HebCelt Festival, based in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland was due to celebrate its 25th anniversary this July. Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic like all festivals this summer it had to postpone this milestone until 2021. But the team behind HebCelt didn’t want to leave it there. They set about creating ‘HebCelt Sessions’ working with musicians, singers, performers and creatives from the Hebrides.

For his commission Colin Macleod selected ‘Only the Brave’ an anthemic Rory Macdonald (Runrig) song. This video features Colin with Rory Macdonald and Julie Fowlis on vocals with musicians including Jason Laing, Sorren Maclean, Scott Macleod, Keith Morrison, Jane Hepburn Macmillan, members of Niteworks, and a ‘choir’ of local voices; Willie Campbell, Rosie Sullivan, Josie Duncan and Sean Harrison.

“I’m really beyond chuffed to be singing my favourite Runrig song with Rory, it’s not often in life you get to sing alongside your heroes. Just a fantastic project and ‘so proud to have it all come together. I’d like to say a huge thanks to all who came together and put in the time to be a part of this project, and to HebCelt for thinking of me to be a part of it. It’s gone way better than I ever imagined and I just can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

One of the key aspects was to raise funds for Bethesda Hospice, a local charity close to the heart of many Hebrideans. A just giving page has been set up to allow festival fans who enjoy the sessions to contribute direct to this charity.

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