Falling in love with the island of Iona turned out to be so much more than a summer romance for seasonal worker Laura O’Neill.
Smitten by the Inner Hebridean isle that is just 1.5 miles wide and three miles long, the 22-year-old student, who had seasonal work at Martyr’s Bay Cafe, has come up with a novel way to stay connected.
Thanks to Laura and co-organiser Will Gregory, Iona will be welcoming hundreds of music lovers next summer when a new festival – Sound of Iona – lands on its shores.
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“Last year was the first time I visited Iona and I came back to work here again this summer. I’ve fallen in love with the place and the community. I wanted to give something back as a thank you and came up with the idea of a festival.
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“Will has been on the island the past two years as well and it was his idea originally.The response from islanders has been amazing. Everyone has come onboard wanting to offer what they can,” said Laura.
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The inaugural Sound of Iona Music Festival will see a host of indie rock and Scottish folk acts take to the stage on Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22. Tickets are on sale now, £75 for the weekend plus £25 for camping.
Islanders got the first chance to buy tickets and the rest are disappearing so be quick at booking yours, says Laura.
The line-up is bursting with Scottish talent, including folk singer Iona Fyfe, Aberdeen indie band The Little Kicks and Glasgow-based rockers STRAiD.
Acts will perform at two venues throughout the festival: Isle of Iona Village and Hall and the Rookery Café.
The village hall will welcome the festival’s headline acts across both days, with the Rookery hosting a number of Glasgow’s top buskers.
Laura added: “I’m at university in Glasgow so I’m out and about in the city streets a lot, listening to buskers and I thought I’d give them somewhere to perform.
“Our line-up is packed with talented and up-and-coming acts who we know will go down a storm with the audiences. There is something for everyone.
“We hope this festival will provide a fantastic couple of days for the crowds and act as a catalyst for future investment on this wonderful island.”
MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards winner Iona Fyfe is already a big fan of the festival. She said: “The line-up of the festival looks great. The weekend will be so special. Getting to play at a festival on my namesake island that has such an intriguing and beautiful history is a privilege. I trust it won’t be a quiet one though!”
Tickets, on sale now via Eventbrite, gives access to both venues for the entire festival.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sound-of-iona-music-festival-68627572633
At checkout, festival-goers can also buy a camping ticket for Iona Campsite and pre-order merchandise including tote bags, hoodies and t-shirts.
The full line-up will be released soon.
Stay tuned for updates by following @soundofionamf on Instagram and Twitter or Sound of Iona Music Festival on Facebook.
Caption: Iona is getting ready to host Scotland’s newest folk festival in 2024.
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