Ten years ago, two pals from Tiree thought it would be a good idea to stage a music festival on the island in the Inner Hebrides that they call home. As the festival kicks off, here’s 10 things that make Tiree Music Festival special.
1. The stunning location
The tiny island is nicknamed the Hawaii of the North and it’s an Instagrammer’s dream. Think picture-perfect white sands, world-famous surf, deserted roads lined with lush greenery and more sunshine than practically anywhere else in the British Isles. It’s a true island adventure at one of the most remote festivals in the world, with most attendees arriving via the four-hour ferry journey from Oban.
2. The size – small but mighty
They say good things come in small packages and TMF is perfectly small but mighty. An intimate festival, it started as a pilot 600-capacity event. It’s grown to selling out to 2,100 people each year – three times the population of the island and more than enough for a party!
3. The close-knit team
Founded by two friends Stewart MacLennan and Daniel Gillespie, family and friends quickly pitched in to make this festival a reality and are still involved in making it a success. TMF is a Community Interest Company, so the local community is part of the team.
4. The brilliant array of music
Revellers love the diverse programme, with a mixture of genres including folk, pop and indie. Artists across the years have included The Fratellis, Dougie MacLean, The Levellers, Capercaillie and Eddi Reader. This year sees a packed bill including TMF stalwarts Skerryvore and Trail West, who have performed at every festival since it began. Tide Lines, Gunna Sound, Niteworks, Callum Beattie, Mànran and Sandi Thom will also play.
5. The quality food and drink
The festival is set on an island that has its own gin, Tyree Gin, and has just launched a bespoke whisky to celebrate its 10th anniversary, so there’s some quality tipples to be had. They also work with Argyll Foods to source the best produce from Argyll and the Hebrides’ natural larder.
6. The focus on upcoming Scottish talent
TMF has always championed upcoming Scottish talent, having run an Unsigned Competition for someone to win a spot on the bill for many years. Last year, for Scotland’s Year of Young People, it introduced the ELEVATE stage which exists solely to showcase upcoming Scottish popular and traditional music.
7. The army of volunteers
TMF is a success in no small part thanks to the dedicated army of volunteers. The TMF clan includes 120 volunteers from across the world whose joyful personalities and passion rubs off on everyone they meet.
8. The feel-good ethos
TMF has an authentic, close-knit atmosphere and since its humble beginnings has prided itself on being a family friendly festival with a creative programme of workshops, sport, music and culture for young people and families. It also believes in being a clean, sustainable event, with an environmental conscience – that’s why all of the waste is being taken off the island to be recycled this year.
9. The island activities
Visitors to the festival can also enjoy the beach, cycling, walking, sea tours and watersports. There aren’t many festivals where you can disappear to do some dolphin watching for a couple of hours.
10. The promotion of Gaelic and traditional Scottish culture
TMF has always supported bands from the traditional music scene that keep the Gaelic language and Scotland’s heritage and culture alive. This year’s line-up includes Gaelic trad rock band Mànran who are the only group in the 21st century to break the UK top 40 with a song in Gaelic, Skerryvore whose unique fusion of folk, trad, rock and Americana always get the crowds revved up, and the TMF All Star Ceilidh Band which will feature some of the best trad artists to perform at the festival over the last decade.
The festival runs from today until Sunday. See tireemusicfestival.co.uk
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