JULY in these parts generally means an even bigger than usual outbreak of  traditional music, led by the Hebridean Celtic Festival in the grounds of Lews Castle in Stornoway. If the Lewis event takes the headlines, however, there are no shortage of other contenders in that category, including the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail and Fèis Nan Òran in Skye, as well as individual tours and concerts.

One of those tours features a band that has become something of an institution in Scottish folk over the 35 – count ‘em – years that they have been in existence. That could only be the Battlefield Band, of course, and they are the subject our major interview feature this month.

Highland rockers Dionyssus’s attempt to win the Emergenza Battle of the Band awards finally came to a halt in Glasgow , as Catriona Paul reports, but the band have certainly made their mark in the course of the contest, and can look forward to some interesting developments in the months to come.

The other major new feature this month is the Arts Journal’s survey of attitudes to the National Theatre of Scotland among the movers and shakers of Highland theatre. It has produced some very interesting and passionate responses, and I am still hopeful that one or two other tardy respondents will let us have their views (you know who your are!). Much food for thought, and our Discussion Forum provides an outlet to air your own views on the subject, or indeed anything else in the realm of Highland arts and culture.

Kenny Mathieson
Commissioning Editor