Glasgow rock band Franz Ferdinand is announced to headline the Saturday night of Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival (August 3rd – 5th August; Beauly, Inverness-shire) as a 2017 Scottish festival exclusive.
Formed in 2002, Franz Ferdinand have won a multitude of awards including the Mercury Price, Ivor Novello and Brit and NME awards amongst others. The second of their five albums to date, ‘You Could Have It So Much Better’ charted at No 1 in the UK. KT Tunstall from St Andrews, also a Mercury Prize nominee and multi-award winner, has released five albums.
“ This is the first time Franz Ferdinand has played Bella and we are totally delighted to welcome them to our stage,” said promoter Joe Gibbs. “I couldn’t think of a better act to close out the festival. And we are thrilled to be welcoming KT back. She played Bella before as an unannounced special guest but we are pleased to have properly on the bill this time.”
Bella patrons will need a three day ticket to see just-announced Sister Sledge headline the Garden main stage on the Thursday night. The Philadelphia sisters have charted in the UK since 1975 with hits like ‘We Are Family’ and ‘He’s The Greatest Dancer’, working successfully with Nile Rogers and Chic. Also announced for the main stage are Glasgow’s Col Mustard & The Dijon 5.
Thursday car parks and camping areas will be open from 0800 again after this year’s successful effort to encourage patrons to arrive in a steadier flow throughout the day to reduce traffic congestion. Arenas will open from 1300 on the Thursday. When buying tickets on-line with Skiddle, Bella patrons are being given an opportunity to contribute to the Archie Foundation, a charity which is helping to improve children’s hospital facilities in the Highlands.
Bella sold out in record time again in 2016 for the eighth year in a row so fans are urged to buy early to avoid disappointment. Printed Bella tickets are available from 0900 Thursday October 27th from our usual retail outlets. These include: Inverness – The Ironworks, Eden Court Box Office, Caffery’s and Hootananny’s; Dingwall – Sweet Treats; Edinburgh and Glasgow – TicketsScotland; Aberdeen – Aberdeen Performing Arts; Elgin – Sound & Vision; Beauly – Morrisons; Kiltarlity Post office. E-tickets are on sale via the festival website at www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk and via www.skiddle.com.
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival takes place in the beautiful Highland surroundings of Belladrum Estate, near Beauly in Inverness-shire. The independent festival has built a reputation for its eclectic line-ups, its offbeat non-musical entertainments and its all-ages approach. The festival won a VisitScotland Thistle Award in 2009 and is a past winner of the Grassroots Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards, the festival industry’s ‘Oscars’.
Published on 28 November 2016 by Ben Robinson
