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.

Coming to the Millport today for the Festival? GET HERE EARLY!

Festival chief Gavin Chittick said: "Do not run the risk of delays and queuing as the great weather we are having and a superb lineup of The Shires, David Ray, Morgan Frazier, Jason Hughes as Garth Brooks, Urban Creek and more... is likely to attract a lot of #countrymusic fans.!

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.

Sadly, Sunday headliner Mark Chesnutt, with 14 US country No 1s and 23 top 10 singles to his name, as he is stuck in Texas due to Hurricane Harvey. A benefit gig for Texas will now take place on Sunday. 

At short notice, organisers have managed to bring in the highly rated Gary Quinn, BCMA British Country Music Association Awards winner including 'Male Vocalist of the Year 2016'.

Largs and Millport Weekly News:

Gary is previously 'UK Songwriter of the Year' and consecutive 'Song of the Year' honours. The Northern Irishman has become one of British country music’s more established performers.

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."

Largs and Millport Weekly News:

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.

The organisers behind this weekend's Country Music Festival have urged visitors to think twice before bringing their cars.

In a facebook posting, the festival organiser stated: "We are receiving lots of enquiries regarding parking facilities on Cumbrae. Unfortunately there is extremely limited parking throughout Millport especially during the festival with parking restrictions in place also.

"There is no parking in the immediate vicinity of the festival venues and bringing the car is likely to delay the time taken to get on and off the island significantly due to queuing.

"Buses meet every ferry and will drop you right at the festival within the town. Using these will make your festival a far more enjoyable experience."