Orkney 'embraces' new music event

Embrace are one of Britain's most popular bands

Embrace will be the headline act for a new two-day music festival in Orkney, it has been revealed.

The rock band - who have recorded England's official World Cup song - will play MagFest on Saturday, 1 July.

They will be joined by singer Sandi Thom, who grew up in Banffshire and was signed by a major label thanks to a huge following on the internet.

The Proclaimers and the Saw Doctors will co-headline on the first night of the event on Friday, 30 June.

'High profile'

Orkney's St Magnus Festival and Neil Stevenson from Grooves record shop in Kirkwall have joined forces to stage the new event in the town's Pickaquoy Centre.

Local music acts will also feature on both nights.

Festival director Glenys Hughes said: "MagFest will follow a pattern already set in the main St Magnus Festival - high quality visiting acts sharing a stage with creative and talented Orcadians.

"We hope that people will see it as an extension of St Magnus Festival rather than as a completely new event.

"We also hope that, if it is a success, it can become a permanent part of the festival."

Mr Stevenson said: "It is a bit of a coup for us to get a high profile band like Embrace for the first year of this new event.

"They are a great live band and have had loads of hit singles - people will definitely be familiar with a lot of their songs."

Ticket demand is expected to be high when they go on sale on Saturday, 13 May.