Rhythm and blues kingpin Wilko Johnson joins the main stage line-up at Bella, the former Dr. Feelgood guitarist who recently collaborated with Roger Daltrey of The Who will bring his unique guitar playing style to the festival for the first time. ‘I’m supposed to be dead!’ So said Wilko Johnson in a recent interview, having been diagnosed in late 2012 with terminal pancreatic cancer. But despite the doctors’ worst predictions he continues to perform and present himself with vigour and a new zest for life.

Also added to the bill are two acts who will be performing late night slots in the Hot House; electronic pioneers The Orb & performing on Saturday after indie headliners Circa Waves, the world’s first time travelling dance party Hot Dub Time Machine – who will take listeners right though the ages of music in chronological order from 1954 to the present with his interactive audio visual set.

Billie Marten, who made the BBC Sound of 2016 longlist, will be bringing her folky trills to the Black Isle Brewery Grassroots stage, along with London-Irish Celtic punk band, Neck. Roots Folk act CC Smugglers and busking Brixton bluesman Errol Linton will also be performing on the stage, which will be closed by MacFloyd in the late night slot who will be returning in 2016 with a journey through the classic material of Pink Floyd.

Formerly The Singing Kettle, Fun Box will be back opening the mainstage with their hits for younger generations on Friday, followed by firm festival favourites The Vatersay Boys. The La Fontaines make the jump up to the main stage in 2016 following their recent packed to the rafters Barrowlands show in Glasgow. Other indie acts announced in this round for the festival are; SAMA Best Hip-Hop act Spring Break who were formed at Bella, Catholic Action, Nieves, Schnarff Schnarff, Lional, The Side, Man Made, Bella’s Got Talent 2015 winner Leanne Smith and the Inverness & Kinloss Military Wives’ Choirs.

Appearing on the Grassroots stage for the now infamous Ceilidh on Thursday are crowd favourites Rhythm N Reel, funk & soul band The Leonard Jones Potential, folk-steppers Hoodja, Celtic rockers Gleadhraich, contemporary folk act Tannara, and the Inverness trad act Schiehallion.

There are many more acts still to be announced for the festival which, now in its 13^th year, has the theme ‘Superstition’ in 2016. A limited number of Saturday day tickets are now on sale via Skiddle and retail agents: Eden Court and The Ironworks in Inverness; Sweet Treats in Dingwall; and Morrisons in Beauly

Weekend and three day E-tickets to the event are on sale via the festival website at www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk and via www.skiddle.com. And printed tickets are available from the usual agents including: in Inverness – The Ironworks, Eden Court Theatre, Caffery’s and Hootananny’s; Kiltarlity – Post Office; Beauly – Morrison’s; Dingwall – Sweet Treats; Elgin – Sound & Vision; Aberdeen – Aberdeen Performing Arts; Edinburgh and Glasgow – TicketsScotland.

For the second year running, there will be an option to buy three day tickets to include a programme of artists on the main stage on the Thursday night, in addition to the traditional two day tickets. Campervan/ caravan have now sold out but electric hook-up upgrades are still available.

Thursday car parks and camping areas will be open from 0800 in 2016 are arenas at 12 noon in an effort to encourage patrons to arrive in a steadier flow throughout the day and to reduce traffic congestion. Arena opening times will also be brought forward for the Thursday and details will be released in due course.

When buying tickets on-line with Skiddle, Bella patrons are being given an opportunity to contribute to the Archie Foundation, a charity which is helping to improve hospital facilities in the Highlands.

Bella sold out in record time in January in 2015, and has sold out each of the last seven years, often months before the event so fans are urged to buy early to avoid disappointment. E-tickets are more customer-friendly and less easy to scam, but printed tickets are also be on sale via the usual retail outlets.

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival takes place in the beautiful Highland surroundings of Belladrum Estate, near Beauly in Inverness-shire. The independent festival has built a reputation for its eclectic line-ups, its offbeat non-musical entertainments and its all-ages approach. The festival won a VisitScotland Thistle Award in 2009 and is a past winner of the Grassroots Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards, the festival industry’s ‘Oscars’.