There is some doubt that the Millport Country Music Festival is one of the biggest events of the year in British country music, so it was amazing to see the stellar full line-up announced yesterday. Headliners Drake White and Sunny Sweeney are joined by some of the cream of international artists (Candi Carpenter, Ruthie Collins and Alyssa Bonagura to name just three), alongside many of the best in the British country. On the program, the winners of the UKCMSA Morganway, Tim Prottey-Jones, Kezia Gill, Two Ways Home and Emma Moorealongside great ambassadors of the United Kingdom such as Gary Quinn, Jade Helliwell and Stevie O’Connor.
Yesterday’s lineup was fully completed with the announcement that Roots of Modern Age Music join forces with the festival, taking over the Cactus Jack stage for the afternoon of Saturday 20andAugust 2022. Headlining this segment will be the wonderful Sarah darlingjoined by the excellent trio of One Trick Pony, Georgia Nevada and Megane Rose.
It’s sure to be an incredible weekend on the Isle of Cumbrae, an event billed as ‘the beating heart of country music in Scotland’. (Ticketing link at the bottom of the page)
Here is the full press release from the festival:
37 artists will appear on five stages at this year’s Millport Country Music Festival, with 11 coming from the US, 11 Scottish and the rest from the rest of the UK and Ireland, representing a wide range of country, americana and roots .
Drake White & The Big Fire will headline the Nashfield Main Stage at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday August 20, preceded by Sunny Sweeney, Blue Rose Code, Morganway and Kenny Foster. Also in Nashfield will be the new Spotlight Stage, which will feature Ruthie Collins, Stevie O’Connor, Alyssa Bonagura, Tim Prottey-Jones and Two Ways Home.
Maverick Acoustic Stage will return, featuring Friday August 19 Candi Carpenter with Robert Vincent, Jessie G and Sandy McLelland also appearing that night, while Saturday Chris Mossop, Emma Moore, Chase Stapleton, Roseanne Reid, Arbor North, Kezia Gill, Kevin McGuire and Songbyrd will lead the Gary Quinn & Friends Acoustic Jam finale, which will feature many island artists for the weekend.
Nashville’s Kaitlyn Baker will begin performances at Cactus Jack’s on Friday, August 19, with Longstay and Alyssa Bonagura Band leading the Honky Tonk Roadshow to close out the Friday night party. On Saturday night, Jade Helliwell, Chloe & The Country Rocks Band and The Scoundrels will keep audiences bouncing until midnight.
Our line dance venue, Dance Ranch, will be playing all weekend, led by Rodeo Stomp and featuring performances by festival favorites Rick Lambert, Carson City and James + Wood, giving new and experienced line dancers the chance to shuffling those feet throughout the festival.
Weekend ticket holders will be able to choose from all of the above, while Saturday-only tickets will cover noon until 7:30 p.m. and allow holders to enjoy 23 artists during this time. Calmac will provide extended service over the festival weekend, including late ferries, allowing Saturday-only ticket holders plenty of time to return to the mainland after Drake White’s performance.
Millport Country Music Festival is located within the grounds of Garrison House, right in the center of Millport itself on the Isle of Cumbrae, less than an hour west of Glasgow. There will be excellent food, drink and shopping options for festival goers within the festival grounds and elsewhere in the city. A regular bus service will transport guests not coming by car to and from the ferry dock.
Weekend and Saturday tickets only, camping and glamping details are available now at www.millportcountrymusic.com
