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Dunnet music festival organisers ‘always trying to keep ahead of the game’





The Tumbling Souls are returning to Tunes By the Dunes this year. The festival attracts a lot of positive feedback, says Iain Mackay, from bands as well and from the public. Picture: John Wright Studio @johnwrightstudio
The Tumbling Souls are returning to Tunes By the Dunes this year. The festival attracts a lot of positive feedback, says Iain Mackay, from bands as well and from the public. Picture: John Wright Studio @johnwrightstudio

Organisers of Tunes By the Dunes are seeking to “raise the bar” as they look ahead to the annual Dunnet music festival.

Skipinnish will be the headline act for 2025, while festival-goers can look forward to seeing “trad music royalty” in the shape of Julie Fowlis and Duncan Chisholm.

This will be the fifth festival run by North Coast Entertainments using a 1200-capacity marquee at the village’s Ham Park football ground. The dates are September 5 and 6.

Festival coordinator Iain Mackay said: “The next two to three months will come up on us pretty quickly, but it’s probably pretty much a year-round event – we’re looking at bands for the 2026 festival.

“Tickets for this year are available from the Tunes By the Dunes website – and people need to get tickets because there will be no admission for anyone without one. I’d advise people to get their tickets in time.

“The event does attract a lot of positive feedback, both from the public attending and from the bands themselves – how we look after the bands, and how well organised the event is.

“These bands all speak to one another. For example, Duncan Chisholm said to me, ‘I’ve heard it’s a great festival, the guys from Trail West were telling me.’

“It works well, but we never want to rest on our laurels. We’re always trying to raise the bar and keep ahead of the game because there’s a lot of festivals out there that we’re competing with.

“If people are wanting to see these types of bands and that quality of acts coming to Caithness, we’d ask them to support us and buy tickets.”

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Mr Mackay pointed out that Julie Fowlis and Duncan Chisholm have been described as “trad music royalty” and performed at a prestigious New York venue as recently as April.

“Both Julie Fowlis and Duncan Chisholm are not long back from Tartan Week in New York – they played a concert in the Carnegie Hall,” he said.

Festival fans dancing at Tunes By the Dunes 2024. Picture: John Wright Studio @johnwrightstudio
Festival fans dancing at Tunes By the Dunes 2024. Picture: John Wright Studio @johnwrightstudio

Duncan Chisholm will be appearing at the festival as part of Wolfstone, of which he is a founder member, while Julie Fowlis will be with Dóchas – also featuring Carol-Anne Mackay, from Strathy.

“Skipinnish will be headlining the whole weekend,” Mr Mackay said. “Last year they sold out Edinburgh Castle.

“They’re in Dunnet on September 6 and a couple of weeks later they’re in the Hydro in Glasgow for a gig there.

“It’s great to be able to attract these people up to Caithness.”

The line-up also includes the Tumbling Souls, the Siobhan Miller Band, Rhythmnreel, Rhuvaal, Mikie Henderson, Fara and Calum Campbell.

Tickets are for over-18s only. As before, buses will be running from Thurso and Wick and returning immediately after the performances.

Mr Mackay added: “Bus tickets have actually been selling very well. There is no need to take the car, there is certainly transport.”


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