What a tremendous time we all had at the Tiree Music Festival (TMF) last July, in proper wall to wall sunshine.
Camping alongside the famous white sands and within a stone's throw of the stage - this is some event for accessibility.
But the big news today is that tickets for 2014 are on sale at 9am TODAY Friday 24th January and will be available from the festival website here ...... and .....Block capitals....big fanfare!
JULIE FOWLIS has been ANNOUNCED AS The FIRST ACT FOR TMF 2014.
This is the Gaelic voice of ‘Brave’ and Julie will be an enormous hit over the weekend of 18th to 20th July - and, see above, she's got her deckchair out for Tiree already,
And its not just me that's delighted too....!
'I am very excited to have been invited to the Tiree festival', says the girl from North Uist.'it's one if my favourite places in the world and it's a real honour to be involved in the 2014 festival.'
Festival director and Tirisdeach, Daniel Gillespie, deserves huge credit for organising such a fine event; and he and his team have been justly rewarded with four prestigious awards for their slick efforts. They now hold:
- 'Best Small Festival’ from the Scottish Event Awards;
- 'Best Cultural Event’ - from the Highlands and Islands;
- 'Best Cultural Event in Scotland‘ at the Thistle Awards, and
- ‘Event of the Year’ at Aberdeen's Scots Trad Music Awards recently.
How do you follow up the stellar lineup last year, topped by Karen Matheson and Capercaillie?
Well, you bring another very famous Gaelic vocalist - fresh from playing with Capercaillie at Celtic Connections just last weekend - to launch your next event.
Oh and add a day!
This is what Daniel has to say...
'I am delighted to announce Julie as our first act of TMF2014 – to bring a world-class international performer to Tiree is a real honour for the festival and the island.
'Julie’s mesmerising voice against the stunning backdrop of the festival is a very exciting prospect to look forward to in July.
'2013 was just an incredible year for TMF - we had Mediterranean weather, a sold out crowd and some of the best acts from the traditional and folk scene performing. To then collect four major awards made it a year we will never forget – however we now have to try and make 2014 even better!
'We’ve added a third day due to demand - more and more people are making a holiday out of it and enjoying Tiree’s outdoor activities and beaches as well as the festival. We also have some exciting changes to the festival site so we can’t wait to welcome music fans to Tiree in July for the 5th Tiree Music Festival'.
Tiree Music festival first event took place in 2010 and has grown since. Last year 1500 folk music fans from all airts and pairts were transported by Calmac's finest to and from this wee bit of paradise trebling its population for the weekend.
Known as the 'Hawaii of the North' for its photogenic sandy beaches, Tiree gives the festival the most breath-taking of backdrops and I, for one, am looking forward to July....make way for my tent! Where's my sun hat?
Campbell Cameron, Music Editor