Tarbert Music Festival returns with new bands and festival favourites

Arguably the biggest band of the weekend was the opening act of this year’s event, The Bluebells.

The band was a household name in the 1980s and having gone their separate ways for several years, reformed in 2023.

Now regulars at festivals up and down the country, they’re entertaining a whole new generation of fans – with Tarbert being no exception.

Armed with some new music as well as their biggest hits, The Bluebells did their best to raise the roof of the hall when the crowd joined in with their Number 1 single – Young At Heart.

The Friday night event is especially important for event organisers as the profits raised from ticket sales are ploughed straight back into the festival, helping to keep all other events over the weekend free.

This, together with the money raised from the raffle and profits from the Marquee bar, which is supported by Tarbert Enterprise Company, help to grow the event.

And while the Village Hall rocked, venues in the village launched their own weekend of music with their own bands making sure Tarbert hit play on its 2024 playlist.

Saturday’s music offering kicked off at midday with DJ Lewis from the festival main stage in the marquee at Tarbert Harbour.

They were followed by the Fyne Thyme Ceilidh Band before indie-pop-rock singer/songwriter Allan Purvis stepped onto the festival main stage for the first time.

Allan’s collection of ‘festival of summer anthems’ was the perfect soundtrack for Saturday as the festival crowd made the best of the perfect summer weather.

Bringing the afternoon to a close was another first-time performer to Tarbert Music Festival, passionate and introspective Scottish singer-songwriter David WILTs.

Saturday night was a celebration of traditional local music which crossed all generations.

Named Twirl in the Tent, the evening opened with Lochgilphead’s Forget Me Not Choir.

The choir, which includes people with dementia along with those close to them, won a legion of new fans with their emotional performance.

Of course, there cannot be a music festival in Scotland without a pipe band and organisers were delighted to welcome Loch Fyne Pipe Band to play in the late evening sunshine.

It was then time to take your partners for the Saturday night ceilidh with the West Loch Ceilidh Band.

Led by former Tarbert Academy pupil Amber Blake the band made sure it was a night of great music, wild dancing and fantastic craic.

Sunday afternoon was all about girl power as three powerful performers took to the stage.

Fresh from their debut at this year’ Seafood Festival, band After You. This young band, featuring lead singer Iona Sky from Clachan, returned to entertain the Tarbert Music Festival crowd.

They were followed by new powerhouse singer Roisin McCarney from Glasgow.

And all Roisin’s new fans can look forward to seeing her next weekend, following her announcement that she’ll be appearing on The Voice UK next Saturday night (28th September 28).

And then it was time for the Sunday headliners when The Hedrons took to the mainstage.

The Hedrons are rock royalty having been the opening band for legends such as Sex Pistols, Rolling Stones and Alice in Chains.

Having split up in 2012 the band had unfinished business and reformed in 2023. Since then, they have released their second album Tired of Taking and continued to play their distinctive fusion of rock and punk.

And, as the last note faded out that, as they say, was a wrap.