Sparked by a Facebook post by musician and BBC broadcaster, Gary Innes, in early 2020, Hoolie in the Hydro first took place in Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on Saturday 17th December 2022. The event was a world-first, marking the first time an arena had been hired by an individual in the UK to showcase a night completely dedicated to traditional music.
Following a hugely successful inaugural event and backed by popular demand, Hoolie in the Hydro returned the following year, on Saturday 9th December 2023. This event broke its own sales record and welcomed over 10,000 people to the OVO Hydro, and finished with a celebration of 50 years of Runrig.
Hoolie in the Hydro returned for a third year on Saturday 7th December 2024 to commemorate 100 years of traditional music. The event featured a star-studded line-up of some of Scotland most loved traditional music artists.
Hoolie in the Hydro will be back on Saturday 13th December 2025 with a brand new line up, still to be announced.
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Hoolie in the Hydro, taking place on Saturday 13th December 2025.
Line up still to be announced!
Hoolie 100
Hoolie 100
Last year, Hoolie in the Hydro returned to Glasgow’s OVO Hydro to commemorate 100 years of Scottish music, featuring a star-studded line-up of some of Scotland’s most successful bands, all of which were celebrating a milestone year as part of the Scottish music industry. Their combined landmark years amount to what has been an incredibly exciting, forward-thinking, genre-busting century for Scottish traditional music which culminated in last December’s Hoolie 100.
Internationally recognised as folk trailblazers, Capercaillie celebrated 40 years at the heart of the Scottish traditional music scene. A symbol of Scotland’s cultural renaissance, the band has toured in more than 30 countries, sold over one-million albums and entered the pop charts with ‘Coisich a Ruin’ - the first Gaelic single to reach the Official Top 40.
Next in the iconic line-up was Skerryvore, celebrating 20 years. Renowned for their high energy performances and their electrifying fusion of folk, trad, rock and pop, it’s little wonder this dynamic 8-piece are three time winners of Scotland’s ‘Live Act of the Year’ award at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.
Celebrating 15 years at the centre of Scotland’s thriving music scene were multi award-winning supergroup Mànran. Renowned the world over for their electrifying live performances, their innovative blend of traditional and modern instruments, along with outstanding Gaelic and English songs, has won them international acclaim and fans worldwide.
Also marking 15 years in the industry was RURA, who are undoubtedly one of Scotland’s leading instrumental groups with their rugged and intricate music and their blend of fiddle, Highland pipes, flute, bodhrán, and guitar.
The newest band in the line-up, but in no way juvenile in sound, talent or innovation, was Talisk. The three-piece celebrated 10 years of pushing boundaries and exploring new and exciting musical sounds, with their explosively energetic performances having earned them a die-hard global following and numerous awards.
In addition to these five bands, the Hoolie 100 line-up also included a performance from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performers and a tribute to the late Ceilidh King, Fergie MacDonald MBE.
