Dunstaffnage might seem like another festival which has sprung up in what appears to be a campaign to ensure that the Scottish gigging calendar has at least one festival per week during the summer months. However, Oban’s contribution - on July 27th - 29th, only a mile or so from Oban and picturesquely set across from the islands of Lismore & Mull - has actually been on the go since 1992, predating just about everything on the Scottish summer live circuit. Admittedly that first stab was more of a birthday party with some music at it, but the event has grown to a fully-fledged event with 4000 capacity per day, and a lineup which can stand proudly alongside that at T, Wicker, Indian Summer and all the rest.
Here’s some of the highlights.
Saturday’s main stage sports kings of crust, The Levellers, and Highland indie act The Cinematics at the top of their bill , but there are a few slightly lesser names, all itm? favourites (check out the links to see features and reviews).
20-legged ska troupe The Amphetameanies[...] - long time favourites of us and pretty much everyone (even people who hate ska!).
Former Soup Dragons / TFC-affiliated act Primary 5
Dreadzone collaborators Pama International
adventurous singer-songwriting team Yellow Bentines[...]
Poison Sisters - long-standing Glasgow punks
O.B.E - Edinburgh collective, read more
There’s also more chilled and dance-oriented acts in the Organic Beats tent - Record Playerz[...] is partly Sean Dickson (former High Fidelity and Soup Dragon) in DJ mode while also on the bill, Kid Twist, and (did we say dance and chill), FoxFace[...]’s warped take on folk.
Plus, itm? faves Dumb Instrument[...], and the legendary Dick Gaughan
Sunday’s lineup includes The Rumble Strips, and previous itm? cover stars the 1990s[...]
Plus: The Law, who wowed the Wickerman’s Solus Tent with a swaggering set.
Edinburgh punk rockers The Vivians[...] also appear,
as do Aberdeen rock’n’roll legends The Needles,
Inverness alt.rock act Theatrefall,
and 13th-piece dark blues act How To Swim[...] (soon to appear at a Glasgow itm? show).
And of course, perennial favourites Popup[...].
The Beats tent this time features Union of Knives, and Soma artist Alex Smoke, and the Pretty Ugly DJ crew will also be in attendance.
Plus, keeping the more grass roots feel, Oban’s ‘Stick it On’ night hosts a tent of its own. The theory: list your favourite 7 tunes, and if you come out of the hat you get a slot between 8pm and 1am - mail your 7 song set list to , or see www.muth.co.uk
And for full festival info, it’s www.dunstaffnagemusicfestival.co.uk
//Stuart McHugh