Young singer shortlisted for Belladrum slot

A young Orcadian musician is in the running for a spot at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, this summer.

Twenty-year-old singer-songwriter Alannah Moar has been shortlisted in an online poll, which gives up-and-coming artists an opportunity to play at the festival, set to take place in Inverness-shire this August.

Though her formative years were spent in Aberdeenshire and Denmark, Alannah’s parents both hail from Orkney, and the family has recently returned to the islands to live. In term time she lives in Edinburgh, where she is studying music at Napier University. Her music is influenced by folk, rock and blues, with Fleetwood Mac, Nina Nesbitt, Gabrielle Aplin, Ed Sheeran and Pink being strong influences. She is also inspired by folk acts Eric Bogle, Saltfishforty, and Hullion.

This is not the first time that Alannah has seen competition success. In 2016 she was the winner of the Soundwaves competition, which saw her competing at the O2 ABC in Glasgow. But now, she needs the public’s help for her to achieve a dream gig!

Alannah was chosen to be in the final four in the competition to play at the Belladrum festival which has now gone to a public vote.

“Belladrum is my favourite festival ever and it would be a dream come true to be the opening act there,” she said.

But she is up against strong competition, all bands, and to be in with a hope of achieving her dream she needs the public’s support. Voting is on the Herald Scotland Facebook page and is open until next Thursday, May 31. To vote, all you need to do is hover over the “like” button and then choose the “wow” emoji.