Ullapool music festival Loopallu prepares for 15th and final festival in September with raft of acts announced including Tide Lines, Hunter & The Bear, Idlewild and Gun
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LOOPALLU’s 15th outing this September has just announced its first raft of acts – along with news about the festival’s future.
The Ross-shire music festival will return to Ullapool on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28 with freshly announced headliners Hunter and the Bear and Tide Lines – two bands that Loopallu have championed since their starting.
But there was a sting in the tail for Highland music lovers as organisers Beyond Highlands also announced that this year’s festival would be the last for the foreseeable future.
A spokesman said: “It’s been a long and happy road, but Ullapool has become a victim of its own success. When we started out we chose the end of September to give local businesses one last boost before the long winter set in.
“Indeed, it soon became the busiest weekend of the year for many businesses, bringing millions of pounds into the area over the years but as the attraction of coming to the north west Highlands has grown over time accommodating the Loopallu faithful has become increasingly difficult. Now September has become part of the height of the season.
“We may come back some day, at a different time of year and in a different format, but for now it’s time to reflect on friends made and good times had, despite the west coast weather.”
To go out with a bang, the festival is inviting some of their favourite acts from the last 14 years to perform one last time.
Headliners Hunter and the Bear and Tide Lines are two regular Loopallu attendees to the festival whose stature have grown over the years they’ve been visiting – with Tide Lines recently headlining the inaugural Gathering Festival and selling out Glasgow’s Barrowlands in six minutes.
Rockers Idlewild and Gun will both be appearing to perform stripped back acoustic sets, while the lineup will also feature Stornoway’s underground darlings Peat and Diesel, Scottish ska icons Bombskare, indie group HYYTS, and two bands to watch in Reflekter and Swim School.
The weekend’s festivities are rounded up with Highland regulars Davy and Sam Cowan, and Loopallu stalwarts Ullapool and District Pipe Band, while The Vatersay Boys will be bringing the last Loopallu to a raucous close. More acts are set to be announced in the coming months.
Loopallu previously announced that 2017 would be its final year, with headliners The View and Glasvegas – and The Vatersay Boys closing out the festival again, by coincidence.
However, public demand was so great that it was revived in short order for 2018.
Weekend tickets for Loopallu 2019 are on sale now and cost £90.53 (including booking fee), or £18.64 (including booking fee) for children aged five-to-12. Tickets for children aged four and under are free.
For more info or to book, go to www.loopallu.co.uk
