our biggest budget and most prestigious TV drama to date.
“We’re in the process of bringing together an amazing cast and breathtaking filming locations to help bring this enthralling Gaelic story to life on a global stage.”
Filming is expected to begin on location against the stunning backdrop of the Western Isles in spring 2024, with more information on casting to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Arabella Page Croft, executive producer at Black Camel Pictures, said: “We are hugely proud to produce An t-Eilean, another ambitious TV drama series from Black Camel and the first ever high-end Gaelic-language drama made in Scotland!
“It has been such a joy and inspiration to develop this gripping thriller together with BBC ALBA and the whole team are looking forward to beginning principal photography on the spectacular Hebridean isles of Lewis and Harris next month.”
While some may be eagerly awaiting the Baftas and Oscars, Scotland’s Gaelic communities are busy preparing for Gaelic film’s biggest night of the year: the FilmG Awards.
Over 50 films have been shortlisted for the FilmG Awards, a night celebrating the best Gaelic storytellers and filmmakers in Scotland and beyond. Winners will be crowned in categories such as Best Performance, Best Production Design, Technical Excellence, and the Best Film Award.
Leading the way with four nominations in the Under-18 competition is ‘A Bheil Thu An Sin?‘, a psychological drama by the new independent filmmaking group Lost Rollerskate Pictures from Glasgow Gaelic School.
In the Over-18 competition, Inverness charity FC Sonas’s ‘Blàr nan Gàidheal’, which tells the story of the first-ever official football match in Gaelic, also has four nominations, closely followed by Isle of Lewis-based Tormod MacLeod’s funeral farce ‘An Tiodhlaiceadh’ (three nominations).
With the judges’ job now complete, the only categories still to be decided are the FilmG Choice Awards, with the public vote for these categories still open until midnight, 2nd February. Votes can be cast online by the public at www.FilmG.co.uk.
Rachel Kennedy, FilmG Judge and star of hit BBC ALBA drama series An Clò Mòr, said:
“It’s been a record-breaking year for FilmG, with over 160 entries – the highest number of submissions since the competition began. The appetite for the competition is brilliant, but it makes our job as judges incredibly difficult as there is so much talent to choose from. Our shortlist has been carefully considered and showcases the best Gaelic filmmakers based on production, technical ability, and storytelling. From highly skilled animation to tear-jerking documentaries and cutting-edge dramas, the high level of talent, creativity, and effort has been evident in every film shortlisted, and they are all deserved finalists.”
FilmG Project Manager Megan Dale said:
“The theme for this year was “Mo Shealladh’ (My Point of View), and all the entrants embraced this by showcasing different perspectives and playing with form. The shortlisted films show a deep understanding of perspective and the importance of listening to Scotland’s multitude of voices. The nominees represent different perspectives from all over Scotland, including Thurso, Portree, Glasgow, Harris, Lewis, Dunoon, and Inverness. Often, when we think of the film industry, we picture London or Glasgow, but FilmG shows that a wealth of talent can be found in all corners of Scotland (and beyond) and that it is important to encourage these voices to be heard.”
MG ALBA’s Head of Publishing Maggie Taylor said:
“Congratulations to all the nominees this year – it’s wonderful to see such a diverse selection of stories and to acknowledge the skill, talent, and enormous technical effort it takes to bring them alive. The Awards night is where this talent can be recognised, and I’m excited to see who will be crowned FilmG winners on 23rd February. For the first time, the nominees list includes Gaelic filmmakers from the Isle of Man and Canada, showing the international reach of the Gaelic film competition. We hope to continue developing FilmG’s transnational ties and supporting the talented filmmakers emerging across Scotland.”
The FilmG Awards will take place on 23rd February in the Lomond Auditorium of Glasgow’s illustrious SEC. The awards will be live-streamed to YouTube, with a highlights programme to be broadcast two days later on BBC ALBA (Sunday, 25th February.)
Star-studded schedule unveiled as BBC ALBA invites viewers to get ready for the festive season in style
Cathy MacDonald, Coinneach MacLeod (aka The Hebridean Baker) and Anne McAlpine are among the personalities inviting viewers to get ready to party with BBC ALBA as it reveals a stellar line up for its 2023 festive season schedule.
BBC ALBA has something for everyone this Christmas and New Year with a schedule set to entertain throughout the festive break.
With a line-up of much-loved Gaelic personalities and a host of programmes which promise to deliver a captivating mix of inspiring first-person stories, nostalgic archive, and heart-warming classics, BBC ALBA is the perfect place to celebrate the festive season.
Margaret Cameron, Director of Content at MG ALBA said: “This year, our programming is not just about entertainment; it’s a celebration of all Scotland has to offer. From pure escapism to insightful explorations into real people and real places, the schedule is packed with original programming which promises a diverse and engaging viewing experience.
“With a glittering line up featuring some of the best known and emerging talents in Scotland, we extend a warm invitation to both new and returning audiences to join BBC ALBA this season to embrace our vibrant culture and get to know our ‘famous stars a little bit better.”
The classic Christmas special Alleluia na Nollaig (24 December, 11pm) hosted by Iain MacKinnon, celebrates 100 years of Gaelic broadcasting with readings, reflections and carols. This follows Tuath Cheòl (24 December, 9pm) – a new two-part archive series with singer Ruairidh Gray with highlights from the legendary 90s Gaelic-meets-country music series recorded at the Grand Ole Opry; and Geamannan nan Eilean (23 December, 7.30pm) which looks back at the International Island Games which took place in Guernsey earlier this year.
