FR EE
www.fynefest.com
www.fynefest.com 1 2017 EDITION
160+
BEERS FROM 35+ BREWERIES P.04
25+
BANDS ON THREE STAGES P.09
10+ FOOD
VENDORS P.10
Scotland’s biggest ONE beer, food & music AMAZING WEEKEND festival returns INSIDE: FESTIVAL MAP | ACTIVITIES | TICKET INFO
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Inside... 2. WELCOME 4. BEER 7. MUSIC 8. FESTIVAL MAP 9. GALLERY 10. FOOD 12. ACCOMMODATION 13. ACTIVITIES 14. TICKETS 14. TRAVEL WELCOME
FyneFest is back!
info@fyneales.com @fyneales
© Fyne Ales 2017
FyneAles Recycle
Printed by Newspaper Club Ltd, Glasgow.
Returning in 2017 for its eighth year, Fyne Ales’ annual summer beer, food, and music festival returns this June. In Summer 2009, while enjoying a cold pint of Jarl in the Brewery Tap courtyard and enjoying the scenic views of Glen Fyne, the Fyne Ales team pondered whether there would be much interest in a big event at the brewery to make the most of its unique location. After a year of work and planning, FyneFest was launched in Summer 2010, hosting three hundred thirsty drinkers for a minifestival in the very same courtyard. Fast forward seven years and plans are underway for the biggest FyneFest yet, with over two thousand people expected to descend on the glen for three full days of dancing, delicious food
www.fynefest.com
and drinking some of the best beers from around Europe. FyneFest 2017, taking place 2-4 June, is one of the UK’s largest beer, food and music festivals bringing the best quality examples of each element to the stunning surroundings of the Fyne Ales brewery. Not only will this year’s FyneFest be the biggest, it’s shaping up to be the best; the team have been hard at work arranging over 160 different beers from over 35 breweries, as well as eleven local food vendors with a plethora of awards between them. Of course, FyneFest wouldn’t be FyneFest without a diverse music line-up, and this year is no different, with more than 25 bands playing across three stages of live music including everything from ska, to soul, to traditional Gaelic music. The FyneFest organisers have done their very best to ensure that no matter whether you’re all about the beer, love to dance or want to check out the best food Scotland has to offer, you’ll leave the festival satisfied! You’ll find loads of information about this year’s festival in the pages that follow; who’s going to be there, what you’ll be dancing to and most importantly what you’ll be drinking. Dive in and
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find out why you can’t afford to miss the biggest celebration of good food, good music, and good drink in Scotland this year. Pack your tent, pack your wellies, and don’t forget to bring the kids, the dog and even the neighbours - over 99% of attendees suggested they’d recommend FyneFest to a friend after last year’s festival, you can find out why by coming along in June. From everyone in the festival team, we hope you enjoy the information in the pages that follow, and that we’ll see you in Glen Fyne this June!
Tickets Tickets for FyneFest 2017 are on sale now from the FyneFest website, with a variety of packages available including full weekend camping, and individual day tickets. Tickets are selling quickly, so don’t hang around if you want to be part of the fun! www.fynefest.com
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BEER
Only the finest ales
With over 160 beers pouring over the course of the three day festival, there’s plenty of choice for lovers of craft beer, real ale and everything in between! Each year Fyne Ales strives to bring the very best beer from the UK and Europe to Argyll for FyneFest and 2017 looks to be no exception. This year’s festival will feature beers from over 35 breweries across four bars. Host brewery Fyne Ales recently announced the first batch of partner breweries for the 2017 festival, including a who’s who of British brewing talent spanning from Cornwall to Cromarty. Check out the full list of confirmed breweries on the opposite page to see who’s beer will be tapped on cask and keg at this year’s festival. The FyneFest Main Bar will be pouring over forty different beers simultaneously, split between cask hand-pulls and keg lines, in addition to dedicated bars for cider, wine and spirits. Be sure to check the FyneFest website regularly for brewery updates and get ready to check out the full beer list as the festival approaches.
