Dunbar Music Festival stages its biggest programme yet with almost 60 free gigs

Dunbar was alive with music this autumn as its long-running festival staged its biggest programme ever. Dunbar Music Festival brought almost 60 free gigs to 18 venues across the town over a weekend in late September.

The festival dates back to 1988, and this year's edition gave established artists, emerging musicians, community choirs and young performers the chance to take to the stage. Venues ranged from pubs and hotels to community spaces and restaurants, spreading the music right across the town.

The programme mixed established names with first-time performers, giving community choirs and young musicians the same chance to be heard as more experienced acts.

There was something for every age. A youth bands showcase took place at the Royal British Legion, and buskers filled Dunbar High Street on the Saturday. Alongside the free events, three ticketed headline shows were planned. Among the performers was Cairnsie, who played the Station Yard.

The festival relies on volunteers and local venues, and after the weekend the organisers thanked everyone who came along, performed, volunteered, hosted events and supported the venues, describing the festival as a brilliant celebration of live music, community and the town itself. They have asked those who attended free events to share their feedback to help shape future festivals.

Free festivals like this matter for small towns. They give young bands their first audiences, bring footfall to pubs and cafes outside the summer season, and give residents a reason to explore corners of their own town. With almost 60 gigs over one weekend, Dunbar showed what a community can do when it gets behind live music.

It was also a busy autumn for the arts in Dunbar more widely, with the town's open studio trail returning a few weeks later, so visitors have had plenty of reasons to make the trip along the coast.

For anyone who missed out this year, the festival has become a fixture of the East Lothian calendar, and it is worth keeping an eye out for next year's dates.

Highlights from this year and news about the next festival are on the Dunbar Music Festival website.