Christmas Day offers a feel-good double bill, with Bill agus an Spitfire – Bill and the Spitfire (8.30pm) following 90-year-old retired airline pilot Bill as he fulfils his lifelong ambition to fly a Spitfire; viewers are then invited ‘behind the scenes’ with The Hebridean Baker – Bèicear nan Eilean (9pm).
Stunning new short drama Cur is Dlùth – Cloe, Warp and Weft also airs on 25 December (6pm) which follows a young girl’s perilous journey to reach family unity and a colourful future; while 11-year-old Mia achieves her dream of riding the family donkey on the beaches of Lewis in the short documentary, Mia agus Jimmy an t-Asal – Mia and Jimmy the Donkey (6.40pm).
On Boxing Day, Hugh Dan (26 December, 9pm), follows one of Scotland’s most recognisable sports broadcasters. Hanging up his microphone earlier this year after a 40-year career, the documentary shines a spotlight on the life and times of Hugh Dan MacLennan. Ramsay MacMahon sets off on his travels to Vienna to indulge himself in all things Christmas in Mach à Seo! An Roinn Eòrpa (10pm), sampling the festive food and drink on offer at the Christmas markets and local cafes while learning about the age-old traditions; while new Gaelic adaptation of the hit movie Creag nam Buthaidean agus na Caraidean Ùra – Puffin Rock and the New Friends (5pm) provides film fun for all the family as Oona, Baba and friends try to bring a missing egg to the safety of the burrows before it is lost.
Looking towards 2024 with a firm focus on music, Peat & Diesel invite viewers to join them on tour and in life across two roller coaster music documentaries (airing on 28 December and 1 January at 9pm); while Fuaim na Fèisean – Scotland’s Festivals (30 December, 9pm), takes a nostalgic look at the 50-year history of Scotland’s music festivals. Exploring some of the best 2023 events, musician Iain “Spanish” MacKay meets the performers, organisers and fans – braving all kinds of weather – to find out what makes the true ‘festival experience’ today.
Bring in the bells with Cèilidh na Bliadhn’ Ùire (31 December, from 11.30pm), with Cathy Macdonald and Niall Iain Macdonald hosting the live Hogmanay ceilidh from Govan Old Town Hall, with performances from Tide Lines, the Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, Rachel Walker, Mischa MacPherson, Darren Maclean, Finlay MacDonald and the Binneas Choir, conducted by John Joe MacNeil.
The magic continues into 2024 with the brand new series of An Clò Mòr (from 8 January, 9pm). Season two is set to illuminate the winter evenings, promising even more high drama – and high fashion – against the stunning backdrop of the Western Isles.
The fourth instalment of Druthag na Hearadh – A little drop of Harris (31 December, 8.30pm) visits the Harris Distillery as their first batch of whisky goes on sale, almost eight years after the first spirit was distilled; and Ceòl Sìth (31 December, 9pm) follows musician Ingrid Henderson’s thrilling journey through Scotland’s mythical world of fairies and folklore. The first of a new eight-part series set in the stunning Scottish countryside, sees Ramsay MacMahon join eight guests for a walk during which they reflect on life, love, nature and loss in Rathad Ramsay (Saturdays at 8pm from 6 January).
Tune in to BBC ALBA and iPlayer over the festive period, with all new programming from 23 December. Watch live or on demand: BBC ALBA – website
Christmas has come early for the Gaelic short film competition, FilmG, with a record-breaking number of entries submitted by filmmakers across Scotland and beyond.
In total, 162 films have been entered across the 2023 short film competitions, resulting in the highest number of submissions since the competition began in 2008.
FilmG tasks filmmakers of all ages to create short films in Gaelic based on a different theme each year, this year’s theme being ‘Mo Shealladh’ (My Point of View). The competition and surrounding workshops and activities promotes the development of Gaelic storytellers, providing a path for budding filmmakers to enter the world of Gaelic media.
FilmG Project Manager Megan Dale said:
“This is Astar’s second year working with FilmG, and our aim was to enable as many people as possible to create a Gaelic short film whilst making the competitions as appealing as possible to teenagers and young adults. Working with industry experts, we facilitated over 50 FilmG workshops throughout Scotland and beyond, giving communities and schools the tools and confidence to tell their own narratives through short film production.
This is the largest number of workshops FilmG has ever facilitated, and you can see the positive impact of these workshops in the quality and number of FilmG entries. Many FilmG nominees and winners go on to work professionally within the film and TV industry, so it’s reassuring to see such an appetite for Gaelic storytelling. The future of Gaelic media is looking bright.”
MG ALBA’s Brands Communication Manager Alison Macdonald said:
“Congratulations to all the filmmakers who entered this year’s FilmG. The standard is incredibly high and it’s great to see a range of entries from all corners of Scotland. We’ve also had several entries from the Isle of Man and Canada, showing an increased international interest and reinforcing the interest in Gaelic language and culture overseas. Undoubtedly, the FilmG16 Awards ceremony will be the biggest we’ve seen so far and we can’t wait to celebrate the incredible wealth of Gaelic media talent with friends and colleagues in February 2024.”
The FilmG team is processing the entries before they are available to view on the FilmG website later this month. A panel of independent judges in the media profession will then choose the shortlists of nominees in January 2024, with winners being announced at the FilmG Awards ceremony in Glasgow on Friday, 23 February 2024.
