The popular Oban Live music festival will take a break in 2020, its organisers have announced.
Started by trad-fusion band Skerryvore in 2016 following their sold-out concert in the town the previous year, the event has attracted thousands of music lovers from across the world.
The band say the lack of development at the festival site and increasing costs are behind the decision to take a break.
A statement from Skerryvore said: “This decision was not taken easily but sadly was one that was ultimately inevitable due to the lack of development and improvement of Mossfield Stadium and the annual issues that remain with regards to making the site acceptable for a major event like Oban Live.
“We can no longer keep absorbing the huge costs and risks associated with hosting this event while the facilities deteriorate and costs increase. We had set a deadline of 31st May to Argyll & Bute Council for a clear update on two key questions regarding Mossfield and event funding – once again we have not received a reply and without that information we simply cannot make plans for Oban Live 2020.”
** OBAN LIVE 2020 **
We are sadly announcing today that @OBANLIVE will be taking a break in 2020. The decision was not taken easily but one that was inevitable due to the lack of development and improvement of Mossfield Stadium.
Full story here – https://t.co/MNfBOwsJAS pic.twitter.com/Klh6Ot6y5G
— SKERRYVORE (@SKERRYVORE) June 21, 2019
The band say they have proved Oban is an “amazing host town” for such major events, with over 25,000 people passing through Mossfield’s gates.
Ticket sales have remained high, with this year’s event featuring the likes of Be Charlotte, Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Skerryvore themselves.
The statement continued: “In these past four years, both members of the band and the event team have attended numerous meetings with Argyll & Bute Council, sanctioned independent reports and provided stats, figures and suggestions with regard to the development of Mossfield.
“Despite this, making Mossfield event ready for Oban Live 2019 was more problematic than it was for the first concert in 2015 as no improvements had been made and accessibility had become worse.
“With no confirmation from the council with regards to development or funding going forward then we have no option but to place Oban Live on hold.”
Skerryvore say they have spent over £1.5million to deliver Oban Live.
“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to our Oban Live team, our sponsors, partners and volunteers who have helped us deliver Argyll’s largest music concert in the past four years,” they added.
“An extra special thanks has to go to BID4Oban who have been our key partner every year and enabled the event to deliver significant economic benefits to the Oban business community on a non-holiday weekend.
“Our final thanks is to the community of Oban. Back in 2005, when we started Skerryvore, we had a dream to host a ‘stadium gig’ and for the past four years you have made those dreams come true and have been the best hosts for all our followers that have travelled to Oban to be part of what has been the best moments of our career. We sincerely hope that we’ll be back in Oban and Mossfield again in the future when the time is right.”
2020 marks the 15th anniversary of the band, and they have earmarked June 6 for a special celebration.
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe