Scotland’s popular Loopallu music festival will return next year after organisers – who had claimed this year’s event was to be the last ever – bowed to growing public pressure from hard-core fans.
The 13th festival hosted in Ullapool – Loopallu backwards – had been promoted as the last ever, because increased demand for visitor accommodation had made it harder for people to attend.
But organiser Robert Hick yesterday announced it will now make a comeback next year, and will continue for as long as there is a willing audience.
He said: “We have been left humbled and overwhelmed by the response following the last festival.
“It has become obvious to me that Loopallu has now become part of the DNA of Ullapool.
“I genuinely believed this year’s was going to be the last one ever.”
He stressed he was “not some kind of charlatan” who had always intended to continue the festival and had sought to stage a publicity stunt, adding: “During this year’s event festival goers told me that regardless of whether Loopallu continued or not, their accommodation for 2018 was booked so they would be making their annual journey to Ullapool.
“The levels of affection for Loopallu were highlighted this year as everyone shared stories of the number of years they have attended, the friends, future husbands and wives and festival family they have met.
“We are genuinely humbled, and indeed overwhelmed by what our, no, your event means to you. So as long as you want to keep coming, we will try and keep putting it on.”
This year the acts included Glasvegas and The View. Crime writer Ian Rankin also gave a talk.
In previous years, The Wonder Stuff, Twin Atlantic and Mark Radcliffe’s band Galleon Blast have played.
When Loopallu began Mr Hicks said it was with the aim to give the community a last lift in the season before the long, quiet winter months.
Tickets online go on sale at 10am tomorrow from www.loopallu.co.uk
A limited number of physical tickets will be available from Eden Court, in Inverness, and The Arch Inn, Ullapool, from noon next Friday.
