Perthshire Amber Festival announces the 2015 line-up

The festival base of operations in the tiny village of Butterstone in Perthshire will have its broadband buzzing and phone lines overloaded at 4pm (UK time) today when fans from all over the world compete for sought after ‘package deals’ and tickets for favourite venues.  Scotland’s “wee gem of a festival” is back for 2015 with a sparkling line-up of brilliant music.  Headliners include ‘home grown’ talent Dallahan, Emily Smith, Rura, Ross Ainslie, Blazin’ Fiddles, Karine Polwart, Benny Gallagher and The Wrigley Sisters all playing alongside Dougie MacLean, festival founder and the singer songwriter who gave us Scotland’s unofficial anthem Caledonia.  The festival begins on 30 October and runs for ten days until the 8 November, bringing song, music and fantastic tunes to stunning autumnal Perthshire.

The well-loved festival features 25 venues throughout the region including historic castles, the stunning Dunkeld Cathedral, cosy village halls, the ancient Ironage Crannog on Loch Tay and the prestigious Perth Concert Hall.  The Barn at Inchyra is a new venue for 2015, which is a wonderfully atmospheric venue dating from 1877 and formerly home to the cattle from the Inchyra Estate.  It fell into ruin only to be beautifully restored over the past couple of years and festival organisers are delighted to add The Barn at Inchyra to the host of quirky and fascinating venues used during the festival.

The festival has always had a strong representation of ‘rest of UK’ and international talent and this year is no different Bella Hardy, Elliott Morris and Jess Morgan hailing from different parts of England The Mae Trio from Australia; Jessie Will from New Zealand, Stanley Samuelson from the Faroe Islands will all travel to Scotland for the festival as well as the welcome return of Buddy MacDonald from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Dougie MacLean, Co-founder and Musical Director of the Festival comments:

“It was such a busy year in 2014 with the Closing Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, my collaboration with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and celebrating 40 years as a touring musician and we’re keen to build on that success for 2015.  I am delighted with the line-up for this year’s festival, it offers a great mix of exciting new talent with traditional folk and well-known names.  Though I’m looking forward to the summer I always love that time when the leaves start to turn – it’s my favourite time of year and Perthshire always looks stunning in the autumn. Somehow we’ve managed to do it every year and once again I have that feeling that 2015 will be the best Perthshire Amber yet!”

Last year the festival broke records by bringing over 10,000 visitors to Perthshire and an economic impact of well over £1 million which festival organisers are keen to extend that this year.  With the help of Dougie MacLean’s international profile, visitors from 26 different countries were drawn to the festival in 2014 along with music fans from all over the UK, which all adds to the exciting festival atmosphere.

The fringe programme ‘Amber Discoveries’ will continue to support and promote new music and up-and-coming talent through the Open Mic afternoons and early evening Cabaret Amber, which are both free admission.  The ever-popular Decorated Wheelbarrow Procession will return to the streets of Dunkeld to mark the first Sunday of the festival processing to the historic Stanley Hill where a Clanranald Medieval Village will somehow sit comfortably alongside a visit form the Antonine Guard!…all amid an afternoon of great music and some crazy games that all the family can enjoy! As usual throughout the 10 days there will be guided walks, talks and demonstrations, which will be announced later in the year.  Along with the return of the ‘always sold out’ SongBus the festival is introducing in 2015 new ‘Morning Minibus Trips’ taking visitors to explore special parts of Perthshire, which are off the tourist trail to give them a real flavour of Perthshire’s undiscovered hidden gems.

Perthshire Amber Festival – 30 October – 8 November 2015

Tickets on sale from 4pm (UK time) on Tuesday 14 April

www.perthshireamber.com to find out more and book tickets

or call the box office on 00 44 (0)1350 724 281

Follow us: www.twitter.com/perthshireamber

 Join us: https://www.facebook.com/Perthshire-Amber-The-Dougie-MacLean-Festival/