Arbroath Fest set for major expansion after successful debut
Arbroath Fest is set to return later this summer bigger than ever following a successful debut last year. The festival will take place across two days on July 31 and August 1, with organisers expanding both the programme and site layout.
The opening night will feature a series of performances at Andreou’s Bistro before the main festival takes place the following day.
The main event, staged at Inchcape Park beside the Signal Tower Museum, will feature two stages for the first time and a line-up headed by Scottish rock favourites Idlewild.
Festival founder and Andreou’s Bistro owner Andrew McDonald said the growth reflects the appetite for live music events in Arbroath. The 39-year-old said it’s his ambition to put the town firmly on Scotland’s festival map.
“Last year was a really good starting point for us, but we’ve raised the bar this year,” he said.
“We’ve expanded it to two days, increased the size of the site and added a second stage.
“The line-up is excellent this year and we’re hoping to keep building the festival year on year.”
Idlewild will headline the main stage, with the band joining a bill that also includes Fatherson, Calum Bowie, Balaston, Ben Walker, Sardinex and EXO. A dedicated acoustic stage will also feature performances from Brown Bear and a range of emerging artists.
Last year’s inaugural event attracted around 1,000 people, with The View frontman Kyle Falconer topping the bill. Andrew is hoping attendance can increase to around 1,500 this year, with capacity for up to 2,000 festivalgoers.
He believes the event is helping to fill a gap in the local music scene while attracting visitors from across Scotland and beyond.
“There isn’t really much happening in Arbroath anymore in terms of large-scale music events,” he said.
“I wanted to use my experience as a promoter to bring something back to the town and help boost tourism at the same time.
“About 60% of our ticket sales this year have come from outside Angus, so we’re bringing people into the area who will hopefully spend money in local businesses and discover what Arbroath has to offer.”
The festival is run by Arbroath Music Festival CIC, a community interest company, with organisers reinvesting proceeds back into the event.
Andrew added:
“We’re not doing this to make money.
“Every penny goes back into the festival. The aim is to keep growing it, support original music and create something the town can be proud of.”
Alongside live music, the festival will feature food vendors, market stalls and family-friendly entertainment throughout the weekend.
This article appeared in the Courier on 23 June 2026