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In pictures: 10 years of Skye Live music festival

Ryan Buchanan A crowd of festival-goers are illuminated by stage lights.Ryan Buchanan
Revellers enjoying a performance by Peatbog Fairies at Skye Live

Skye Live - a festival celebrating traditional and electronic music - marks its 10th anniversary in May.

But founder and co-festival director Niall Munro said there were often times when he feared the event would not survive beyond a few years.

He said: "For the first five, six years, we never sold out and we never made a penny.

"We had nights where we were running around putting up posters ourselves, sending emails at midnight, trying to get people to take a chance on what we were doing.

"It was a real labour of love. But we just weren't willing to let it go."

Tim Craig Niall and Michael are pictured on a sunny day. They are wearing short-sleeved shirts and sunglasses. They are both smiling. Tim Craig
Niall and Michael said there were times when they wondered if the festival could survive
Michael C Hunter An aerial view of the festival's red, big top-style tent and crowds of festival-goers. The festival site is on a part of coastline at Portree.Michael C Hunter
The festival is held in an area of Portree called The Lump

Ambitious plans in 2016 to expand Skye Live saw it moved from an area in Portree called The Lump to the town's King George's Park.

Niall said it almost destroyed the festival.

"Year two was a reality check," he said.

"We thought, 'great, we've doubled the line up, so surely ticket sales will double too'.

"That didn't happen. We stretched ourselves too thin and lost some of what made the festival special."

Tim Craig Donnie Munro is on stage and has an arm raised as he thanks his audience. He has a guitar slung from a shoulder and is surrounded by bandmates.Tim Craig
Former Runrig frontman Donnie Munro, centre, applauds a crowd from the main stage
Ryan Buchanan The musician is dressed in a black T-shirt and is wearing shades. He is at the controls of his DJ set.Ryan Buchanan
Skye Live's performances have included a DJ set from LUSA

Niall added: "Moving back to The Lump the following year was one of the best decisions we ever made.

"The setting is crucial to what Skye Live is – when you're looking out over the water, with the Cuillins in the background, it doesn't feel like any other festival.

"The location is as much a part of the experience as the music."

Acts through the years have included Mercury Prize nominees Django Django, Highland folk supergroup Session A9, techno DJ Denis Sulta, and experimental indie artist Pictish Trail​.

Skye Live The black and white photograph shows a large crowd of fans. They are waving a large flag.Skye Live
A crowd gathers for Scottish Celtic rock band Skerryvore

Co-festival director Michael Pelligrotti said a defining moment for the festival came during the Covid pandemic when festivals did not go ahead to help prevent the spread of the virus.

In 2021, Skye Live streamed live individual performances from island locations to more than one million people.

Michael said: "Covid could have been the end of the festival.

"But we decided that if people couldn't come to Skye, we'd take Skye to them.

"Something magic happened. It blew up. The response was unbelievable."

Ryan Buchanan Three female members of Niteworks are on stage and waving flags with the band's logo.Ryan Buchanan
Skye bands to play at the festival include Niteworks
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