BELLADRUM 2024: From up and comers to big names here are our favourite acts
Nine of the best: King Creosote, Bottle Rockets, Roseanne Reid, The Chosen Lonely, Wind Up Crows, The Tumbling Souls, Niteworks, Talisk and Church Street Shuffle
The theme for this year's festival was love so here are the acts who captured our hearts over an amazing few days in the Highlands. A huge thanks to everyone involved, and watch out for podcasts to come.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shamefully, perhaps, King Creosote had largely passed me by until the release of his latest album I DES. It was love at first listen, and no matter just how big the draw of Deacon Blue on the main Hothouse Stage at the same time nothing was going to make me miss this performance. “You’ve chosen to come to the right gig”, he teased his audience who turned out in number to pack out the Grassroots stage.
And he was right. From the tear inducing Burial Bleak and haunting Please Come Back to his first releases more than standing the test of time, not a word, gesture or smile was wasted. The eye contact, the wave, the little dance, on stage conversations, the spotlight on talented band mates. It was warm, generous and unmissable.
Midway through the set I noticed a woman in the front row turn around and greet an arriving friend with a giant hug, laugh and grin like the two best vintage characters from a TV soap, all big hair and dresses, while two young teen school pals next to them skipped, danced and bopped away lost in the moment. It was a contrast that told how this was music for the generations and everyone was welcome.
There was something remarkable here too, a joy I haven’t witness for decades now. Other than the illicit image above, I saw not a single phone or camera screen. This was poetry, art and a singer from who they watched rapt, hanging on his every word. I doubt I’ll see a better live gig all year.
It was, quite simply, beautiful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Anyone who heard Bottle Rockets on their way to being crowned BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year 2024 will have known for a long time now that this band is something special.
But until you see them live, you don’t realise quite how special.
With ReadingLeeds 24 and TRNSMT already under their belt, they unleashed a show on a late night audience that was vibrant, seductive, and powerful in equal measure with a repertoire of songs that demand to be heard.
In every lyric, note and beat this was an absolute triumph.
IN PICTURES: Bottle Rockets
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There’s something disarming about Roseanne Reid’s music, akin to finishing a really really good quality bottle of red wine and immediately being thirsty for more.
It was raw, honest, and all the things good song making should be.
Her easy style, warm tones and immaculate guitar playing made this one of my favourite performances of the festival, and nostalgic too for the country tunes played by my own dad when he was still alive and kicking.
Hers was a show dripping in quality. I genuinely can’t wait for the next time.
Willie Campbell and The Tumbling Souls
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There are fewer bands more accomplished, fun or who can whip up the energy of an audience as the sun shines bright outside than The Tumbling Souls who proved yet again what a musical tour de force they are.
The number of people who turned out early to see them too is testament to not just the feel good factor that comes with such shows, but the quality of songs and music where fans are quick to lend their vocals too.
From their latest single to some older favourites, this packed a punch accompanied with a momentum that shows no signs of slowing down.
Brilliant show, without doubt one of the best from across a busy weekend
IN PICTURES: The Tumbling Souls
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
️Surprise of my festival was the utterly brilliant Church Street Shuffle with Neil Ewart and Ali MacQuarrie joined by Cala’a Angus Walker bringing in drum beats with a fusion of talents that set the tent alive.
Their sound was huge and a mix of seemingly trad standards meeting a fresh new approach that injected clear personality, tight playing and a performance that saw fiddle and guitar cut through the festival air with grace and energy.
If sublime playing and energy was bottled up and sold, it would surely have Church Street Shuffle on the label.
Seán R McLaughlin and the Wind Up Crows
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With one of the best album releases of the year so far in the exquisite Goodnight, Lad the chance to hear some of the songs performed live was always going to be too good to miss.
And so it proved from violin to vocal with an inspirational performance that weaved story telling with emotion, music with flair and demonstrated songwriting layers and lyrics that linger long in the memory.
A music making masterclass from start to finish.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After being whisked through a breathtaking set list to learn that this was ony the fourth live gig for this project was staggering. Confidence, charm and talent oozed through every song.
Steven Barclay knows what he is doing, his passion and drive evident, but in pulling together a drummer and others who evidently bring their own fan clubs too, this feel very much like they are ready for more. Much more.
This was a big gig and the crowd loved it. Bring on Glasgow.
IN PICTURES: The Chosen Lonely
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Take a band, a tent and a couple thousand people on a sunny afternoon and you will have the party of your lives - at least wherever Talisk are involved.
They are all but peerless in being able to send crowds into dance mode from the off, with a blistering set that smashed, thumped and blew its way through the time they had leaving sweaty, heaving, happy crowd behind.
Bigger, better and more overwhelming on stage than at any other time, world domination must surely be just around the corner.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The start of the long goodbye for Niteworks included Sian on vocals, a burst of July sunshine and even flags waving their own farewells as the band offered thanks to a festival and audience who have been with them since the early days.
It may have been a shorter slot than usual but it was just as rich in sound, and they squeezed out every last tune that have helped them make history as true Scottish music pioneers.
The bagpipes were held aloft in salute, a final message acknowledging the part Belladrum has played in their career. But after one final magical burst of tunes, the legend of Niteworks will surely never truly fade from this part of the world.
IN PICTURES: Niteworks