Heartland Festival returned to the centre of Pitlochry with a line-up that comfortably crossed genres and generations. Established performers brought the songs people had arrived hoping to hear, while the festival’s smaller stage offered plenty of reasons to wander away from the familiar names. Folk, pop, punk, country and rock all found a place across the weekend, with nostalgic moments, energetic singalongs and more than a few unexpected discoveries. Most importantly, there was a genuine warmth running through the weekend, both from the stages and the people gathered in front of them.
Next year the festival moves out of the town centre to a bigger site just few miles away. This allows for on-site camping, campervans, and more to be added to the ammenities. Heartland has put together 3 fantastic years and this expansion of the offering will solidify its spot on the Scottish Festival calendar. Early Bird tickets for 2027 are on-sale now here.
You can see additional coverage of the following in our Festival Roundup article: Marti Pellow, Peat & Diesel, Sandi Thom, Ben Walker, The Laurettes, Just The Brave, Rebecca Connelly, Nick Shane, Joe Goodall, The Killing Tide, The Crom, Dovv, Islay Crowe, and The Carloways.
Below you’ll find highlights from the 2026 edition featuring: Cammy Barnes, Sonnet 65, Torridon, Scratchcard Wednesday, The Skids, Ellijai, and Mellow Party.
Cammy Barnes
With the kind of voice that immediately fills a festival field, Cammy Barnes took to the stage to headline the opening day of the festival. Born in Fife, Barnes is a Scottish singer-songwriter whose music occupies the increasingly fertile ground between contemporary country, pop and traditional Scottish folk. A former pipe-band musician, he switches naturally between acoustic guitar and bagpipes, giving his modern songwriting a distinctive connection to home.
Powerful and expressive, his voice moved comfortably between the different sides of that sound. The slower songs gave him room to reveal a more balladic quality, delivered with an earnestness that made them feel personal rather than overly polished. The bagpipes never felt like a novelty or an easy attempt to win over a Scottish crowd. They belonged within the music, adding another dimension to the set and giving its larger moments an extra lift.
There is plenty of strength in Barnes’ delivery, but it’s the sincerity behind it that makes the songs connect. This was a confident, heartfelt performance from an artist who looks increasingly at home on a major festival stage. There will be more to come from Cammy Barnes.
Sonnet 65
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Sonnet 65 were one of the weekend’s most rewarding discoveries. Hailing from Kirriemuir, Sonnet 65 are a four-piece melodic rock band whose defining feature is the soaring violin woven through their guitar-led sound. The current line-up brings together guitar, bass, drums and violin, creating music that sits somewhere between alternative rock, folk-rock and emotionally charged neo-folk.
Rather than simply placing traditional instrumentation over conventional rock music, the band allowed each element to move naturally around the others. The violin provided atmosphere and melody without softening the weight of the rhythm section beneath it. There was also an understated confidence to the performance. Sonnet 65 did not chase the audience’s attention through oversized gestures or constant conversation. They trusted the quality of the material and played with the assurance of a band that understands what it wants to sound like.
That quiet self-belief served them well, gradually drawing more people into the performance as the set developed. Sonnet 65 left Heartland looking like a band ready to move well beyond the emerging-artist label.
Torridon
Torridon arrived with exactly the kind of energy their audience expected. Formed in the Highlands, Torridon are a six-piece folk-rock band built around guitars, bass and drums, with accordion, keyboards, whistles and Highland bagpipes expanding their sound. Their music sits towards the rock and pop end of Scottish folk-rock, with large choruses and a strong emphasis on energetic live performance.
From the opening moments, the band created the sort of driving atmosphere that makes remaining seated feel like a poor personal decision. The crowd responded quickly, with dancing spreading across the field as the set gathered momentum. Kenny Smith had made it back from the United States after becoming involved in efforts to support Scottish football fans affected by unexpected visa cancellations. After that particular adventure, a quiet return might have been understandable.
Instead, Torridon threw themselves into the performance with their usual enthusiasm. Smith also appeared in what may have been the shiniest kilt ever worn on a Scottish festival stage. It caught both the light and the eye, although the performance still managed to compete with it. Torridon remain a dependable source of energy, humour and communal festival spirit. Heartland wanted a party, and they delivered one.
