B-fest revellers to have a blast
WICK’s Riverside is set to rock as 2500 people are expected to revel in the far north’s biggest music festival as B-fest sees summer out with a bang.
Now in its fourth year, the line-up continues to grow from strength to strength with Stars from The Commitments set to headline a line-up hailed by organisers as the best yet. Preparations got under way yesterday afternoon to erect the two stages and ancillary facilities at the festival site.
Festival founder Ryan Cook said sales tickets online and in Thurso have gone up from previous years and is confident the last remaining ones will sell out before tomorrow.
"It is all systems go and we’re in the process of building the two stages where the best line-up the festival has seen will perform," he said.
"Overall, ticket sales are 200 behind on last year, but we have seen an increase in sales online and from the west of the county.
"But sales are going well and punters can still pay at the door on the day until we are sold out."
Headlining this year’s festival are Stars from The Commitments who gained fame in the early 90s with classic hits such as Mustang Sally, Try a Little Tenderness and In the Midnight Hour.
Scottish acts performing include pop-rock trio The Xcerts from Aberdeen who have toured with the likes of Twin Atlantic, Biffy Clyro, Fightstar and Brand New.
Dundee-based folk band, Anderson, McGinty, Webster, Ward and Fisher were named as the best new band at the Scottish Variety Awards 2013.
Among the local acts set to play include Thurso rock group Cactus and Cardigan who released their debut EP Gag Reflex in April and Wick-based indie rock band Gale who released two self-recorded demo tracks which have already picked up airplay on Jim Gellatly’s show on Radio Scotland.
B-fest will be the latter’s first live performance.
As well as booking recognised names from the indie scene, Mr Cook said the festival was also about giving local talent a chance to shine.
"We have nine Caithness bands playing at this year’s festival which is the most we have ever had," he said.
"The Caithness music scene seems to get stronger each year, we always give local bands a shot to perform on stage and have never said no to any bands from the area who want to play as it is part of what the festival is all about.
"The new bands are also the strongest line up we’ve ever had with names such as Brown Bear and the Bandits, Finding Albert and The Oxides performing."
An economic impact study claims that since B-Fest was first established in 2010, it has brought an additional £500,000 to the Caithness economy.
B-fest 2013 kicks off at the Riverside from noon tomorrow until late.