Have you got your ticket for BOWfeast?

Yes. we know it’s BOWfest – but this Best of the West festival is a feast of epic dimensions.

Make a cup of coffee. Sit down – read on and get a sense of just what a feast of a menu of music, food, drink and experiences is on offer at the quite beautiful Inveraray Castle on 15th and 16th September.

How does 16 bands over the two days grab you? Headlined by Skerryvore on Saturday 15th and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers on Sunday 16th (twice!)?

And the Loch Fyne Whiskies Bar with 23 west coast specialities to lubricate the vocal chords?

And seven top quality food producers, including Food From Argyll, to lure the taste buds to come out to play?

And 14 physical attractions and country sports, with the kids not forgotten, to help you work off that explosion of tasting. Amongst the providers here are Drakes of  Hazard, Argyll Adventure and Stramash.

And 30 local artists and crafts people.

As you can see, this is an ‘and and and..’ event. BOWfeast. We said so.

OK. You don’t believe us. It can’t be that good.

We can prove it. Get another coffee and keep reading. Here come the details.

The bands – Saturday 15th September

• Nina Joynson
• Cara Blyth and Holly Renton
• Michelle Speirs
• Alan Frew
• Beacon Hill
• Herron Valley
• The Midden
• The Camans
• Skerryvore

The Bands – Sunday 16th September

• Abigail Pryde
• Joy Dunlop
• Fiddle Me Timbers
• Red Hot Chilli Pipers
• Lush Puppies
• Red Hot Chilli Pipers
• Brand New Enemy
• Dr Hip and The Blues operation

And pipes and drums from Inveraray and Kintyre will be keeping the energy high.

The 23 Distillers – the biggest tasting for years

The distilleries and whiskies below will be represented in spirit at least in the Loch Fyne Whisky Bar at the festival. Many managers, owners or ambassadors will be also attending to pour for you and guide you to the ultimate appreciation of their fine drams.

When have you had all of this lot, actively present in one place and at one time for your sole delight and illumination?

• Abhainn Dearg
• Adelphi (the new individualist star from Ardnamurchan)
• Arran
• Auchentoshan
• Ben Nevis
• Bowmore
• Bruichladdich
• Bunnahabhain
• Caol Ila
• Glen Scotia
• Glengoyne
• Glengyle / Kilkerran
• Isle of Mull Blended Whisky
• Jura
• Kilchoman
• Lagavulin
• Laphroaig
• Littlemill
• Loch Lomond
• Oban
• Springbank
• Talisker
• Tobermory

The Foodie Offer

Relax – this also includes drink prodicers other than whisky and high quality catering establishments. Try these – literally:

• Loch Fyne Oysters
• Winston Churchill Wild Venison
• Stronmagachan Stovies
• Inverawe Smokehouse
• Bumble’s Puds
• George Hotel Pig Roast
• Homeground Coffee
• Loch Fyne Ales
• George Hotel

The Experiences

• Drakes of Hazard
• Fly Fishing Tution
• Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations
• Bungee Trampolines
• Bouncy Castle
• Climbing Wall
• T-Cup Ride
• Paintball Shooting Range
• Archery Tuition
• Orienteering
• Children’s Activity Tent
• Face Painting
• Pony Rides
• Sand Pit

The Prizes

The prizes will will be drawn from the buyers of online tickets – available here. www.bowfest.co.uk

• Crerar hotels are putting up a brilliant prize of two nights dinner bed and breakfast at Inveraray’s Loch Fyne Hotel
• Further prizes include announcing Skerryvore and the Red Hots on stage.

The tickets

All of this is yours for a ticket costing £5.00 per day or £8.00 for the weekend.

Under 16s do not pay.

Yup – this is not going to break the bank. That’s the idea. The organisers want to showcase the best we have in the west, while still leaving cash in the pockets of recession-hit families.

The back story – business development

The ulterior motive of this event is to draw to wide attention what Argyll and the Isles – anyone want to argue that we’re not the Best of the West? – has to offer to visitors interested in ‘shoulder season’ activity-and-comfort holidays.

So while you’re having fun eating, drinking and doing, Caledonian MacBrane, Southworth Developments and Argyll and The Isles Tourism, will be busy letting visitors know what is available when they return to Argyll and The Isles.

Start counting down now to BOWfest‘s BOWfeast.