BBC ALBA is bringing audiences an outstanding summer of music, with major festival performances, exclusive live sets and special programmes celebrating some of the most exciting artists from Scotland and beyond.
At the heart of the schedule will be coverage of Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, featuring performances from more than 30 acts across BBC ALBA and BBC iPlayer.
Three two-hour programmes will be broadcast on BBC ALBA from 10.00pm until midnight on Friday 31st July and Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August, capturing the atmosphere, standout performances and biggest moments from the Highland festival.
A further 14 hours of exclusive Belladrum content will be available on BBC iPlayer, giving audiences the opportunity to enjoy extended sets from established international performers, major Scottish artists and emerging talent.
Among the festival highlights will be Scottish headline artist Callum Beattie, who will headline a music festival for the first time, and global pop star MIKA, whose set is expected to feature favourites including Grace Kelly, Lollipop and We Are Golden. Manchester band James will also bring their celebrated live show to Belladrum, alongside Razorlight, Rizzle Kicks and Scouting For Girls.
BBC ALBA’s coverage will also showcase a strong range of Scottish performers. Skerryvore will preview music from their forthcoming album Beautiful Mistakes, while Julie Fowlis, Trail West, Torridon, Valtos and An Dannsa Dub will demonstrate the strength and diversity of Scotland’s traditional and contemporary music scene.
The festival coverage will also introduce audiences to rising artists including BBC Introducing’s Scottish Artist of the Year 2025 Becky Sikasa, viral funk-rock band High Fade, Glasgow singer-songwriter Kirsteen Harvey and Wick four-piece Socialites, who are set to open the main stage after winning the BBC ALBA x Belladrum Talent Search.
The summer music schedule will continue with two special programmes featuring rising stars electro-trad band Valtos.
Valtos | Aig a’ Mhullach will air on BBC ALBA on Friday 7th August, following the band from Glasgow’s iconic Barrowland Ballroom to the Ptarmigan Station on Cairngorm Mountain, where they staged one of their ambitious High Water Mark performances.
The 60-minute documentary will combine live music with interviews exploring the band’s influences, their rapidly growing audience, the making of their second album, The Last Light, and their passion for performing live.
A separate 90-minute programme, airing on Saturday 8th August will feature the band’s full Cairngorm Mountain set, giving viewers the chance to experience the scale and atmosphere of the remarkable high-altitude performance.
Valtos have emerged as one of Scotland’s most exciting live acts, combining traditional music with electronic production. The duo have built a rapidly expanding international following and are also set to perform at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
Margaret Cameron, Head of Content at BBC ALBA, said: “BBC ALBA has a proud record of bringing brilliant live music to audiences, and this summer’s schedule is one of our most ambitious yet.
“From global stars and festival favourites to some of Scotland’s most exciting emerging performers, our Belladrum coverage reflects the incredible range of music appearing in the Highlands this summer.
“We are also delighted to give audiences an opportunity to experience Valtos’ extraordinary High Water Mark performance. Their music is innovative, ambitious and rooted in Scotland, and these programmes capture a band enjoying an exciting moment in their journey.”
The Belladrum programmes will air on BBC ALBA from 10.00pm on Friday 31st July and Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd August, with 14 additional hours of performances available on BBC iPlayer.
Valtos | Aig a’ Mhullach will air on BBC ALBA on Friday 7th August at 9pm, with the full live performance airing on Saturday 8th August at 9pm. Both programmes will also be available on BBC iPlayer from Friday 7th August.
Related
![ScotTradAwards[1]](https://eventsbase.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ScotTradAwards1.png "Top talent recognised at MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024")
