A Guide to Mull Music Festival
If you’re a fan of Scottish music, then you’ll love the famous Mull Music Festival! Each year, the festival is hosted in the colourful Tobermory, the Isle of Mull’s capital and is a celebration of all things folk, rock, and traditional. The festival has been running for many years, becoming a staple of the Scottish music scene.
Attending the Mull Music Festival is a great way to experience the best of Scottish music, culture, and hospitality. The festival includes a wide range of performers, from local artists to well-renowned Scottish bands and you can expect to hear everything from folk-rock to ceilidh bands, providing its visitors with an unforgettable experience.
In this article, we’ll touch on several different aspects of the famous Scottish music festival, to ensure you know exactly what to expect.
Dates and Location
The Mull Music Festival usually takes place over a weekend in late April. Sometimes it can be the final weekend, sometimes it can be the 2nd last weekend – make sure to check each year to confirm the date.
This year’s (2024) event is being held on the final weekend of April, from the 25th–28th.
A unique aspect of the festival is that there’s not one set location – it’s held in numerous popular pubs and hotels across Tobermory. These locations include:
- MacGochans Tobermory
- Mishnish Hotel
- Park Lodge Hotel
- Tobermory Hotel
- Western Isles Hotel
- Bellachroy Hotel
Each venue offers a different act, giving festivalgoers the choice to spend time in their preferred venue.
Planning Your Visit
Before you go anywhere, you’ll need to plan your trip to Mull. Below are some helpful tips to ensure your trip goes smoothly:
Travelling to the Mull Music Festival
The Isle of Mull is accessible by ferry from Oban, where our hotel is located. Oban is a popular seaside town on the West Coast of Scotland, which can be easily reached by car, bus, or train from most cities in Scotland.
Getting to Mull from Oban is simple – all you have to do is catch the CalMac ferry, which is available every day, all day. In summer, there are between 7 and 11 different departure times throughout the day to Mull, from early in the morning to late at night.
View CalMac’s summer timetable by clicking the button below.
The ferry from Oban will port at the village of Craignure, which is only a short half an hour drive from Tobermory, where the Mull Music Festival is held. There’s a semi-regular bus travelling from Craignure to Tobermory, operated by West Coast Motors.
Tickets to the Event
Another unique aspect of Mull Music Festival is that there are no tickets available, you simply turn up and enjoy the show! As their official Facebook page states, Mull Music Festival is “Arguably the best free music festival in the world” meaning there’s little reason not to make the trip over and enjoy what it has to offer.
Where to Stay During Mull Music Festival
Once you arrive on the island, you can choose to stay in Tobermory or one of the nearby towns, such as Salen, Dervaig, or Gruline. There is plenty of accommodation available, including hotels, guesthouses, hostels, or even campsites!
It’s highly recommended that you book your accommodation well in advance, as availability is quickly filled up. As most festivalgoers tend to stay on the island for the weekend, Mull’s accommodation resources can become squeezed. You could save some money by booking early, as prices increase as the festival date becomes closer.
Here are some examples of different accommodations found near Tobermory:
Hotels
- Tobermory Hotel
- Western Isles Hotel
- Park Lodge Hotel
- Bellachroy Hotel
- Mishnish Hotel
Guest Houses
- Harbour Guest House
- Carnaburg Guest House
- Harbour View B&B
- Brockville Bed & Breakfast
- Roslyn House
Hostels
- Tobermory Youth Hostel
Campsites
- Crannich Campsite
- Tobermory Campsite
- Pennygown Holiday Park
There are also a number of Airbnb’s available across the Isle of Mull. Click the button below to browse the properties available.
What to Pack
When attending the Mull Music Festival, it is important to pack appropriately. The weather on Mull can be unpredictable, so make sure to bring warm and waterproof clothing, in case the rain decides to attend too. However, as it’s held in late April, you might get lucky so don’t forget to pack some outfits suitable for the sun as well!
In addition to clothing, you may also want to pack some simple snacks and drinks to keep you fuelled throughout the day. While there are plenty of excellent food and drink options available at the festival, bringing your own can save you time and money. Finally, make sure to bring some cash, as some local vendors might not accept debit or credit cards.
The Mull Music Festival Experience
Now you know how to get there, what can you expect when attending the Mull Music Festival? Below, we’ll detail the performers in attendance, as well as some food and drink options on offer.
Music Entertainment
The biggest draw for the hundreds who attend Mull Music Festival each year is undoubtedly the wide range of music acts performing over the weekend. Festivalgoers can expect a weekend of dancing to a variety of live Scottish music, including folk-rock, accordion, dance, and ceilidh music.
The line up includes local acts from Mull and surrounding areas, helping build audiences for lesser-known artists. However, the festival can sometimes include some well-known acts, such as Peat & Diesel, who attended the festival in 2019.
No matter the line up, you’ll be guaranteed to see a wealth of incredible Scottish music acts across the four days. You may even come away with a new favourite or two!
Food & Drink
Tobermory is home to some fantastic eateries. Whether you’re looking for simple pub grub, classic takeaway meals, or a fine dining experience, you’ll be able to experience it all in Tobermory. If you’re looking for a sit-down meal at a specific restaurant, it’s recommended to book ahead of time, as many people may be planning the same thing.
Many of the hotels that host the acts will provide food, meaning you can watch great music while enjoying a lovely meal.
Don’t worry, restaurants and takeaways tend to stay open until late into the night, ensuring hungry attendees can get a good meal in before another day of great music.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what the Mull Music Festival is all about. The much-loved event offers the opportunity for its visitors to come together for a weekend of great music, delicious food, and a feeling of community.
If you’re travelling from Oban and looking for somewhere to stay, you should consider No26 By the Sea, our luxury, boutique, and dog-friendly hotel in Oban. Click the button below and explore our rooms.