Stendhal Festival, based in the fields of Bally Mully Cottage Farm, Limavady, was back in full force this year following its socially-distanced festivals in 2021.

Running from June 30 to July 2, the festival boasted an eclectic range of exciting acts with Disco legends Sister Sledge headlining on the final night.

Alongside international acts, local talent was very much heralded by the festival.

Performing on Stendhal’s Karma Valley stage on Saturday evening ahead of Sister Sledge, Fermanagh-based Country music star Lisa McHugh took the festival by storm.

Accompanied by her band, Lisa performed an hour-long set, which included her own popular hits, self-penned songs and a number of Country classics.

Highlights included her covers of The Chicks’ (previously known as Dixie Chicks) ‘Travelling Soldier’, and Faith Hill’s ‘This Kiss’, as well as her performance of her latest single, ‘Dynamite’.

Throughout, Lisa had the crowd hooked with her energetic and upbeat festival performance, and for a number of songs, the talented musician picked up her guitar and played as she sang.

A testament to the popular singer’s love from her fans was the huge crowd which came to watch her perform.

This support was very much reciprocated by Lisa, which was particularly evident when one young fan, Cassie, who had created a banner for her idol, caught the Country singer’s eye.

Immediately, Lisa gave a shout out to her “number-one fan”, as the banner read, before going on to dedicate a song to her.

Throughout the set, Lisa’s fans kept calling for one song in particular, her rendition of the Dolly Parton song, ‘Apple Jack’.

“Now, it wouldn’t be a Lisa McHugh concert without Apple Jack,” the singer said, reassuring the crowd that the song was coming, keeping them waiting with anticipation until the very end, closing her festival show with the fan favourite.

And it was worth the wait. After teasing with the Dolly Parton classic ‘9 to 5’, the crowd went wild when she belted the opening line, ‘Play a song for me, Apple Jack’. Throughout the performance, Lisa’s fans joined in, singing every word along with the artist.

On taking her bow, the crowd roared and applauded the Country star, with calls for more.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter about her Stendhal Festival experience, Lisa said: “It was amazing to be back on stage performing again.

“There’s no feeling like it and the people of Stendhal definitely know how to party! They were up for a great time, which obviously makes our job so much easier. Hopefully, we’ll be back very soon.”