Lulu headlining festival where 70% of acts female

Lulu, the iconic Scottish pop singer, is set to headline a music festival where a remarkable 70% of the acts will be led by women or feature female members. This exciting event, known as HebCelt, will take place in Stornoway, Lewis, during the month of July. The festival organizers have made a commitment to achieving a gender balance of at least 50:50 since 2014, which has been widely praised. Among the talented female performers joining Lulu are singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt, who has been touring with the popular band Snow Patrol, and the Brit Award-winning musician Eddi Reader. Lulu, who has been a prominent figure in the music industry since the 1960s, is best known for her hit song 'Shout' and her collaboration with Take That on 'Relight My Fire' in the 1990s. She expressed her excitement about visiting the Western Isles this summer for the festival. Local artist Josie Duncan, who will also be performing at HebCelt, shared her enthusiasm with BBC Naidheachdan, saying, 'I can hardly believe that Lulu is going to be in Stornoway. ' Josie feels incredibly fortunate to share the stage with such remarkable talents, including Eddi Reader. She hopes that other festivals will take inspiration from HebCelt's commitment to showcasing female talent. 'It has become so normal to see line-ups that are all-male that we don't even notice it,' she remarked. 'This is something different, and I personally think it should be just as normal. ' Josie believes that HebCelt has curated an outstanding line-up for this summer, and she is eager to perform. Another artist, Isla Scott, a singer-songwriter from Harris, is also set to take the stage at HebCelt. The festival has confirmed over 30 performances for its main line-up, with expectations that the total number of acts will exceed 40 once fringe events are finalized. The festival is known for its vibrant atmosphere and picturesque setting, with colorful circus-style tents dotting the landscape. The event has a rich history, having first been held in 1996, and has featured numerous renowned headliners over the years, including Runrig, The Fratellis, The Proclaimers, and KT Tunstall. This year's festival will run from July 16 to July 19, providing a fantastic opportunity for music enthusiasts to enjoy a diverse range of performances from talented artists.