Beer Initiatives Expanding on the successful introduction of the Brewers Bar in 2016, FyneFest is proudly debuting a number of new beer initiatives in 2017 includ-
ing timed tappings, Brewers Panels and an exclusive festival brew created on the field in the main arena by our pals at Campervan Brewery, who will also be demonstrating the process and answering questions as they brew. For the Brewers Panels, we’ve invited experts from around the UK to have a lovely chat with each other about everyone’s favourite topic, beer! Expect a high level of insight as some of the best brewers from Europe are invited to talk about their favourite beers, trends within different styles and within the industry and what they’re up to at their own breweries. Each year the FyneFest team sources exciting, exclusive beers for attendees and this year will be no exception. This year, the most interesting, mustn’t-miss beers will be poured on an exclusive tap at regular intervals, with the full schedule printed in the festival programme. There will be no FOMO this year as you’ll know exactly when and where to get the festival’s exciting and rare brews. Further info on the beer initiatives will be revealed on the FyneFest website in the run-up to the festival.
www.fynefest.com
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Bring out the breweries FyneFest promises beer from over 35 different breweries to sample across the weekend - check out who’s confirmed for 2017. Joining Fyne Ales on the bars this year at FyneFest is one of the most exciting, diverse line-ups of breweries the team has ever assembled, and though only the first batch of breweries has been announced, it already promises to be a stellar year for beer. Returning in 2017, English craft heavyweights Buxton Brewing are joined by their countrymen and brewing big-boys Beavertown in hosting their own dedicated keg line in the Main Bar, while Thornbirdge, Magic Rock and Siren will to pour across both keg and cask during the weekend. Hawkshead’s tasty cask brews will depart the Lake District in plenty of time to take their rightful place on the Main Bar.
Representing the small-batch, drink fresh movement, internationally acclaimed Cloudwater are joined by Cornwalls’ Verdant and Chelenham’s DEYA on the keg lines, alongside Wild Beer Co’s experimental beers from down in Somerset. It’s a three-city, tag team showdown for the Scottish breweries announced so far, as Aberdeen’s Fierce Beer join Brewdog taking on Pilot and Campervan from Scotland’s capital city versus exciting newcomers Out of Town and Up Front from Glasgow. With the international bar co-curated by two beer authorities from Italy and The Netherlands (page 6), expect a host to exciting continental beers to compliment the British contingent.
Six to tick Magic Rock
Unhumanly good beers from Huddersfield since 2011.
Cloudwater Fresh, seasonal fuss-worthy beers from Manchester.
Verdant Ultra-fresh IPAs direct from the South coast.
Fierce Beer
Fierce flavours, no compromises from Aberdeen.
Up Front
Fyne Ales brewer turned Glasgowgypsy specialist.
Orbit
London hi-fi brewers - be sure to check out their Fyne Ales collab.
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Wonder bars
There’s a lot of beer to get through, so it’s a good job there’s four bars for beer dotted around the festival site, plus a host of other drinks on offer.
Main Bar
Brewery Tap & Courtyard Bar
Forty beer taps situated in close proximity to the main music stage and token point, this is where the majority of the magic happens at FyneFest. Keep an eye on the ever-changing beer boards above the bar for the latest, freshly-tapped brews from the beer list.
The Fyne Ales Brewery Tap has proudly poured many, many pints since construction was completed in 2012, with FyneFest weekend seeing it become a refuge for the weary, thirsty and cashless (you can get cashback at the bar). The Courtyard Bar takes alfresco drinking to the next level, perect in the sunhsine and for hosting massive pub quizzes.
Brewers Bar It’s a back-to-back affair in the Brewers Bar as this year the tent’s beer offerings will be co-curated by Italian beer heavyweights Ma Che Siete Venuti A Fa and Rotterdam legends Kaapse Brouwers, expect the best beers from breweries of Italy, the Netherlands and beyond.
