BID4Oban and Oban Live are inviting Oban businesses to get involved in the music concert’s Fringe Programme this year, running from Thursday June 6 to Sunday June 9.
The Fringe Partners project comes as business improvement district group BID4Oban has confirmed it will back Oban Live for a fourth year running, providing key financial and administration support for the cultural event.
At last year’s Oban Live Fringe, a number of Oban’s bars, cafes, shops and activity providers put on a range of events and special offers over Oban Live weekend. Oban Live ticket holders took advantage of added entertainment, including live music, in many pubs and cafes as well as special discounts in the town’s shops.
Marketing of the 2019 Fringe Programme will be handled by Oban Live and BID4Oban and will include a dedicated Fringe web page on obanlive.com, social media push, email marketing and offline promotion in the town. Participating businesses will also be given an Oban Live Fringe Partner window sticker to display at their establishment during the weekend.
Oban will host the Queen Victoria Cruise Ship on Friday June 7, the first day of the event, so Oban Live and the Oban Live Fringe will be an opportunity to give the overseas visitors an even more exciting experience of Oban. BID4Oban staff will be handing out Oban Live Fringe programmes as passengers disembark at North Pier Pontoons on June 7 as well as other information about Oban.
Feedback from Oban Live 2018 suggested that there were not many places open for breakfast on the Sunday morning. Relevant local businesses have been invited to run “Oban Live Breakfast Specials” that the event can promote to ticket holders this year.
It is free for businesses to submit an event or offer and become an Oban Live Fringe Partner and outlets can upload their Fringe details at www.obanlive.com/fringepartners. Fringe events must take place before and after Oban Live which runs 4pm until 11.30pm on Friday June 7 and Saturday June 8 to ensure that no-one misses out on the main event.
Chief Executive for BID4Oban, Andrew Spence, said: “The Fringe is a fantastic opportunity to further encourage visitor spend in local businesses whilst complimenting the main event itself. The economic impact for Oban, as a result of visitors coming to the town for Oban Live, was £1.4 million last year and this is growing year-on-year.”
He added: “The event’s year-round marketing activity helps put Oban on the map as a top cultural destination. With an increase in ticket sales and the award of Best Cultural Event at the 2018 Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards, Oban Live has proven itself to be an all round social, cultural and economic benefit for Oban and we are delighted to support it again in 2019.”
Naomi Hoolahan, Event Director for Oban Live, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with BID4Oban and Oban’s business community and thank them once again for the financial grant and resource support, which, in our early days growing the event, is critical. Collaborative working is key when delivering a first class event and cultural experience for thousands of people, especially in a small area such as Oban.
She added: “Thanks to all the businesses who took part last year and we look forward to receiving events and special offer ideas that we can add to our 2019 Fringe, which is improving every year. 60% of Oban Live’s audience come from outside of Argyll and Bute and so the Fringe is a great opportunity to show off everything Oban has to offer.”
More information can be found at www.obanlive.com/fringepartners.
Tickets are on sale now for Oban Live which takes place June 7 & 8 at Mossfield Stadium in Oban. It is the biggest outdoor live music concert in Argyll and enters its fourth year running in 2019. Last year’s attendance figures reached 8,027 and injected £1.4million into the local economy. Visit www.obanlive.com.