• Updates

  • GOPWA Charity Gig
  • Gilchristians to play the Mull of Kintyre Festival!

• Festival Information

  • Perform

    If you are a singer or a songwriter, and you'd like to take part in the festival, then click here to find out how!

  • Artists

    Find out who will be performing at the festival. As we get more details, we'll update this section. Click here for more.

  • Tickets

    You'll need a ticket for the Saturday night event, so click here to find out how you can get one.

  • Location

    Click here to find out how to get to the Festival by air or road.

  • Accommodation

    If you're travelling from afar, you'll need somewhere to stay. Click here to find a list of local hotels and B&B's to suit any budget.

  • 2008 Memories

    Some thoughts from those who were involved in the festival. Click here for more.

  • Music

    As the 2008 festival was a tribute to our good friend Kenneth Gilchrist, we've set up a section where you can hear some of Kenneth's songs. Click here to visit the music download section.

• Other Kintyre Things

  • Fairfield Bed & Breakfast
  • Kintyre Cultural Forum Newsletter
  • Mull of Kintyre Festival
  • Visit Kintyre
  • Kintyre Forum

Firstly, some thanks...

Special thanks for making the festival such a success go to Graham Fuge, Willie Durnan, the staff of White Hart and MacGochans, all the local businesses who sold tickets and advertised the festival, Gordon at Argyll Signs, Niall Brown, Kenny Johnson, Beeshie and Kristen for the buffet, Mr Lind at the Highland Parish Church for use of staging, and everyone else who helped out how they could - there are too many of you to mention by name, but you know who you are. Once again, thanks.

Who Played?

You can find out about the artists who performed in 2008 by visiting this page

Thoughts on the Festival

Within this section, a few of the people who were involved with the festival - either as a performer, an audience member, or part of the organising committee - share their thoughts on what the festival was to them. If you would like to share your thoughts, please email us at info@kintyresongwritersfestival.co.uk.

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I find it hard to put into words how I feel now the first Kintyre Songwriters Festival has come to a close. It was an amazing experience. The whole weekend was a fantasic event for all who were involved and the talent that was showcased was first class. The atmosphere on both the Friday and Saturday nights was electric and the audience were so supportive to all who performed. The performances of Kenny's songs brought back so many memories and they were great tribute to him. Thank you to everyone who gave up their time to perform and organise the event, too many people to name individually but you know all who you are! Looking forward to next year.
Morvern Gilchrist

I have just experienced one of the best weekends ever! So much talent, and so much fun. Everyone was absolutely amazing. Each performer's own material was all brilliant work, there was certainly a very high standard of songwriting ability shown by everyone. I have to take my hat off to you all! Kenny will be hoora proud of us all for putting on such an amazing show. And the organisation can't be faulted at all either, everything went so smoothly. Roll on the DVD! I can't wait to see it! I just wnt to thank and congratulate everyone for a brilliant night! And in the words of Mr Niall Brown: "He was here, he saw it... and he loved it!"
Nicole Harvey

I have just had the most amazing weekend ever... Travelling over 200 miles down the west coast was not tedius in slightest, it was a pure delight. I now understand why Scotland is one of the most beautiful places in the world... I've never met so many talented people. So many heartfelt songs performed with such emotion and two perfect summer days to take it all in, it has certainly made me realise how lucky I am to have been a part of it... I know you have heard me say this over but I truly cannot express how greatful I am to have been invited to such a gorgeous place let alone perform at the festival itself. If only I could thank the man behind it all in person...
Lisa Polson

What a weekend, what a festival. So many highlights, there's just not enough room to write about them all, but a few for me are watching the website take shape all those months ago, stressing over whether we'd have enough time to fit all the performers on the bill, tickets, posters, the endless hours trying to pick out songs for the CD, the actual performance itself... All good stuff. I hope the festival has given everyone the opportunity to hear some more of Kenny's songs than they would have beforehand. That and giving a showcase to everyone's own talent was what I hoped the festival would be, and it was. Roll on next year!
Pete Cockburn

It was an unforgettable musical experience - the other performers, performances and songs were really out of the top drawer and it was a pleasure to be part of it all. The audience was amazing and very supportive - it makes a big difference to the performers if people come to listen. Hearing Kenny's songs in new settings made me appreciate their quality more than ever and I'm convinced they will remain part of the musical landscape long after the rest of us are gone. It was great to hear musical allies old and new but in particular, it was fantastic to see some of the younger guys step out from Kenny's shadow and it is to be hoped that this will be a springboard for them to keep playing their own songs in public. It's easy for me to say as I cheated and got someone else to sing my songs, but it took a lot of guts for the guys who hadn't done it before to stand up and be counted. I was in two minds as to whether I should join in the finale but decided I wanted to listen and I'm so glad I did - that final set was absolutely colossal! Finally, a word for the organisers (the real hard workers!) - everything was so slick and well thought out from the format of the show, to having Niall as the MC, putting the speakers in the bar and the hospitality.
Les Oman

I don't know what to say apart from the evening was amazing! Listening to Sunday Song brought back so many good memories and the evening was a great way to remember a best friend to all. Morvern & all the performers put so much effort into making it a weekend to remember, and I can't wait for 2009.
Helen MacKinlay