Festival is set to be best yet CountdowntoCraigieHillFest

Perth company Kilmac has struck a chord with Big County music lovers.

The civil engineering contractors have clinched a key sponsorship deal for the next crowd-puller in Perth’s scorching programme of summer festivals.

Hard on the heels of Southern Fried, Rewind and the BBC’s Biggest Weekend, the third Craigie Hill Fest will showcase the cream of local talent on August 25.

Kilmac group director Athole McDonald was captain of the Fair City golf club when they teed-up a small-scale event in 2016 and last year the crowd doubled to 500, with Scots songstress Eddi Reader topping the bill.

This year’s festival promises to be even bigger and better, with scope for luring 1000 music fans to toast the reunion of 80s local heroes The Rude Boys, with the Red Pine Timber Company and a string of other local bands featuring on a day-long bill.

Support sponsors include Campbell Dallas, AGB Builders, Bannerman Colour Studio, Graham and Sibbald, GS Group, Keyline and Hardie’s.

Athole said: “We had been thinking of holding our own 15th birthday celebrations but we’ve decided to treat our staff and their partners to a day out at the Hill Fest. As a local company this sponsorship ticks a lot of boxes.

“It’s great to see the event growing year on year with support from the golf club and co-operation from Perth and Kinross Council.”

Gavin Munro, lead singer and guitarist with the Red Pines, who are limbering-up for an autumn tour, revealed festival organisers had been forced to turn down requests from bands keen to become late additions to the bill.

He said: “There’s been phenomenal interest in the festival line-up and we’ve already sold more tickets in advance than the crowd which turned out last summer.

“Perth’s summer of festivals has been fantastic and the weather has been amazing.

“People have enjoyed the large-scale events and now we have the boutique-style Hillfest to showcase the best local talent, old and new.

“It’s great to have a company like Kilmac on board. And with more than 500 tickets sold already, it’s clear the Rude Boys’ reunion gig 36 years on has captured the imagination.”

Tickets cost £28.50 and admission is free for under14s. They can be bought at the clubhouse and online from www.ticketweb.uk/event/ craigie-hill-fest-craigie-hillgolf-club-tickets/8307625