Yes it is happening and the dates are the 9th, 10th, and 11th of October 2009. Please put that in your diary now!!!!

This is our 10th anniversary Festival and we have brought back a number of artists who have really supported the Festival over the years. To this end we have commisioned John Goldie, Hugh Burns and Clive Carroll to each write a piece for 3 guitars . These new pieces will be played and recorded at the festival, we will probably also include a live performance of the Isle Martin suite. We then hope to produce another cd of these recordings and all proceeds will of course go towards the costs of the next festival.

We are still in negotiations with a number of musicians who we would like to have playing at this years Festival so the final lineup is not finalised, a number of artists still await their touring schedules(as they play in bands as well)and so cannot commit at this stage.

However we do, in addition to the 3 artists mentioned above,have Wizz Jones,Woody Mann, Gareth Pearson and John Smith booked to appear. So I hope to finalise some more names over the coming months.

The Trade show proved very successful at the 2008 Festival, the foyer area at the Macphail centre proved to be an ideal space for guitar makers to display their wares we are very pleased to announce that the following makers will make a welcome return in 2009:

Avalon Guitars http://www.avalonguitars.com

Fylde Guitars http://www.fyldeguitars.com

Moon Guitars http://www.moonguitars.co.uk

If you are thinking about buying a quality instrument then please take this opportunity to buy it at the Festival, all the exhibitors give huge discounts over the Festival weekend and so it is a chance not to be missed

Festival weekend tickets are now on sale at a cost of £90 per person which entitles the individual to entry to all 5 concerts (in the Macphail Centre) and three Festival clubs (at The Arch Inn)(No Price increase this year!!!)

 To make stewarding easier all concerts will require the ticket holder to wear/display a Festival wristband.

Depending on availability, some individual concert tickets will go on sale in due course.

 Concert audience capacity is restricted to 250 seats, so if you want to see some of these guys up close, then don't hang about and get your weekend tickets bought ASAP.

The Festival clubs will take place in The Arch Inn, 11 West Shore Street, Ullapool, Ross-shire, IV26 2UR tel 01854 612454. (So if you don't want to stagger too far at the end of the night. I know they have some rooms left and would prefer to sell them to people attending the Festival, that way there are no worries about noise etc).

The concert room in the Arch is quite small and intimate and so entry will be restricted to persons wearing appropriately coloured Festival wristbands.

Festival weekend ticket holders- free entry to the Festival Clubs.

Persons attending individual concerts will have to pay a nominal charge at the door, to gain entry to the Festival Club.

Payment for weekend tickets

Please make cheques payable to the Ullapool Guitar Festival and send them to me at West House, West Argyle Street , Ullapool, Ross shire IV26 2TY .

I am sorry but we can't accept payment by credit card.

Programme

Some of the artists are still sorting out itineraries and so the actual concert running orders will be posted on the web site as soon as they are finalised.

Workshops

Will cost adults £10 per head per workshop attended.

School age children free.

Workshop contents details to follow.

Accommodation list.

The Arch Inn tel 01854 612454

The Caledonian Hotel 01854 612306

The Ceilidh Place tel 01854 612103

The Royal Hotel tel 01854 612181

The Argyll Hotel tel 01854 612422

The Ferry Boat Inn 01854 612366

Ladysmith house 01854 613286

Check out www.ullapool.co.uk or www.ullapool.com for more info on accommodation.