MOK Fest Celebrates 27 Years
LIVE MUSIC PREVIEW
The 27th Mull of Kintyre Music Festival on August 21 – 25 looks will once again rock the town with new events including the Saturday night West Coast Rocks concert, sponsored by Glen Scotia Distillery. The festival promises another great line-up of bands across the weekend including Manran, Dougie MacLean, Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, Ainsley Hamill and Slainte Davaar Allstars all headlining concerts. This five-day event offers a mixture of ticketed and free concerts that bring national and local acts together to perform at various indoor and outdoor venues across Campbeltown. The two Saturday night concerts on August 24 cater for all ages with Manran, Heron Valley and Rhuvaal all performing at the new Glen Scotia-sponsored West Coast Rocks concert in the Victoria Hall. Earlier that night firm festival favourite Dougie MacLean will headline the Traditional Concert in the Heritage Centre supported by local band Ceann Tir.
The Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band performs this year’s ceilidh set at the Festival Ceilidh Night on Friday August 23 in the Victoria Hall. This west coast ceilidh band includes stalwarts from across the traditional music world who are as at home playing large concert venues around the world as intimate bothy cèilidhs and are guaranteed to get everyone dancing. Also playing are young folk fusion band Eriska, featuring artists from Argentina, Italy and USA, and The Dalriada Connections Band, featuring students and tutors from Campbeltown Grammar School and guest appearances from many of the artists who will be appearing across the weekend. The Kintyre Schools Pipe Band will open up this hugely popular family event. On Saturday August 24 the festival launches its exciting new event, The West Coast Rocks Concert, with new sponsors Glen Scotia Distillery and a great west coast line-up of bands. Folk-rock legends Manran, making their debut at the festival, will headline, supported by Heron Valley who are now headlining events across Scotland and are making a much-requested return. Argyll outfit Rhuvaal will open the concert that promises to give everyone the full-on west coast festival experience in the Victoria Hall. The concert layout will be tables and chairs at the back of the hall with a large area for dancers.
The Saturday Night seated Traditional concert in Campbeltown Heritage Centre also on August 24 headlines with renowned singer songwriter Dougie Maclean. Dougie who was originally famed for writing the song Caledonia will perform in the Campbeltown Heritage Centre for the first time.
Support band is Ceann Tir, featuring a host of young music talent from South Kintyre who have come through the MOK Fest Music Development Project with Campbeltown Grammar School. Arthur Johnstone will MC the concert. The opening event of the festival is the Gaelic Concert at Ceol Campbeltown, Seafield on August 21. Headlining this event are Gaelic singer Ainsley Hamill and multi-instrumentalist Toby Shaer. Also performing are Iain MacPherson, Stuart Jackson, Callum and Fiona Ross, Na Smeòraich, Ceòl Beag, Tarbert Tame Dragons, Raibeart MacCallum and Alec MacKinnon with Christine MacIntyre as bean an tighe.
The Mitchell's Glengyle Dalriada Connections Concert in the Campbeltown Heritage Centre on Sunday August 25 headlines with Chris Stout on Shetland fiddle and Catriona McKay on Scottish harp. This Pan Celtic concert also features Ceólta from Northern Ireland, Scooter Muse from USA, Na Smeòraich from Tarbert and many local musicians including Western Sound, Ross Conner and Frank Rochford. Look out for the sponsor’s miniature on entry to the event. The legendary Survivors’ Night on Sunday evening with Campbeltown super-group Slainte Davaar Allstars, Rhuvaal making their Survivors’ Night debut, also performing are The Gilchristians, Matt McAllister Band,
we.R.soul and Session A83. This year Alison M Leith takes over as MC.
The festival also has firm favourite the Young Folk Night on Thursday August 22, the new Best Dressed Ship event on the harbour followed by a performance at the head of the quay from Kintyre Schools Pipe Band at 12.30pm. Up the Close at Springbank Distillery starts at 1pm with a new hope? Gubbed, we.R.soul, Dance legacy and the Funky Chicken on Saturday August 24. Donations are welcome on entry at this event. The mega Saturday Session will be in the Kilbrannan Bar this year and once again there will be the MOK Fest snapchat filter which people can use over the whole weekend. There will be more on the Saturday afternoon activities in next week’s Courier.
Tickets are going well for this year’s events and are on sale from TicketWeb and A P Taylors, Main Street Campbeltown. For more updates go to www.mokfest. com or www.facebook.com/mokfest See you there.