EDF Archives - Am Paipear

Hell yeah! Rocking finale for EDF

July 31, 2016

Oasis tribute act Stop the Clocks. © Am Pàipear

After a sensational opening session last night, Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF) presented an amazing line-up of rock acts last night (Saturday 30th July) for a pulsating end to a cracking weekend of live music.

Earlier in the day – which included activities for families on the EDF site at Liniclate – entertainment in the main tent was provided by acts including Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band, Angel, Chris McGill, The Shed and Uist Pipe Band.

Chris McGill. © Am Pàipear

Beinn Lee Ceilidh Band kicked off the evening session, followed later by The Tailormade, a trio once described as “the best buskers in London” by then Mayor of London Boris Johnson. They performed a mix of covers – including a rousing version of Kanye West song ‘Goldigger’ – and an original composition – ‘Benbecula’ – penned earlier in the day (watch out for a video on the Am Pàipear page on Facebook).

The Tailormade. © Am Pàipear

As the evening progressed it almost seemed as though Benbecula had been swapped for Manchester, with Stone Roses tribute act Resurrection taking to the stage, closely followed by Oasis tribute band Stop the Clocks.

Resurrection performed a series of Stone Roses classics. © Am Pàipear

Stop the Clocks channeled the spirit of Oasis for EDF. © Am Pàipear

Finally the evening – and the first music festival for Benbecula – was rounded off with a storming set from the legendary Donnie Munro. He performed a series of songs from his own back catalogue – and former band RunRig – to the delight of the crowd.

Donnie Munro. © Am Pàipear

Yesterday saw acts including Skippinish, Vatersay Boys, Trail West, ABBA A RIVAL and Fatlips perform on the first night of EDF 2016. More than 3000 people are believed to have attended over the course of the two-day festival, which it is anticipated will return next year.

Donnie Munro closing EDF. © Am Pàipear

Look out for more pictures and details from EDF 2016 in the next edition of Am Pàipear.

It’s official…Benbecula is currently hosting the best festival ever!

July 30, 2016

Skippinish headlining EDF last night. © Am Pàipear

Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF) got off to a rocking start last night with more than 1000 revellers enjoying a sensational evening of music, dance, food and drink…

Following years of planning and a colossal volunteer effort setting-up over the past week, Benbecula’s first music festival got underway on Liniclate machair last night.

Alex MacDonald & Friends (above) opened EDF. © Am Pàipear

Skippinish headlined yesterday’s exceptional evening of entertainment, topping a bill that included Vatersay Boys, Trail West, ABBA A RIVAL, Fatlips and local group Alex MacDonald & Friends.

EDF is sold out with some 3000 people expected over the course of the two-day event. Local residents are being joined by many people from the mainland and around the world for the festival.

Pirates ahoy! This hen party travelled from Inverness to EDF. © Am Pàipear

Festivalgoers snapping memories to look back on. © Am Pàipear

Music performed last night varied from the impromptu ceilidh session kicked off by AlexMacDonald & Friends to the rock classics performed by Fatlips. ABBA tribute band ABBA A RIVAL warmed up the crowd with a selection of the hits of the Swedish icons, before Trail West, Vatersay Boys and Skippinish gave the night a rousing send-off.

Fatlips got the EDF crowd rocking. © Am Pàipear

ABBA A RIVAL got the crowd buzzing. © Am Pàipear

Trail West were the first of three trad bands to headline last night. © Am Pàipear

As well as the main tent, the EDF site includes spaces for stalls and merchandise sales, fairground rides and several mobile food stalls.

Helen MacLean and Sarah MacEachen manning the merchandise stall. © Am Pàipear

Doors open again today (Saturday 30th July) at midday, with lots of family fun promised throughout the afternoon.

Today will see Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band, Ceilidh Trail, Angel, Alex, Chris McGill, The Shed, Uist Pipe Band, Beinn Lee Ceilidh Band, Chunks, The Tailormade, Resurrection, Stop the Clocks take to the stage.

Former frontman for RunRig, Donnie Munro and his band, will headline tonight.

Look out for more pictures and details in the next edition of Am Pàipear.

Voove to keep EDF crowd connected with WiFi

June 24, 2016

Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF) has announced Benbecula-based firm Voove will provide full on-site WiFi coverage over the course of the two-day event.

As a result, festival-goers will be able to instantly post their happy snaps online as they dance the nights away. EDF will also provide secure phone charging points to allow guests to charge their phones as and when required.

Connectivity provided by local technology company Voove – which earlier this month revealed it will be providing WiFi at the Belladrum tartan Heart Festival – is expected to be a big hit with the crowds at Scotland’s newest music festival.

EDF founder Roddy MacKay said: “I’m delighted that with the support of Voove we can offer this essential digital service to our guests here at EDF 2016. Connectivity in the islands is absolutely paramount for tourism and industry, so to be able to have our guests instant reactions from a site that normally does not even have a mobile signal, nevermind Wi-Fi, is absolutely fantastic.”

Advance vouchers are available online from https://www.voove.com/product-category/edf-wi-fi-vouchers/ at a discounted cost of £6 for one day, or £10 for the duration of the festival. These are strictly limited so make sure you get yours quick.

On-site, vouchers will be £8, and £15 respectively, available at the Voove stand within the main arena. Voove’s expert team will be on hand to support festival goers with any connection issues.

Tickets for this first Festival in Benbecula are selling fast so if you don’t have yours yet then make sure you get them now at www.ticketsource.co.uk/edffestival or pop in to the office at East Camp in Balivanich.

£10,000 funding boost for EDF

June 24, 2016

Eilean Dorcha Festival (EDF) has secured £10,000 support from Awards for All.

Taking place on Liniclate machair on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th July, EDF is the first ever music festival for Benbecula. Acts including Skippinish, Vatersay Boys, Trail West and Donnie Munro will take to the stage over a weekend like no other for the islands.

Funding from Awards for All – a partnership by sportscotland and the Big Lottery Fund – will help cover the costs of setting up the annual festival.

EDF Chairman Roddy MacKay commented “We are delighted to get this award to help us deliver Benbecula’s first music festival. Not since Runrig played at Liniclate more than 20 years ago has there been anything like this held in Uist. With former frontman Donnie Munro returning, it’s sure to be a momentous weekend.

“We will have nearly 20 acts this year and there’s sure to be something for everyone. This award will allow us to showcase Benbecula and the Southern Isles and what they have to offer at a crucial time for the tourism industry here in the islands.”

A spokesperson for Awards for All said: “These grants, totalling just under one million pounds will benefit over 130 groups across the country and shows the variety of projects that can be funded through Awards for All. We are always surprised at the difference a relatively small amount of money can make providing support and advice to people in communities across Scotland and wish all of these groups the best of luck for the future.”

Awards for All Scotland gives out grants of between £500 and £10,000 to projects that bring communities together to enjoy a range of activities. Groups can download this form here www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/awardsforallscotland

Hell yeah! Rocking finale for EDF

It’s official…Benbecula is currently hosting the best festival ever!

Voove to keep EDF crowd connected with WiFi

£10,000 funding boost for EDF

SEARCH

DEADLINES

ADVERTISE

CONTACT US