Tiree Music Festival announces headline acts for expanding sell-out event

TIREE Music Festival this week announced a top list of acts for what will be the biggest TMF to date.

Over the course of the three days from July 15 to 17, acts including Levellers, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Sharon Shannon, Skerryvore, Skipinnish, Blazin’ Fiddles and legendary Irish quartet Flook will play to a 2,000-strong crowd – more than three times the population of the island.

Famed for its laidback atmosphere, TMF attracts a diverse audience and is well-known as being one of the most family-friendly in the UK.

The multi-award-winning event has sold out every year since its inception in 2010, with early bird tickets for the 2016 being sold out in four hours.

This year’s festival will feature three stages including the CalMac Live Lounge in the heart of the TMF Community Village – a purpose-built arena packed with creative activities and the best of west coast produce from Argyll Foods.

As well as the music, there will be special sea-life trips with Basking Shark Scotland and the first TMF ‘flash-mob’ co- ordinated by Eden Court Creative.

‘This is the most exciting and eclectic TMF line up to date,’ said artistic director Daniel Gillespie.

‘Securing international acts like Levellers, Flook, Sharon Shannon and Nashville singer Jesse Terry alongside the very best Scottish artists like Breabach, Blazin’ Fiddles and Fergie MacDonald is what makes the journey to TMF so special.

‘ With four extra sailings from CalMac and three extra scheduled flights from FlyBe, the journey to the ‘Hawaii of the north’ is more accessible than ever.’

Those who aren’t lucky enough to snap up tickets can soak up the sights and sounds as BBC Alba will record highlights and performances for the second year, providing an insight into what makes the festival and the island so appealing.

Go to www.facebook.com/ Tiree-Music-Festival or @TireeMusicFest.