It will be nearly ten years to the day since the village of Gairloch had a mix of music, real ales, and entertainment over a May weekend. However, all this changes this year and the “SRADFEST” will be taking place during the 12th, 13th, and 14th of May 2006.

“Sradfest”? This is from the Gaelic for a “spark”, and emphasises the ongoing enthusiasm for holding another festival in the area.Although the underlying intention of the event is to be able to give locally based manufacturers and craftsmen the opportunity to show their produce to a wider audience than would normally be possible, there is no denying it is also an opportunity to give visitors yet another reason to visit this beautiful area through the promise of a good weekend of music and entertainment.

Encouraging the drive north (or south, east, and west), the headline act will be The Sensational Alex Harvey Band whom many recall as one of the finest Scottish blues and rock bands. Going by audience reaction to a gig in Inverness just over a year ago, the band are as strong as ever, and they promise to deliver a stunning performance at the festival Marquee on the Saturday night. Backing comes from “Box O’ Bananas”, described as the “best ceilidh band in the country”. Other bands appearing are the Wang Dang Delta Blues band, Davy Amos, Davy Cowan & Rachel Parker, Tarneybackle, Empty House, Stereoglo, and Bob Pegg.

As well as music, there will be a wide range of real ales on tap (The Old Inn is one of the premier Real Ale pubs on the West Coast), local seafood, fresh local produce, and a range of stalls and activities to keep adults and youngsters alike entertained for the day

The Old Inn and Gairloch Highland Lodge are the two hotels principally involved with the festival, providing both the marquee site and space for many of the other weekend activities. Their owner, Alastair Pearson, had this this to say about the event:

“We are proud of the wealth of natural resources and range of cottage industries found throughout the area. This weekend will be an excellent opportunity to discover it all close up. The drive alone to Gairloch is a memorable experience”

Tickets for the event are on sale NOW, and can be obtained from the Old Inn itself on 01445 712006. Information on local accomodation and other facilities is available from there as well, and through the local tourism association, Celtic Fringe. Their email address is contact@celticfringe.org.uk  website: www.celticfringe.org.uk

There is a link to a downloadable flyer for the festival at: http://www.celticfringe.org.uk/poster.pdf