Callum Beattie praises ‘beautiful festival in a beautiful place’
Scottish singing star Callum Beattie has hailed Tunes By the Dunes as “a beautiful festival, in a beautiful place, run by beautiful people”.
The 34-year-old was speaking after he appeared for the second year in a row at the UK’s most northerly mainland music festival, organised by the volunteers of North Coast Entertainments in a 1200-capacity marquee at Dunnet.
Callum brought the festival to a close as the headline act on Saturday night. Also keeping fans entertained over the weekend were Whisky, Torridon, Tide Lines, the Tumbling Souls, Mikie Henderson, Cammy Barnes, Calum MacPhail, Blazin’ Fiddles and Beat the Drum – The Runrig Experience.
“Coming to Tunes By the Dunes has been a massive highlight for the band and myself for the last two years,” Callum said. “A beautiful festival, in a beautiful place, run by beautiful people with the most amazing passionate audience – who could want more than that?
“I absolutely loved it.”
As reported previously, organisers have had “lots and lots of positive feedback” and plans are already under way for the next Tunes By the Dunes on September 5 and 6, 2025.
“Every band went down really, really well,” event coordinator Iain Mackay said. “People comment the whole time on what a lovely friendly festival it is, and a great atmosphere.”
On Saturday morning, Callum paid a visit to the Stepping Stones centre in Thurso where he chatted to service users of Caithness Mental Health Support Group and performed a couple of his songs.
Callum, who comes from Musselburgh, has been open about his own struggles with mental health. He and his manager Dave Rogers have raised around £600,000 for good causes.
Callum is a patron of Mikeysline, the Highland mental health and suicide prevention charity. His new single, Something In My Eye, will be released at the end of this month with some of the proceeds going to Mikeysline.
