Tain’s Cameron Ferguson (20) reveals playing Belladrum music festival gig was ‘best day of my life’
A SNAP decision made while scrolling through Facebook led to ‘the best day of my life’ for a Tain man who found himself playing to thousands at the Highlands’ best-known music festival.
Former Tain Royal Academy (TRA) pupil Cameron Ferguson secured his big break as the opening act for the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival’s Hot House stage after entering a competition for fresh talent.
“If I could sum it up in one word, I would say it was unreal,” said Cameron, who secured the gig through a BBC Alba competition and is now preparing for another gig in the Highland capital.
With a public vote deciding the winner, BBC Alba and Belladrum teamed up to find the best of Scotland’s up-and-coming musical talent. Following the rigorous judging process, Cameron was chosen to open the festival in July.
Cameron said: “I was just scrolling through Facebook when I saw the competition advertised, so I thought I would just send in a song and see what happens — and it turned out okay in the end!
“It was such a shock… it came out of nowhere. It made me and the whole band feel so supported because it wouldn’t have been possible without the local community voting for us. It felt very humbling to win in a way, knowing that people were behind us. It felt really good.
“It was definitely the best day of my life.”
Before their prime-time gig at Belladrum, Cameron and his band also played at legendary Glasgow venue King Tuts, supporting indie band, Declan Welsh and the Decadent West.
The band is made up of Calum Duncan on bass guitar, Katie Linsday on synths and backing vocals, David Bromham on guitar, Cameron Hill on drums, Jamie Mackay on acoustic guitar and April Sutherland on bagpipes.
So far the band has one song out titled Card Machine, and has an upcoming gig at Inverness’ Tooth and Claw on September 28.
The former TRA pupil said: “I began getting into music when I was 13 after my music teacher, Mr Maclean, got me into the drums. Then it’s just kind of developed over the last seven years. He was definitely an inspiring teacher…it wouldn’t have been possible without him.
“I started this project about a year and a half ago, and it’s been my focus ever since.”
