LOOPALLU’S SOLD OUT 10TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
The team behind Loopallu are overwhelmed and flattered to announce the festival has SOLD OUT without an act being announced. Testament to the wonderful legion of fans the festival has lovingly built over the ten years.
To kick those celebrations off we’re delighted to announce the first batch of acts joining us, and with a mix of new names, and previous festival favourites, there’s something for everyone.
Leading the announcements are Britpop legends SHED SEVEN. Having had sixteen consecutive Top Forty UK hits (including, Chasing Rainbows, Going for Gold & Disco Down), with ten appearances on Top of the Pops and a fan base as big & loyal as Shed Sevens’ is a testament to their ‘live’ performances and superb songs. Two decades on, and the band are playing packed shows across the country, indeed, selling more tickets now than they’ve ever done.
Having headlined the very first Loopallu ten years ago, we are proud to be welcoming back one of the most influential punk bands of the 1970’s, THE UNDERTONES. Having written John Peel’s favourite song of all time, the punk anthem Teenage Kicks, they will yet again prove to be one of the weekends highlights.
Bringing their ‘Acoustic & Unplugged’ show North, Loopallu’s most requested actALABAMA 3, strip back to give a new dimension to the songs made famous by the band. This isn’t acid house music, this is country/gospel/delta blues, but played with a rhythm you’ve still got to dance to.
After much pleading by the band, PUBLIC SERVICE BROADACSTING return with their uniquely spell-binding live AV Transmissions. PSB weave samples from old public information films, archive footage and propaganda material around live drums, guitar, banjo and electronics as they teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future.
Other acts confirmed to appear over the weekend include NME endorsed future stars NEON WALTZ, Award winning, and tipped Australian singer-songwriter KIM CHURCHILL who’s fresh from supporting Billy Bragg in his Tooth & Nail tour; rising Scottish indie band VIGO THIEVES; BBC Radio 2’s Ones to Watch for 2014 and local heroes HUNTER & THE BEAR; Dundee’s MODEL AEROPLANES who have been winning audiences at festivals all summer; Barra’s finest VATERSAY BOYS; then would Loopallu be complete without one of our biggest supporters 6Music/Radio 2’s MARK RADCLIFFE who brings his new band THE FOES to Ullapool in the duel role of band and local ale aficionados.
New for this year, we’re pleased to have teamed up with Ullapool Book Festival to present Literally Literary, a celebration of writing which includes bestselling authorChristopher Brookmyre; Katie Morag creator Mairi Hedderwick; writer, musician and journalist Doug Johnstone; Loopallu regular, and BBC presenter Vic Gallowaychats about his debut novel and Aidan Moffat better known as the frontman for Arab Strap, and now childrens author.
‘Everything a little festival should be. Friendly, well organised, great music, good beer and a magnificent location.
Every time I go, and there have been quite a few, I am torn between telling people how great it is, and wanting to keep it a secret because it’s so special. Cheers Robert and Helen and all at Loopallu. Here’s to the next ten years!
Mark Radcliffe, sitting in Cheshire and counting down the days before we head North again.’
Mark Radcliffe, 6Music & Radio 2
‘They said it couldn’t be done, a festival in the North West of Scotland , in late September… and here we are ten years later. It never ceases to amaze me how people have taken Loopallu to their hearts. Whether they’ve walked a few hundred yards to get here or flown around the globe. That goes for the bands too, looking back we’ve managed to attract everyone from Paolo Nutini to Mumford & Sons, Jake Bugg to Franz Ferdinand. It can’t help but make you smile. To have sold out this year before announcing a single act is testament to fact people know they’ll have a great time whoever’s playing. Roll on our 20th birthday.’
Robert Hicks, Festival Founder & Organiser
Loopallu takes place in the west coast village of Ullapool on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th of September 2014 and doubles the population of the village for the weekend. As well as the usual eclectic line up of acts appearing at the festival big top and the fringe events after hours in the villages pubs, the festival will again provide a selection of fine food and drink from around the Highlands as well as the usual warm Ullapool welcome.
Tickets for this year’s festival are now sold out.
