Tiree Music Festival gives island £6.4 million boost

Tiree Music Festival has revealed that the event has contributed £6.4 million to the island economy in the last 10 years.

The figure comes as it gears up to release early bird tickets for its eleventh edition between 10 and 12 July 2020.

Early bird tickets for Tiree Music Festival 2020 are due to go on sale at noon on Sunday, 10 November, with festival goers encouraged to get in early following last year’s tenth consecutive sell-out event which has generated significant business for the small island economy.

With CalMac ferry sailings for summer 2020 now on sale, 750 TMF tickets will be released this weekend and thousands are expected to flock to Tiree – nicknamed the ‘Hawaii of the North’ – for its picture-pefect white sands, sunshine, fantastic line-up of folk, trad and pop acts and spotless campsites.

Last year TMF celebrated its fastest-ever ticket sales, with early bird tickets selling out in just 52 minutes and all Glamping and Campervan tickets selling out in just 10 minutes.

Over the last decade, the festival has attracted upwards of 20,000 people to enjoy a celebration of Hebridean music, culture and fun, with the net additional economic impact of visitor spend as a result of TMF 2019 alone estimated to be almost £1.2 million.

The Tiree Music Festival 2019 (Photo: Alan Peebles)

With Scotland set to celebrate the Years of Coasts and Waters in 2020, TMF has also launched its tagline for next year’s event, Where the music meets the ocean, celebrating Tiree’s place among Scotland’s unrivalled coastline.

Daniel Gillespie, artistic director for Tiree Music Festival, said: ‘The 10th edition of TMF, held earlier this year, was a significant milestone for our event as we celebrated a decade of delivering this much-loved island festival.

‘As well as the brilliant performances from some of Scotland’s favourite acts, activities for kids and great food and drink, people keep coming back to Tiree for a real island adventure in a very special part of the world.

‘To see the positive impact the event has had on the island over the years, while still maintaining a sustainable capacity and community atmosphere, gives us a real sense of pride. Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters next year presents a unique opportunity to celebrate life and the fun to be had on Tiree.’

Stewart MacLennan, festival director for Tiree Music Festival, added: ‘We have seen our small island festival go from strength to strength since 2010 and every year we look to create the best possible environment and atmosphere for everyone who attends the festival, from our artists and suppliers to staff, volunteers and customers.

‘There’s something magic about Tiree and we feel lucky to have shared a little bit of our home with so many people over the years. We can’t wait to welcome returning and new visitors to Tiree for the eleventh edition of TMF in July 2020, no doubt the island will use Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Water to shine once again.’

Making a splash at the Tiree Music Festival 2019 (Photo: Alan Peebles)

The inaugural Tiree Music Festival took place in July 2010 and was attended by a capacity crowd of 600. The annual event has since flourished with an increased 2100-strong capacity – an attendance that is three times the population of the island.

Artists across the years have included The Fratellis, Dougie MacLean, Sharon Shannon, The Levellers, Capercaillie, Sandi Thom and Eddi Reader.

Since its humble beginnings, TMF has prided itself on being a family-friendly festival with a creative programme for young people and their families, including workshops, sport, music and culture.

Often described as one of the most stunning festival locations in the world, the festival showcases the island of Tiree at its best, with visitors enjoying the beach, cycling, walking, sea tours and watersports.

Early bird tickets will be available to buy at noon on Sunday, 10 November via https://tireemusicfestival.co.uk.

• Click HERE to read more culture news and features from Scottish Field