Netsounds x Tomatin Bothy Secret Sessions at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
For over a decade, Netsounds has been dedicated to championing alternative and DIY new music from Scotland and beyond.
Through their online blog, social channels, and podcasts they shine a spotlight on grassroots music and under-the-radar artists, while also curating gigs and producing live sessions in and around their hometown of Inverness. Their love for music extends to photography, capturing great moments from gigs and festivals across Scotland, including our very own, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival. Their ongoing work in supporting new and lesser-known artists, as well as bringing live music events to the local area, fits perfectly with our ‘homegrown in the Highlands’ ethos.
Tomatin Whisky, long-time supporters of Belladrum, have made their home at the 'Tomatin Bothy,' a rustic venue where they serve up a range of whisky-based drinks, including the popular festival-favourite, ‘Pink Cocktail’.
The Bothy has become a festival highlight, not just for its award-winning whisky and crafted cocktails but also for the intimate pop-up sessions from artists and the whisky and cocktail masterclasses that it hosts (which are so popular they continue to sell out, year on year!).
This year, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Belladrum, we also collaborated and launched a brand new, limited-edition whisky – which flew off the shelves!
Hosted by Tomatin Whisky and the Netsounds team, the Tomatin Bothy ‘Secret Sessions’ provided a unique opportunity for our festival goers to discover emerging talents and experience established artists in an acoustic and stripped-back setting. These "secret pop-up performances" created an atmosphere of raw, heartfelt connection that will be remembered for years to come, by the lucky viewers!
This year’s lineup featured a mix of seasoned performers and rising stars including Jamie Lawson’s soulful voice and emotive lyrics, Roseanne Reid’s haunting vocals, and Joe Goodall.
The Laurettes brought along their infectious energy and had the crowd singing along, while MacGilli and The Collective blended genres and pushed musical boundaries. Bella family-favourite’s Colonel Mustard, with their vibrant stage presence, turned the bothy into a place of peace and love (and, mustard!)
Quieter, contemplative moments were provided by Ned Ashcroft and Sub Violet, while Abbie Gordon and Alice Faye charmed audiences with their heartfelt ballads. If that wasn’t enough - Callum Beattie turned up to the surprise of the bothy residents, and delivered a performance that led to a mass sing-a-long, packing out the Tomatin Bothy!
"The success of the Tomatin Bothy Sessions has been a testament to the power of music and community coming together in a truly special setting. Curating these 'secret' pop-up sessions in the intimate, atmospheric space of the Bothy with Tomatin Whisky was a thrill. The energy in The Bothy, whether it was for Callum Beattie’s rousing performance or the electrifying sets from The Laurettes and Murdo Mitchell, was unmatched. Seeing the Bothy packed out for each of these artists speaks volumes about the passion and excitement these sessions have sparked. We’ve been blown away by the feedback we’ve received since sharing photos and videos of the sessions.”
— Jamie Macdonald, Netsounds
“We were delighted with how the Tomatin Bothy went this year. As always, our cocktail making and whisky tasting masterclasses went down a storm, and the live ‘secret sessions’, organised by Netsounds, created such a great vibe that you just couldn’t miss out on! Not forgetting our infamous pink cocktail that was named ‘Key To’ma Heart’ this year – a true representation of what we think the pink cocktail is, as well as tying into the 2024 theme of Love. We adore being a part of Belladrum, and we were ecstatic with the love we received in regard to our Single Cask bottling for Belladrums 20th Anniversary – it truly flew off the shelves, and we were thrilled to be a part of the celebrations. See you next year!
- Rhianna Bell, Marketing Assistant
From a Belladrum perspective, the Netsounds x Tomatin Bothy Sessions truly encapsulated the spirit of Belladrum, bringing together artists and audiences in an intimate celebration of music, community, and creativity – as well as creating a partnership between two incredible organisations and friends of ours at Bella. What’s not to love?
You can relive these magical sessions by visiting Netsounds Sessions.
All images provided by AL DONNELLY on behalf of Netsounds