Scratchcard Wednesday
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Scratchcard Wednesday brought a cutting, modern bounce to the festival. Born and raised in Glasgow, Scratchcard Wednesday are a Scottish pop duo comprising vocalist Tyrese Ojo and multi-instrumentalist Dexter Brady. Their buoyant sound blends contemporary pop with live instrumentation, most notably the trumpet that has become one of their defining musical signatures.
Their songs were filled with feel-good energy, balancing accessible hooks with enough personality to keep the performance distinctive. The trumpet flared brightly through the arrangements, lifting the melodies and supplying the set with some of its most memorable musical flourishes.
There was an easy, natural charm to the performance. Nothing felt forced, but the duo still knew how to hold the audience and maintain the atmosphere from one song to the next. The clearest effect could be seen across the crowd. People smiled, danced and allowed themselves to be carried along by the uncomplicated enjoyment of it all. Scratchcard Wednesday understand how to lift a festival audience. Their Heartland appearance was light on its feet, full of personality and extremely easy to enjoy.
The Skids
The Skids showed that Scottish punk still carries plenty of force. Formed in Dunfermline in 1977 by Richard Jobson, Stuart Adamson and their original bandmates, The Skids emerged from Scotland’s first wave of punk and new wave. Their sound combined urgent guitars, military rhythms and sweeping melodies, producing enduring songs including Into the Valley and The Saints Are Coming.
Jobson remained a commanding presence at the front of the stage, driving the performance while the band tore into a catalogue that continues to cross generations. There was no sense of the songs being handled carefully or treated as museum pieces. They were played with urgency, energy and the obvious pleasure of musicians who still enjoy standing together on a stage.
For some in the crowd, the set was a reunion with music that had soundtracked their youth. For others, it may have been a first proper introduction to Scottish punk. Those hearing it for the first time were given an excellent lesson. The Skids still have the songs, the presence and more than enough bite to make them matter.
Ellijai
Ellijai made an immediate impression through her poise and control. Ellijai is a young solo artist whose music blends alt-pop, dark-pop and indie rock. With such a stylized performance on guitar, you’d be forgiven for missing that she is classically trained in voice and piano. She pairs atmospheric music with emotionally direct songwriting centred on identity, resilience and the age-old struggle that is growing up in a modern world.
Her vocals were precise without feeling rigid, while her presence at the front of the stage suggested a performer already comfortable with the attention of a festival audience. She avoided the temptation to oversing, trusting the material and allowing the strength of her voice to come through naturally. That restraint made the larger moments land more effectively when they arrived. Ellijai has the passion, punch, and stage presence to reach much larger audiences.
Mellow Party
Mellow Party provided exactly the atmosphere their name promised. The Scottish Lowlander alternative-folk group combine storytelling and humour with a warm acoustic palette that includes guitar, bass, cajón, banjo and mandolin. Their wide-ranging influences stretch from Robert Burns and The Proclaimers to American bluegrass and comic folk, lending the band a playful identity of its own.
Their relaxed sound settled comfortably over the crowd, creating movement without needing to force it. Strong musicianship gave the performance its foundation, allowing the band to remain understated without fading into the background. There was real care within the arrangements, with each part given enough room to breathe. That sense of space made the music feel warm and inviting, drawing the audience in gradually rather than attempting to overwhelm them. Despite their name, Mellow Party didn’t fade into the background because of their personality, precision and a clear understanding of how to build a mood. They were one of the weekend’s quieter highlights: accomplished, welcoming and well worth seeking out again.
A Festival Built Around Shared Enjoyment
Heartland is masterful at showing off music from the past, the present, and the future, and this year was no exception. Marti Pellow and The Skids brought songs loaded with personal memories. Torridon and Peat & Diesel turned the festival field into a communal celebration. Cammy Barnes and Scratchcard Wednesday demonstrated the strength of Scotland’s current live circuit, while Sonnet 65, Mellow Party and Ellijai rewarded those who took the time to explore the Discovery stage. Grab tickets for the 2027 edition here.
You can see additional coverage of the following in our Festival Roundup article: Marti Pellow, Peat & Diesel, Just The Brave, Rebecca Connelly, The Killing Tide, Dovv, Islay Crowe, and The Carloways.