Walkers Bar Okay, it’s not the most conveniently situated bar, being an hour’s easy trek up the glen, but it is the most rewarding and scenic. Find out more on page 14.
Non-Beer Bars For those who aren’t beer-crazy, or maybe fancy a change of pace - don’t worry, you’re catered for at FyneFest. The bars will offer a wide range of ciders, spirits, wine and cocktails in addition to soft drinks for when you need a sugar fix. Whether you fancy an Irn Bru to get you through, a bloody mary in the morning, or a whisky at the end of the night, you’ll be well served by the various bars around the FyneFest festival site.
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MUSIC
Music to your ears FyneFest is much more than just a beer festival - along with artisan food vendors, we bring you a carefully curated line-up of music that’s guaranteed to get you dancing. The FyneFest team have been working hard to create a music line-up that’s designed to get you on your feet and onto the dancefloor all weekend, showcasing some of Scotland’s best talents across a diverse range of genres. From ska to trad, blues to indie, the musical acts showcased at FyneFest will cater to even the most picky of musiclovers.
Each year, the festival organisers work tirelessly to bring new talent to FyneFest alongside returning festival favourites. This year’s festival will see some outstanding new talents taking to the three music stages around the festival, while the headliners for 2017 are both returning heroes. The UK’s best part-time band, Bombskare and the inimitable Dr Hip & The
Blues Operation each close a night of live music. Read more about the headliners below, and check out some of the other acts announced too! Don’t forget, once the instruments are packed away, the FyneFest house DJs keep the music going until 2am, for those who’ve got enough stamina to make it all the way to the end of the night.
Added to playlist Confirmed artists
Bombskare
Dr. Hip
Coming to Argyll from Edinburgh, Bombskare were recently named the UK’s best part-time band at the culmination of an intense BBC competition. The energetic ska nine-piece have become legends of FyneFest, returning to the festival bigger and better, and ready to play their infectious anthems on the Main Stage. Get ready for the rock-steady beat…
Local heroes and FyneFest veterans Dr. Hip & his merry band of musicians headline FyneFest playing the blues, the whole blues and nothing but the blues. The six-piece band celebrate their twentieth anniversary in style, closing Saturday night’s live music line-up on the main stage with a set tailored for toetapping, hip shaking and move busting.
Bombskare Dr. Hip & Blues Op Have Mercy Las Vegas Heron Valley Bevvy Sisters Les Gitanes Son Al Son Samba Ya Bamba Les Gitanes The Daddy Naggins John Sampson Josephine Sillars Acoustic Butterfly The Fogarties The Camans Mic Clark Le Club Locarno ...& more TBA!
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MAP
Finding your way around The FyneFest site isn’t hard to navigate, but we’ve put together a couple of helpful maps anyway to make finding your way around a bit easier. The festival site comprises of three fields in total: one hosting the general camping area and main arena, one for campervans, and one for car parking. Compact, but stunningly scenic, the FyneFest site ticks all the boxes to be the perfect setting for a weekend of escapism. The maps below will be reprinted in this year’s festival programme for reference during the weekend!
www.fynefest.com 9 GALLERY
We saw you Check out some photos from previous years of FyneFest to get a taste of what to expect this June! If you spot a photographer roaming the festival during FyneFest weekend, be sure to flash a smile as you might end up on the festival website, social media or this magazine next year!
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FOOD
Food, glorious food! The third part of the FyneFest festival trifecta, and to some the most important, is the delicious scran you’ll find in the field this year.
Since the festival started in 2010, serving up the best possible food to go with the best possible beer has always been a core part of what FyneFest is about. We love to showcase fantastic produce and the variety of cuisines available from Scotland’s outstanding street food vendors. From local mainstays including Loch Fyne Oysters and Winston Churchill Venison to eclectic newcomers Ekeko Eats and Chompsky, there’s plenty to set your tastebuds alight at FyneFest this year
Loch Fyne Oysters
Chompsky
Long-time collaborator Loch Fyne Oysters produce world-renowned seafood of the highest quality. There aren’t many festivals where you can enjoy world-class oysters direct at the source, and their freshly prepared paella is a sellout every year.
