One of the UK’s leading festival’s is on target for a record breaking sell-out after receiving bookings for almost half of its 15,000 tickets in just four days of being open for business.

The Hebridean Celtic Festival, with headline acts Van Morrison, Runrig and Shooglenifty, has taken bookings from around the globe in the run-up to its tenth anniversary year. This has been made all the more possible by ground-breaking online booking technology which puts the festival at the leading edge of supplying festival audiences.

The sales success comes as the festival received a further boost with the news that one of the UK's leading ferry operators, Caledonian MacBrayne, has renewed its important support for the third year running.

The festival, in its tenth anniversary year and staged in Stornoway 13-16th July, will be supported by CalMac as part of the ferry operator's commitment to the Outer Hebrides and its customers.

Mary-Anne Campbell, CalMac's Regional Manager, Stornoway, said: "Cultural events are very important and working with the Hebridean Celtic Festival, we have brought significant benefits to the Outer Hebrides. Arts and culture are key elements of the company's marketing strategy and with a world-wide attendance the Festival is a joint effort which we are glad to build on once again."

Caroline MacLennan, Festival Director, said: "CalMac's continuing collaboration builds on what is a growing relationship. The news of their continued support at a time when we are having such success in taking bookings for the anniversary year is an excellent bonus.

"CalMac were responsible for getting over half of our 14,000 festival-goers to the event in 2004 and they will be vital this year as we expect our numbers to rise, especially as we took forty times more bookings on our first day than at the corresponding time for last year. We have already received bookings from South Africa, Sweden, Germany, America, Canada, all over the UK and Ireland, to name but a few."

Tickets can be booked online at www.hebceltfest.com; by telephone (01851 709888, 10am-5pm); or in the ticket office (Church Street, Stornoway, Saturdays only) from 10am-4pm.

1. The Hebridean Celtic Festival is in its tenth year and generates over £1.5 million for the local economy. It also stages events in communities across the Western Isles, outwith the main town of Stornoway.

2. Last year’s festival attracted over 14,000 attendances, with visitors arriving from more than 40 different countries.

3. Its main funding supporters include: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar; Western Isles Enterprise; Event Scotland; Scottish Arts Council; Comunn na Gaidhlig; Caledonian MacBrayne; and Tennents.

4. Further notes on the acts are available either by email or from the festival website.

Ends

For more information please contact:

Peter Kane

01463 710999

07742 308213

For information about the festival: www.hebceltfest.com

For access to news releases:http://www.kanecommunication.com/library.asp?id=53