Oban Live scoops award for Best Cultural Event

Argyll’s biggest outdoor live music event, Oban Live, scooped Best Cultural Event or Festival at the 2018 Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards in Inverness last Friday.

The win comes just days before tickets for the 2019 event go on sale, with an exclusive 48-hour Oban Times offer going on sale today (Thursday November 8), ahead of Early Bird tickets going on sale Saturday November 10.

Daniel Gillespie, managing director for Oban Live and Skerryvore co-founder, said: ‘Oban Live is absolutely delighted to win this award.

‘We remember very clearly debating what we should do to celebrate Skerryvore’s 10th anniversary in 2015 and whether we would be able to convince a couple of thousand people to come to an outdoor event in a shinty field in Oban.

‘Now more than three years later we are so proud that this single concert has gone on to become Argyll’s largest live music event that brings in significant economic, social and cultural benefits to the town.

‘A huge thanks to the local community and all of the amazing artists, bands, staff, volunteers and attendees who have joined us on this incredible journey. Here’s to Oban Live 2019 being the biggest and best yet. Special congratulations to all the Argyll winners and finalists, of which there were many.’

The event has gone from strength to strength in a short space of time since its official inception in following Skerryvore’s successful Decade concert in 2015.

In June 2018, Oban Live celebrated an attendance figure of just over 8,000 and an economic 2016 boost of £1.4 million to the town. The concert, which transforms Mossfield into a stadium-sized arena for two days, welcomes visitors from all over the world who come to see an eclectic line-up of traditional, folk, rock and pop artists in a unique west coast setting.

To celebrate tickets going on sale this week, the event team is throwing a short ticket launch party tonight (Thursday) at The View in Oban, 7.45pm to 8.45pm. The free one-hour event will include prize giveaways, including VIP tickets, an exclusive preview screening of a new Oban Live film, live music from Ceol an Aire, a speech from Oban Live and the chance to meet the Oban Live team.

Free tickets for the launch are limited and available via Eventbrite until tickets are gone.

Visit www.obanlive.com

From left: Neil Mackay (community director), Shannon Watson (events marketing assistant 2018 – work experience, Oban High School), Martin Gillespie (finance director), Naomi Hoolahan (events director), Pauline Clifford (head of communications), Daniel Gillespie (managing director) and Paul Hoolahan (production manager).