JAMES ARTHUR, OCEAN COLOUR SCENE, JAKE BUGG & MORE ADDED TO BELLADRUM 2024 LINEUP

JAMES ARTHUR is the latest headliner to join the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival’s 20th-anniversary celebration in the Highlands next summer.

James is one of the world’s biggest streaming artists, with over 38 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. ‘Say You Won't Let Go’ became his breakthrough hit in the US. It was officially the UK's most-streamed song in 2016 and has gone on to be enjoyed via 4 billion streams while the song's official video has achieved 1.5 billion views on YouTube. Earlier this year, the track became his first RIAA Diamond Single with 10 million certified units – making James one of just 100 recipients of an RIAA Diamond Single certification in the programme's history.

Other huge hit singles include: ‘Impossible’, ‘Can I Be Him’, ‘Sun Comes Up’, ‘Naked’, ‘Empty Space’, ‘Rewrite The Stars’, ‘Falling Like the Stars’, ‘Train Wreck’ and ‘Lasting Lover’, which are all certified platinum records. 

Also added to the bill are previous Bella headliners, the one and only OCEAN COLOUR SCENE. OCS remain one of the most successful -and most loved bands of the modern era. Having spent six years fine-tuning their sound, they lit up the Britpop party, chalking up three Top 5 albums-1996’s Moseley Shoals, 1997’s Marchin’ Already and 1999’s One From The Modern and a run of nine successive Top 20 singles including the immortal ‘The Riverboat Song’ (in total they have seventeen Top 40 singles and six Top Ten singles).

Making his Belladrum debut is British singer-songwriter JAKE BUGG. Over the last few years, the 29-year-old, who has 5 albums and numerous hit singles to  his name, has grown into himself and gone from strength to strength. He has stepped out of his comfort zone and is in the form of his life. 

Hi latest album ‘Saturday Night, Sunday Morning’ marks a bold and exciting new chapter for Jake Bugg. His 5th studio album is filled with catchy guitar hooks, rhythmic bass lines & anthemic choruses giving the record a huge euphoric feel. Cleverly set against more introspective songs with beautifully crafted lyrics, the album plays with a spectrum of emotions that we can all relate to.

Also making her first visit to Bella is folk royalty KATE RUSBY. Forever proud to call herself a folk singer, Kate Rusby’s vocals never fail to connect the heart of a song to that of her audience. Named as one of the Top Ten Folk Voices of the Century, a Mercury Prize Winner, a 6-times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winner and a warm, Yorkshire sense of humour to boot, Rusby has achieved an unprecedented cross-over appeal. Celebrating over 30 years of touring and 22 albums including her latest stunning Christmas album, Light Years, released Dec 23, Kate and her band visit Belladrum in her 50th birthday year with songs old and new. 

Appearing across the weekend is Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter CALLUM BOWIE. Callum has a huge online following, infamous for his acoustic sessions leaning out of his Edinburgh flat.

N’FAMADY KOUYATE the young energetic master musician from Guinea (Conakry) whose primary instrument is the balafon – the traditional wooden xylophone, sacred to West African culture and his family heritage of the griot/djeli will bring his solo show to the festival.

LILY LYONS is a singer-songwriter from London and Cornwall has also joined the bill. Lily released her debut EP in 2022 followed by a string of shows in the UK and US with Grammy award-winning pianist Kevin Hays. She recently supported Roo Panes at two sold-out shows at Union Chapel in London. 

Other new additions include Inverness band THE JOSHUA HOTEL whose recent singles have been receiving great support from BBC 6 Music and BBC Scotland; Highland indie-rock 4 piece FORGETTING THE FUTURE; Scotland’s premier tribal band CLANN AN DRUMMA; exciting emerging act LOW LIGHT LISTENING LOUNGE and delivering late-night Grassroots sets on Friday and Saturday night respectively MCLEETWOOD and MACFLOYD. 

‘We are delighted to announce the next wave of artists joining us at Bella’s big 20th anniversary celebrations next summer. James Arthur sold out his entire UK arena tour in a week and we look forward to welcoming him to the Highlands for the very first time. It is also wonderful to bring back previous Bella headliners Ocean Colour Scene to the festival having delivered one of our most popular headline sets ever. We can’t wait to welcome all our Bella family to what is going to be a very special weekend!’