New to FyneFest for 2017, Chompsky bring their food truck from Glasgow to serve ultra-fresh food inspired by world cuisines. With an ever-rotating menu depending on ingredients available, expect exciting bold flavours in abundance.
Winston Churchill Venison
Ekeko Eats
Winston Churchill is the local venison man, supplying Argyll with produce from deer reared in the region. His famous venison burgers go down a storm every year and he’ll be one of the vendors serving up tasty breakfast foods to help you ease into each day’s activities.
South East Asian street food by way of Glasgow, Ekeko Eats are another new addition to the FyneFest food vendors. Their flavourful bao, chicken wings, and more are sure to get your palete working, and their veggie and vegan options are sure to go down a storm!
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Woodburns Pizza
Also serving...
Carbs, cheese, meat and veggies in an easy-toeat format - who doesn’t love pizza? Woodburns knock out delicious personal stone-baked pizzas with your choice of toppings faster than you can imagine, so don’t worry if there’s a queue.
Homeground Coffee - Local coffee roasters serving delicious espresso-based drinks to satisfy caffeine cravings. Highland Hog Roasts - Festival favourites serving meaty baguettes and, importantly, chips. Aye Love Real Food - Homemade scotch eggs, sausage rolls, soups, and snacks to keep hunger at bay during the day. The Real Mackay Stovie Co - Proper, local traditional offerings including pie and beans. Mighty Mexican - Choose a meat, choose some toppings and let the Mighty Mexican team construct a delicious burrito in moments.
Bowl Food Take amazing-quality, warming food and put it in a bowl. Simple, effective, delicious. Bowl Food’s little green truck has become known for its hearty, filling offerings served in wee bowls including spicy chilli, aromatic curries (including veggie) and more.
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STAYING OVER
Make yourself at home Unlike other beer festivals, FyneFest brings the opportunity get the full festival experience by camping for the full weekend. Located in the middle of Glen Fyne on the West Coast of Scotland, there are few more spectacular festival sites in the UK than FyneFest. One of the UK’s few farmhouse breweries, the Fyne Ales estate makes the perfect location for a weekend of escapism, and indulging in the best beer, food and music that Scotland has to offer. The festival has always been kept compact - the main camping field is directly adjacent to the main arena, which is flanked by the car park and the campervan field. It’s about getting as many people as possible to enjoy the festival without having to worry about spending too much time searching for their or walking miles across the site to get to their next activity. Go on, grab your tent and a sleeping bag and make a weekend of it to enjoy everything FyneFest has to offer. The info below will help you figure out which accommodation option works best for you.
Tents The best FyneFest is one spent sleeping under canvas amongst the hustle and bustle of the camping field. The area is generously sized and kitted out with toilets and rubbish points - there’s no reason anyone should struggle to find a spot. The camping field has a separate section for families, giving everyone a chance at a good night’s rest. If you do fancy bringing your tents and sleeping bags, be sure to check the website for more handy info to making camping as fun as possible.
Campervans Campervans, caravans, and trailer tents are very welcome at FyneFest, with their own area adjacent to the main arena. Spaces are limited, so booking early is advised.
www.fynefest.com 13 Glamping Yurts If you want to join in the camping but are looking for a little more comfort, the FyneFest team have partnered up with Red Kite Yurts to offer unique glamping opportunities. Located on the main field alongside the family camping area, the yurts save the trouble of bringing too much gear to the site, being prebuilt and ready to use when you arrive on site. This year, there will be two categories of yurt available - the standard and luxury festival yurt packages. The standard yurt includes the prebuilt yurt and groundsheet, while the luxury yurt will also include bedding, lighting and other comforts to make your stay extra special. Sizes and prices of yurt vary, with sizes ranging from suitability for two to six people. To enquire about availability for the festival and for full pricing details, email paul@redkiteyurts.com. Please note that weekend camping tickets are required in addition to any yurt booking.
