A SCOTTISH island music festival has taken the “incredibly difficult but necessary” decision to cancel at the last minute and evacuate everyone from the site.
Tiree Music Festival said in a statement on Thursday night, less than one day before it was officially due to begin, that “extreme weather conditions” had forced the cancellation.
In a statement, the festival 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.
“We are working extremely hard to make sure this process is safe and all-encompassing and to ensure every single person on site is relocated to safety and escorted to begin a safe journey home.
“We would ask everyone at the festival to please make your way to An Talla [community hall] where our team will be on hand to support you. Anyone who has not started their journey, please do not travel to TMF and if you are on your way to the festival, we would ask you to please make your way home.
“We understand the cancellation is hugely disappointing for everyone involved in the festival but we do not take this decision lightly.
“We will provide further updates as soon as we have them. Our duty of care for everyone at the festival is at the heart of everything we are doing.”
Tiree Music Festival had been due to run from July 7 to 9, but strong rains and winds forecast throughout the weekend have forced the closure.
Around 2000 people attend the event each year – held on an island with a population of just 600.
In a second update issued in the small hours of Friday, the music festival said that lifts to the ferry terminal would begin from 7:30am, with anyone who needs to visit the site to collect belongings taken there first.
Tiree Music Festival further said that CalMac tickets to Oban for across the weekend would be valid on the 10:35am sailing, which would be boarded on a first come first served basis.
"A huge thank you to everyone for their understanding, effort, and support," the statement added.
For all those looking to head for the 10.35am Friday ferry… pic.twitter.com/dXmRFreG3P
— Tiree Music Festival (@TireeMusicFest) July 6, 2023
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here