MOKFest celebrates 25 years
As MOK Fest rocks into its silver anniversary, 2017 promises to have a real party atmosphere.
The 25th Mull of Kintyre Music Festival features exciting new events and another great line up with The Peatbog Faeries, Bombskare, The Shee, Heron Valley, Arty McGlynn and Nollaig Casey, Twisted Melons, Kintyre Schools Pipe Band and Norman MacKinnon all headlining the Festival.
The five day event, offers a mixture of ticketed and free concerts from August 16 – 20 bringing international, national and local acts together to perform at various indoor and outdoor venues across Campbeltown.
The two Saturday night concerts on August 19 cater for all audiences with Celtic dance kings The Peatbog Faeries, Scotland’s nine man Ska juggernaut Bombskare and CalMac Culture winners Start Static playing at Victoria hall.
Earlier that night six piece vocal and instrumental band The Shee headline the traditional concert in the Heritage Centre supported by Jim Malcolm.
Argyll based Heron Valley perform this year’s ceilidh set at MOK Fest ceilidh night on Friday August 18 in Victoria hall following show stopping performances across the Scottish and European festival circuit this year. Gypsy jazz swing specialists, Rose Room, featuring the multi-talented Seonaid Aitken, perform the concert set with The Dalriada Connections Band making a welcome return this year.
The band features guest appearances from many of the artists who will be appearing across the weekend.
Kintyre Schools Pipe Band will open this hugely popular family event which Davie Robertson will MC.
The main Victoria hall concert on Saturday August 19 offers a fantastic selection of bands and styles and sees the return of Peatbog Faeries to Campbeltown for the first time since 2006.
Recognised as one of the best live bands on the Scottish festival scene the Peatbog Faeries have played high profile events across the UK winning numerous awards over the years.
Bombskare, in their own words: ‘Have been tearing up stages the length of the British Isles,’ and bring their infectious ska anthems to the Vic.
Indie rock outfit Start Static open the concert as one of this year’s CalMac Culture winners. This event will have tables and chairs with Eric Spence as MC.
The Saturday night seated traditional concert in Campbeltown
Heritage Centre headlines the exceptional all female multi- instrumental band The Shee showcasing their powerful vocals and instrumental prowess.
Singer songwriter Jim Malcolm performs from his huge repertoire of songs and tunes with his guitar, harmonicas and engaging wit. Arthur Johnstone will MC this concert.
The Gaelic Concert returns for the 25th anniversary, at Ceol Campbeltown, on Wednesday August 16.
It will turn the venue into an old fashioned ceilidh house with performances from Norman Mackay, Christine MacIntyre, Raibeart MacCallum, Bethany Kelly, Sadie Brodie, Alec MacKinnon and various guest artists.
The Mitchell’s Glengyle Dalriada Connections Concert in Campbeltown Heritage Centre on Sunday August 20 headlines Irish legendary duo Arty McGlynn and Nollaig Casey making a rare live Scottish performance.
They will be joined vocal and guitar duo Gillian Frame and Tom Oakes, Ciaran Mulholland from Northern Ireland, young local band Rhuvaal and Scooter Muse in a concert will have the usual mixture of local and visiting musicians.
The legendary Survivors Night on Sunday evening features eight bands including The Twisted Melons, Kintyre Schools Pipe Band, Wee Toon Tellers, The Gilchristians, Deep Joy, Gullion, Il Brasso and Session A83 with Jaime Girvan as MC.
The bands have some special performances lined up this year to help celebrate the silver anniversary of the event.
The Festival also has firm favourite, the Young Folk Night on Thursday August 17 and a the newly rebranded parade; Carni West followed by Doon the Green with Violent Echo, Democrats, Treble Trouble, Footnotes and the Funky Chicken on Sat August 19.
Look out for the new CalMac Culture Festival Club in Campbeltown town hall, from 1pm on Saturday August 19 featuring Rhuvaal, Eriska and a huge music session, this event is free and will be licenced.
Another new feature this year will be the MOK Fest snapchat filter which you can use over the whole weekend. There will be more on the Saturday afternoon activities in next week’s Courier.
All Tickets are on sale from TicketWeb until Saturday August 12 and A.P. Taylors, Main Street Campbeltown for more updates go to www.mokfest.com