SINGER-SONGWRITER Karine Polwart (above), Sky At Night presenter Chris Lintott, and arts and astronomy project Creativity And Curiosity will be among the headline events at the second Hebridean Dark Skies Festival, it was announced yesterday.

Now in its second year, the festival – led by An Lanntair in partnership with Stornoway Astronomical Society, Calanais Visitor Centre, Gallan Head Community Trust, Lews Castle College and new partners including Uig Sands – will bring two weeks of arts and astronomy events to the Isle of Lewis. The 2020 festival will run from February 7-22, with an ambitious programme spanning theatre, live music, film, visual art, food, astronomy talks, and stargazing.

The first tickets for the festival are now on sale, including special early bird day tickets for A Day Of Creativity And Curiosity on February 8, curated by An Lanntair with Ione Parkin and Gillian McFarland of Creativity And Curiosity.

The day-long event will also include Chris Lintott and jazz musician Steve Pretty (right) comparing notes on the cosmos, Karine Polwart in conversation with astronomers and a “visual moonbounce” event with media artist and trained radio telescope operator Daniela de Paulis.

Tickets for all festival events will go on sale on November 4.