News & Updates

Switch to Gaidhlig

Summer of music on BBC ALBA as Scottish festivals take centre stage

11 July 2022

BBC ALBA will bring a bumper summer of live and specially-recorded music to you as they broadcast from three of Scotland’s biggest festivals.

Coverage of TRNSMT, Belladrum and Celtic Connections will all be broadcast by BBC ALBA over the course of the summer.

Glasgow’s TRNSMT Festival kicks off the offering this weekend, July 8 and 9, as Niall Iain MacDonald hosts live coverage on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm, before coverage continues on the BBC Scotland channel from 10pm on Friday, Saturday and on Sunday July 10.

The live programmes will feature musicians from the Main Stage, King Tut’s Stage and specially-recorded acoustic numbers from the TRNSMT weekend at Glasgow Green.

Headline acts include Paolo Nutini, Sam Fender, The Strokes, Foals, Lewis Capaldi and Wolf Alice.

Highlights will be broadcast from July 16 and 23.

Later in July BBC ALBA will have live coverage of the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival from the beautiful Belladrum Estate near Inverness.

Highlights from all three days of the festival will be broadcast live on BBC ALBA from 9pm on July 28, 29 and 30 hosted by Fiona MacKenzie and Niall Iain MacDonald.

Audiences can also enjoy additional live coverage on the BBC Scotland channel from 11pm on July 29 and 30.

Nile Rodgers & Chic, Van Morrison and Emeli Sandé headline the Highland festival’s Garden Stage, with other acts including The Fratellis, Sam Ryder, Passenger and Tide Lines.

In addition to the fabulous line up of live music will be specially-recorded acoustic performances and interviews.

And if you miss any of the best performances,  BBC ALBA will be screening highlights each week from August 6 at 9pm.

Two very special Celtic Connections concerts from the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall will also air on BBC ALBA later in the summer.

Capercaillie and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) partner to perform some of Capercaillie’s greatest hits, creating a magical blend of traditional and classical music on September 17 at 9pm.

Gaelic electronic dance music giants Niteworks also join forces with the BBC SSO for a thrilling performance which will be screened on September 24 at 9pm.

An accompanying documentary about Niteworks and the creation of their much anticipated third album, released earlier this year, will air on September 22 at 9pm.

MG ALBA Director of Content Additionality, Margaret Cameron, said: A summer of music on BBC ALBA takes our audiences from festival fields to urban concert halls, covering a variety of amazing talent along the way.

“Behind this rich selection of musical styles lie key collaborations with Celtic Connections, BBC SSO, TG4 and the BBC Scotland Channel as well as the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, TRNSMT and producers Beezr Studios, BBC Scotland Productions and The Ninety.

“We’re delighted to share these brilliant line ups with our audiences.”