ButeFest, the much-loved boutique west coast music festival, returns this summer after a two-year pause, bringing live pop and folk music to the island from Friday 29th – Sunday 31st July 2022.
Held in the beautiful scenic setting of Ettrick Bay on the west side of the island, ButeFest offers the perfect island festival experience – without the long journey. It is just 50 minutes by car or train from Glasgow followed by a short 35-minute ferry crossing.
Tickets are on sale now, and thousands of festival goers are expected to visit the island which is known as the Jewel of the Clyde due its stunning scenery and relaxed pace of life.
With around 70 acts playing across three stages over the weekend, the festival offers a musical experience for the whole family, alongside craft workshops and stalls with local and Scottish produce.
This year’s line-up includes a host of audience favourites including bagpiping superstars, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, pop favourites Scouting for Girls, Gaelic folk group Mànran, and indie folk band Elephant Sessions, alongside local and upcoming talent such as feel-good Rothesay favourites The Upbeat Beatdown and Greenock indie talent Fallen Arches, who have performed the festival every year since its inception.
At ButeFest people of all ages can soak up the festival atmosphere, with day and weekend tickets available, and a campsite within walking distance of the main festival arena.
The festival also champions a strong volunteer programme that helps those involved gain valuable life and career experience and new skills, boost their confidence, make new connections and become part of the close-knit ButeFest community. A team of around 100 volunteers will help make ButeFest’s return a reality this year, bringing the fun in the children’s area, sorting out tickets and making stand-out site art with recycled materials.
ButeFest Chair Hazel Mulholland said: “We are a community-driven grassroots festival and are extremely lucky to have the support of the island since our inception. Through volunteering opportunities we have built new connections with local people, which helps us create the best festival experience possible while giving something back. After building on the festival’s success year on year, we can’t wait to bring the event back this year – locals and visitors alike can expect a fun-filled, family-friendly atmosphere.”
ButeFest volunteer Joanne Cowie, who has lived on the island all her life and began volunteering with the festival when it first launched, said: “I had never been to a festival before volunteering for ButeFest. I liked the idea of becoming part of the welfare team and being there to help others so said I would help. I’ve been there ever since and am now part of the site office team. It’s been amazing over the years to see so many of our community pull together to put on this event. Volunteering encourages people to step outside their comfort zones and try new things and I have got so much from it.”
Bute local Fraser Lindsay of The Upbeat Beatdown said: “Playing previously at ButeFest gave us, as a band, a completely new lease of life. We found an open-minded and enthusiastic audience that, despite the majority never having heard of us before, were more than up for joining us on our genre-hopping musical journey. Returning to the festival this year has provided us with a real focus and creative spark. We can’t wait to share our new material with everyone!”
Colin Bell from Fallen Arches said: “ButeFest is hands down my favourite festival and one of the best Scotland has to offer. I got so much support right from the start from all the team there and I’ve had the best time coming back and building on that success year after year. I feel like I’ve grown at the same pace as ButeFest, which is an absolute privilege. I’m so grateful to everyone there and looking forward to getting back at it this July.”
First held in 2015, ButeFest has grown from a local event attracting 600 people to a 2000-capacity festival, attracting people from all over the UK, and generating hundreds of thousands of pounds for the local economy.
With early bird tickets selling out fast, remaining general tickets are still available to buy now at: www.butefest.co.uk.
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