Millport on the Isle of Cumbrae is branching out this year by hosting its first Country Music festival and has attracted top artists from the UK and the States.

For the first time ever, under the cover of a huge 3,000 capacity concert venue, the new look celebration will be featuring the best of British and American country music artists including Mark Chesnutt, The Shires, Ashton Lane, David Ray, Adley Stump, Morgan Frazier and many more.

In his first ever appearance in Scotland, Mark Chesnutt, with 14 US country No 1s and 23 top 10 singles to his name is coming across.

Direct from Nashville will come three rising country artists, David Ray, Morgan Frazier, and Adley Stump, to provide support over the weekend.

The festival chief Gavin Chittick said: "The access all zones tickets for the Saturday are now sold out, and we are asking that people get organised and get their tickets early to avoid disappointment - we are starting to sell out certain categories of tickets.

"We are really pulling out all the stops to get something that is pretty unique; this will be the first time that any of the U.S artists will have played in Scotland. Millport will be the second largest country music festival in the UK this year."

And Gavin also has advice for ticket-holders who are coming across to the big event which is just over two weeks away: "Particularly on the Saturday get to the island early, and use public transport wherever possible to get to Largs and get over to Cumbrae early and enjoy the island ambience, go for a walk, enjoy what the island has to offer; the music festivities start at 11am, but we expect it to be very busy in the early afternoon, so get over as early as you can."

It is a major departure from the Millport Country and Western Weekend which was set up in 1995 and has been running continuously for 21 years since.

The festival's main stage will take place in a giant marquee in Bute Terrace, and the core festival events will take place within the grounds of the Garrison House and other local venues.

It will still retain some ingredients of the original format including the grand parade, line-dancing, shootout competitions, funfair, hot dog eating competitions.

During the festival additional campsites will be operating both in the centre of the town near the festival itself, and on the outer limits of the town, but still within walking distance of the festival.

Late ferries have also been arranged with Caledonian MacBrayne for 9.30pm to ensure that revellers can enjoy the full day of activities.

The country music weekend takes place 1-3 September. Purchase your concert tickets for either Saturday, Sunday or the whole weekend before August 31st and you will be automatically entered into the draw to win a unique bespoke Cumbrae shaped guitar. For more details, go to millportcountrymusic.com