Tiree island music festival cancelled day before due to 'extreme weather'

Tiree Music Festival has been cancelled just a day before the first act was due on stage, after extreme weather battered the island on Thursday.

Festivalgoers who took the ferry to the island on Wednesday and Thursday have been asked to make their way to Tiree’s An Talla community centre.

The island has strong winds and rain forecast over Friday and Saturday.

Hundreds of people have reportedly been taken in by islanders, with festival organisers saying all campers had been secured accommodation.

They also advised that Friday’s ferry to Oban was at 10.35am and foot passenger tickets for sailings across the weekend would be valid for this journey.

Everyone who can make their way to the ferry terminal by themselves can do so, and everyone else will be provided with transportation on a first-come-first-served basis.

Organisers of TMF said: “Due to the extreme weather conditions we have taken the incredibly difficult but necessary decision to cancel Tiree Music Festival 2023 and vacate all campers, glampers, visitors and vendors to safety.

“The safety of everyone on site is our number one priority and this decision is based on the advice of trusted partner authorities and our on-site health and safety, security, medical and event management teams following the extreme weather conditions we are facing.”

Performances at the Scottish folk music festival were due to run from Friday to Sunday, featuring Wet Wet Wet, Tide Lines and Skerryvore among 26 bands on the line-up.

The programme also boasting opportunities for beach yoga, Gaelic song workshops, ceilidhs, walking tours and magic shows.

CalMac said its Thursday evening sailing to Tiree from Oban had been unable to berth.

It said the Oban ferry terminal would remain open overnight tonight to accommodate those without accommodation.

The TMF statement added: “We must once again stress to everyone who was planning to come to Tiree, or who are on their way to us, to please turn around and make your way home.”