Tributes to Falkirk musician and founder of Vibration festival who died on Hogmanay hillwalk
Tributes have been paid to a Falkirk businessman and musician who died suddenly on Hogmanay.
Dad-of-two Andy Ure was hillwalking on Ben Vane, near Arrochar, on the last day of the year.
Family became concerned when he had not come off the mountain at the time expected and alerted emergency services.
His body was later found by Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team – with his faithful dog Penny at his side.
Andy, who turned 41 on December 30, was well known as the singer with The Ray Summers band, as well as being involved in many local businesses.
Along with elder brother David, Andy had organised Vibration Festival in Callendar Park, and more recently run Falkirk Fest in the town park bringing thousands of music fans to the outdoor venue.
He also ran The Wee Whisky Shop in Linlithgow and the Wee Coffee Cabins in Grangemouth’s Zetland Park and Muiravonside Country Park.
His devastated family say they are “heartbroken” at his sudden death.
Brother David was the last person to speak to Andy around 1.30pm on December 31.
He said: “He had all this new hillwalking gear for his birthday the day before and wanted to try it out. When I spoke to him he was enjoying being outdoors and said that he expected to be off Ben Vane by around 4pm.
"When I hadn’t heard from him by 5pm I began to get concerned, especially when other people hadn’t heard anything either.”
David said that the family contacted the police who alerted Arrochar Mountain Rescue and they were later told that when Andy had been found by the rescue team members he had already passed away.
He added: “Andy had been determined to get himself fit again and had been back at the gym for the last couple of months. He had also been enjoying going hillwalking. Together with his partner Linsey, he had recently climbed Dumyat and had tackled a lot of the hills in the Ochils – always with his faithful dog Penny by his side. The pair were rarely separated and she stayed with him at the end.”
A spokesperson for the mountain rescue team said they had been alerted late on Hogmanay to the concern for an overdue hillwalker, adding: “Tragically, by the time our team members reached him, the walker had already passed away. The dog was found alive and unharmed and has since been reunited with the man’s family.
"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family, friends, and all those affected by this heartbreaking loss.”
The brothers had organised Vibration Festival in 2019 billing it as a family friendly event with acts such as Feeder, The Coral and Alabama3. However, the 2020 event had to be postponed due to lockdown but it did return in 2021.
Three years later they went down the route of a festival featuring tribute acts and this was repeated last summer. Tickets are already on sale for this summers Falkirk Fest on July 27 with similar events planned for Fife and Strathclyde areas.
David added: “We’ve both been working really hard and I’ve always said that we were two brains making one business to give lots of people special memories.
"Andy was a big personality who threw himself into everything he did. But his two boys were his world: everything he did was for them.
"So many people have lost a part of their world as he meant so much to many.
"For me, I've lost my wee brother, my best pal, my business partner, my sounding board, and the daily reason I used my phone. Heartbroken doesn't even come close."
As well as his two young sons and brother, Andy is survived by partner Linsey Waddell, parents, Derek and Diane, and sister Jacqui.
In a poignant Facebook post, partner Linsey wrote: “On your birthday, you wanted to look at the stars with me. Little did I know the next day you would be one of those stars. You were my guiding light and the biggest star of all.”
His fellow band members at The Ray Summers with whom he had supported acts including Paolo Nutini and Doves, as well as playing at T in the Park, also posted their tribute, writing: “Andy was not only the rock in our band, he was the rock in our lives.
“This hurts so much. All our love and strength goes out to Andy’s Linsey and his two wee boys, his family and all that were so lucky to know him.”
In a post of social media, The Wee Whisky shop expressed its "profound sadness" at the death of its director.
"Words cannot fully express the pain of this loss, and our thoughts are with Andrew's family at this incredibly difficult time," it said.
"Thank you to everyone who has already reached out with their kind messages and condolences."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 7pm on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, we received a report of concern for a hillwalker missing on Ben Vane, near Arrochar.
“Officers and Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team attended and traced the 41-year-old man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
“There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Andy’s family said funeral arrangements will be announced when they have been finalised.
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