Economic consultants have revealed that a north music festival is worth more than £6million to the Scottish economy.
And £4.6million of the money generated by Belladrum Tartan Heart was directly beneficial to the Highlands.
Festival promoter Joe Gibbs ordered the report from economists Mackay Consultants after the 2014 Belladrum which saw Sir Tom Jones as the headline act.
They found in total that the festival drew in £6.6million to the wider Scottish economy – equivalent to 66 full-time jobs, 44 in the Highlands.
Mr Gibbs welcomed the findings, saying: “In the 12 years of its existence, Belladrum has always remained firmly rooted in the Highland community and it is rewarding to see this is reflected in the cash benefit transferred back to the Highlands, and Scotland as a whole, by the event.”
The review found that over the festival weekend in August 2014, 19,000 attended the Belladrum site near Beauly, spending on average £246 per adult.
About 54% of the festival attendees were locals from the
Highlands and Islands, 41% visitors from elsewhere in Scotland; and very small proportions from the rest of the UK and overseas
An appendix to the report also shows that the event has donated an average of £24,000 per annum to around 70 charities and voluntary groups in space and tickets donations over the past three years.
The 2014 Belladrum sold out in record time and featured a headline performance from Sit Tom Jones, with shows also from Razorlight, Frightened Rabbit and Billy Bragg.
The organisers have a third day to next year’s event, with Scottish favourites The Proclaimers confirmed to be headlining the festival on the opening Friday night.
Bella sold out in record time in 2014, and has sold out each of the last six years, often months before the event so fans are urged to buy early to avoid disappointment.
In order to see The Proclaimers, patrons will need to buy a three-day ticket to the event, while regular weekend tickets are also available. Tickets are available from the festival’s website.