Ten years of the Kintyre Songwriters Festival
Woomble, Welsh and hip-hop legend set to rock and roll in Campbeltown
KINTYRE Songwriters Festival rocks up on the first weekend in May as it rolls into its 10th year, writes Mark Davey.
During the past decade the event has earned a national reputation as the place to see the stars of Scottish music in an intimate setting. This year is no exception and the holiday weekend of May 4 to 6 will see Kintyre talent joined by some of the best live per- formers from across the country.
Headliners on Friday night at Whisky Macs are Scottish rock-rap sensations Simmons Is Old. Probably the most respected voice in Scottish hip-hop, frontman Mog has released several critically-acclaimed albums and performed at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Also performing are rising Glasgow newwave pop-rockers 100 Fables, recent winners of the Hard Rock Cafe European Battle Of The Bands competition.
Support comes from local acts including The Twisted Melons, Sleeping With The Enemy and The Dubious Blues Band.
Saturday headliners at Campbeltown Town Hall are Declan Welsh and The Decadent West whose politicised pop-punk has seen them compared to The Clash. A star very much on the rise, Declan’s new single Shiny
Toys has been playlisted by Spotify and the Premier League.
Main support comes from Easterhouse’s answer to Janis Joplin, the incredible Carly Connor who has toured
with Paulo Nutini and performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
Another guest is Rhona MacFarlane, a Royal Conservatoire graduate, who has recently performed at Celtic Connections and on the Janice Fosythe show on BBC Radio Scotland.
They are joined by Campbeltown’s own
Matt MacAllister who will be performing at the festival for the first time since the viral success of his Scottish Winds video, festival favourites Gullion, newcomer George Hackett more. and many
Sunday headliner is Idlewild singer Roddy Woomble, returning to Campbeltown for the first time since headlining the Mull of Kintyre Music Festival in 2006.
Roddy will be performing an intimate acoustic set suited to the unique songwriter’s festival atmosphere.
Support comes from Josephine Sillars and the Manic Pixie Dreams. Originally from the Highlands, Josephine has toured internationally after a string of sold-out performances at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Sunday also sees the return of the orginal lineup of local band A New Hope?, plus festival favourites The Gilchristians performing the music of festival founder Kenneth Campbell Gilchrist. There will also be some very special guest performers for the 10th anniversary. With more than six hours of music each night, plus the famous open stage at Whisky Macs in the afternoon, the festival has something for everyone. More information at www. kintyre song-writersfestival.co. uk