May 31, 2019 OBAN LIVE

One week to go: Oban gearing up for thousands expected at local music festival

Oban is gearing up to welcome thousands of visitors next week to Argyll’s biggest outdoor live music event, Oban Live.

Taking place at Oban’s famous shinty grounds Mossfield Stadium on June 7 and 8, the award-winning two-day music concert enters its fourth year running in 2019. Running off-peak in early June, the 5,000 capacity event brings significant social, cultural and economic benefits to the town and, in 2018, injected a £1.4million boost to Oban’s economy.

This year’s impressive line-up includes Oban Live founders Skerryvore, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, We Banjo 3, Lucy Spraggan, Be Charlotte, Elephant Sessions and more.

Exclusive features include The Caman Connection, a celebration of songs that were written about Shinty, featuring a star-studded line-up of Scottish traditional musicians who have an association with the sport. Also reuniting at Oban Live is the Celtic Brotherhood, a collaboration between Skerryvore and Irish blue grass quartet We Banjo 3. The two bands caused a comedy storm on social media during their joint American tour last year as they fought for votes in their widely popular Bagpipes versus Banjo campaign.

Gates open at 4pm and close at 11.30pm each day giving ticket holders time to explore the town and enjoy the Oban Live Fringe too during their visit.

Organisers say the 2019 Oban Live Fringe is their best yet thanks to the support from local Oban businesses and the local community. The brand new Fringe programme was launched earlier this month and is available to download at www.obanlive.com/fringe and can be picked up in outlets across the town.  The eclectic list of events includes a gin tasting afternoon, craft market, live music across pubs, a Fringe launch party at Oban Distillery, the official after party at The View Oban, featuring Project Smok and Dosca, and more. Oban Live ticket holders also get to take advantage of several shop, activity, food and drink offers across the town over Oban Live weekend.

A special Oban Live Express bus service is being operated by West Coast Motors serving Argyll areas around Oban including Ardrishaig, Kilmelford, Kilmore, Inveraray, Dunoon and Connel with stops along the way. Bus tickets are available from the West Coast Motors website under Fares & Tickets. The return service departs Oban Station Square at quarter past midnight each night.

Tickets are selling faster than previous years and can be purchased via www.obanlive.com.