James forced to pull out of Belladrum headline slot as Tim Booth loses voice

by | Aug 2, 2026 | Entertainment

James forced to pull out of Belladrum headline slot as Tim Booth loses voice

James cancelled their headlining performance at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival due to frontman Tim Booth’s vocal difficulties stemming from a viral infection he had been managing for several days prior to the event.

Festival producer Dougie Brown characterized the withdrawal as an unusual occurrence for the annual gathering. Brown acknowledged that the band’s decision prioritized health considerations and recognized the disappointment among James supporters. Booth addressed the situation through a video posted to the band’s social media accounts, where he spoke in a raspy, diminished voice while explaining that he could no longer perform at the required level.

Razorlight assumed the headlining responsibilities that James vacated. Scottish performer Cammy Barnes, who had already appeared earlier in the festival weekend, was subsequently moved to replace Razorlight’s scheduled slot after drawing a substantial crowd during his initial set. According to reports, Barnes received the invitation while in Glasgow and described the opportunity as a dream. He acknowledged James during his Saturday performance.

The festival, held near Beauly, drew expectations of more than 20,000 attendees across its three-day run. The weekend’s main stage featured performances by additional artists including Mika, The Human League, and others. James maintains two remaining tour dates later this month in Portugal and Norwich.

Band bassist Jim Glennie told BBC Scotland News that the group had anticipated returning to the festival for the first time since 2013 and praised the Belladrum audience’s energy and engagement.

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