Hotels If you’re the kind of person who craves the comfort of a real bed after a busy night of dancing, there are plenty of local hotels and guest houses in the region. Booking early is advised - hotels tend to get booked up for the weekend in advance. A full directory of hotels can be found on the FyneFest website. With the FyneFest Local Minibus running to and from local villages to the festival, there’s access to and from the festival. For full details please contact Fyne Ales: 01499 600120.
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ACTIVITIES
What’s On
There’s much more to FyneFest than just beer, food and music. Each year more activities and entertainment are added to the festival.
FyneFest Pub Quiz
Kids Entertainment
Flex your mental muscles with the biggest pub quiz in Scotland (maybe?), taking place on Saturday afternoon in the Brewery Tap & Courtyard Bar. Get a pint, get a team of four, get your thinking cap and join in with a chaotic afternoon of trivia. With a huge turnout every year and fierce competition, the winners will be crowned the champions and rewarded with a stack of beer tokens to use in celebration of their victory.
FyneFest is a family-friendly weekend of fun which includes free tickets for under 16s and a kids entertainment program running all weekend to keep everyone amused. With their own tent (The Wee Tent) to take over, kids will be catered for with activities which in previous years has included minisports days, face painting, movie nights and dedicated entertainers.
Walkers Bar Make the most of the beautiful festival site and surroundings with a leisurely walk up the glen to visit the pop-up bar for a well-earned beer and burger fresh from the BBQ. The Walkers Bar continues to be one of FyneFest’s most popular attractions – get on your feet, get some fresh air and clear your head for the evening with the one hour walk to the old, riverside bothy bar.
Salsa Dance Class Join in the fun and catch the Latin rhythm fever with a salsa dance class on Saturday afternoon in the main marquee. Perfect to get you ready for the afternoon’s music from Samba Ya Bamba and Son Al Son, you’ll be guided through some basic, hip-wiggling steps.
Brewery Tours Fyne Ales will offer tours of its state-of-the-art brewery throughout the weekend, guided by a member of the expert brewery team who’ll offer insight into the brewing equipment and processes behind Fyne Ales’ award-winning beers.
Street (Field) Theatre Expect drama in the Main Arena on Saturday afternoon, as a street theatre troupe invade FyneFest for your entertainment, any willing participation?
Festival Shop New for 2017, a dedicated on-site shop selling a range of festival and band merchandise, in addition to camping essentials. The Festival Shop is the place to go to get a souvenir of your weekend or grab the things you’ve forgotten!
www.fynefest.com 15 TICKETS
Roll up!
Like what you’ve read in the previous pages? Tickets are on sale now from www.fynefest.com Every year, FyneFest grows - not necessarily in the physical size, or amount of people, but in terms of what’s on offer. More beers, more food options, more activities - the festival team strives each year to improve upon the festival. Fyne Ales has held ticket prices for the 2017 festival at the same as 2016 - meaning a weekend ticket with camping, including festival glass, programme, token and everything going on over the weekend is just £60. With day tickets also available, be sure to check the full ticket range online. Friday-Sunday with camping - £60 Friday-Sunday no camping - £50 Saturday-Sunday with camping - £40 Saturday only - £32.50 All under 16s - FREE
Getting to FyneFest 2017 FyneFest 2017 might be a lot closer than you think! FyneFest is held at Fyne Ales brewery at the head of Loch Fyne on the A83, just a short hour’s drive north-west of Glasgow. There is plenty of parking at the festival site to accommodate all attendees choosing to come to the festival by car, however there is a small car parking fee for maintenance of the fields. This year we are running a bus service from Glasgow to the brewery over the weekend and will also be running buses to and from the site in the local area. Full details on buses is available on www.fynefest. com. If you need to put the festival address into your phone or sat nav, search for Fyne Ales, or Achadunan, Cairndow, Argyll, PA26 8BJ
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