Axe falls on Loopallu music festival after 13 years

Singer songwriter Newton Faulkner has been among the acts to appear at the Loopallu festival since it was launched in 2005.

Organisers of Loopallu, which has brought the likes of Paolo Nutini, Franz Ferdinand, Mumford and Sons and Twin Atlantic to Ullapool, will be staged for the last time this September.

The announcement cane after the event was forced to relocate from the Broomfield Holiday Park, on the banks of Loch Broom, after a dispute with its owners.

The View, Glasvegas, Hunter and the Bear, Turin Brakes, The Rezillos and The Vatersay Boys will be among the acts to perform at the event's swansong, which will be staged at Ullapool harbour.

Loopallu was founded by Ullapool-based promoter Rob Hicks in 2005, with the American band Hayseed Dixie helping to get the event off the groud by headlining the first two festivals.

The event, championed by BBC DJs Janice Long, Mark Radcliffe and Vic Galloway, is believed to the most lucrative of the year for the local economy.

However the relocation to the harbour meant the event's capacity was forced to be cut.

A statement on the Loopallu Facebook page said: "With a heavy heart,

we’ve decided that our 13th outing is going to be our last. There’s no time to be sad, it’s time to celebrate what has made Loopallu so special over the years.

"Time to celebrate how the little event with a big heart transformed a small west coast village at the end of the season, bringing millions of pounds into the economy over the years, and not to mention the priceless friendships established.

"It’s time to bring back some of our favourite acts over the years, but also introduce some new ones too; some established household names and some stars of the future.

"The whole team would like to say a big thank you to all who have come over the years, your support and enthusiasm made the event what it was and what it is.

"Loopallu may come back in the future in a different guise, but for now let's have a party one last time."