More 25,000 people will descend on Aviemore this summer for a major music festival headlined by international stars Mumford and Sons.
The band will bring their annual Gentlemen of the Road festival to the beautiful Rothiemurchus Estate on the weekend of July 31 and August 1.
Announcing the event yesterday, Badenoch and Strathspey councillor Bill Lobban said that the festival would be the “biggest event of a lifetime for Aviemore”.
The two-day music and arts festival will feature headline performances from Mumford and Sons, as well as live appearances by Ben Howard, Primal Scream, The Maccabees, Lianne La Havas and others to be announced.
This year marks the third year of “The Stopover” festivals curated by the band which are held internationally.
Aviemore is the only UK leg of the tour, with four other dates announced simultaneously yesterday all in the USA.
Mumford and Sons have previous Highland experience, having headlined Rockness and Loopallu in recent years.
Loopallu organiser Robert Hicks has been charged with organising the Aviemore festival and yesterday said that the event will be “a one off” and promised a celebration of the diverse businesses and culture of Aviemore alongside the major touring acts.
He admitted that the logistics of organising such a large event in the Highland village are “a challenge” and revealed that planning had secretly got underway last summer.
Mr Hicks added: “We’re overwhelmed that Mumford and Sons have chosen the Highlands, and in particular Aviemore as the only UK and indeed, European leg of their touring Stopover Festival.
“The Aviemore Stopover is an unique opportunity for the Badenoch and Strathspey area and the Highlands as a whole to shout about what an incredible place we live in.
He said he was “confident” that the event would bring in 25,000, with 19,000 camping spaces also to be made available.
The festival will be held at the Dell of Rothiemurchus, beside the River Spey and overlooked by the Cairngorms.
Aviemore councillor Mr Lobban said: “This is the biggest event that Aviemore will see in a lifetime, I’m sure of that.”
Johnnie Grant, owner of Rothiemurchus Estate said: “It’s a pleasure to be able to provide the Dell of Rothiemurchus for this Concert. It will be a great opportunity for the people of Badenoch and Strathspey to make new friends from around the world. We’re particularly grateful to the members of the Rothiemurchus team who have managed to keep a secret in advance of the launch.”
Tickets go on sale on Friday.