Heartland Festival organisers are on the hunt for a special breed of volunteer – the kind with enough stamina left over to help them clear up after Pitlochry’s two-day party.
Up to 12,000 people are expected to flock to the Perthshire town this weekend.
Campsites and B&Bs will be packed out with music fans coming from all over to enjoy acts like Kyle Falconer, Skerryvore and Nathan Evans.
But the Heartland crew are also hoping to cement the festival’s status as an event for the community.
And festival director Graham Howie says they simply couldn’t do it without Pitlochry’s support.
Locals are pitching in to get Pitlochry Recreation Ground ready for its friendly invasion and to help out on Saturday and Sunday.
But it’s the ones who’ll still be standing on the Monday who can really come to Graham’s rescue now.
“I think we’re sorted out for the preparations and for the festival itself,” he said.
“But we’d love to hear from anyone who can volunteer for the takedown on Monday and Tuesday.
“It’s light work – taking down posters and things – but it’s important, and it would be a huge help to us.”
Pitlochry locals embrace Heartland Festival
Graham’s a well-known voice in Pitlochry.
Before launching last year’s inaugural festival, he presented the breakfast show on Heartland FM for years.
But in a past life he was a nightclub promoter in Spain, and that gave him a thing for putting on live events.
“It’s about creating memories,” he said.
“Last year’s festival was such a buzz; to look out at everyone enjoying the atmosphere and think ‘we did that’.”
To Graham’s delight, the Pitlochry community took Heartland Festival to their hearts too.
Perth and Kinross licensing board was told there was “overwhelming” public support when it approved the event in May.
An environmental health officer told councillors there were zero complaints, adding: “I spoke to a number of neighbours round about and I think most of them were at the festival.”
‘Last week in June is when we go to Heartland’
Graham’s hopeful this year’s event will take Heartland a step closer to his goal of building “a Glastonbury for Scotland”.
It’s about building a platform for Scottish artists.
But it’s also about putting Pitlochry on the musical map.
This year’s festival is forecast to generate £1.5 million for the local economy, boosting business for bars, restaurants and shops, as well as accommodation providers.
And Graham is already making plans for 2026.
“I want to get it into people’s minds ‘we don’t do anything else the last week in June because that’s when we go to Heartland’,” he said.
“People are staying overnight. They’re staying for the weekend.
“And once people come to Pitlochry they usually want to come back.”
Anyone who can help with the Heartland Festival takedown can contact organisers at hello@heartlandfestival.co.uk.
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