With Cullivoe being chosen as an official Cruise-in-Company port for visiting Tall Ships this summer, the island of Yell has come together to organise a festival of events and entertainments – Sail Yell – including a top-quality musical line up.

Based on and around the Cullivoe Pier between Sunday 23rd and Tuesday 25th of July, the Sail Yell festival will offer a daytime programme of live music, food and drink, amusements, and entertainment for all the family – as well as night time gigs, ‘Sail Yell Sprees’ - headlined by multi award-winning Scottish trad-rock supergroup Mànran: fresh from selling out Glasgow’s OVO Hydro arena and performing on BBC Scotland’s Hogmanay show alongside Lewis Capaldi.

Music will be a mainstay feature of the event, with other gigs and daytime entertainment provided by a whole host of Shetland’s best-known bands and artists. Full programme and ticket details will be announced in due course. Social media accounts for Sail Yell have also been launched, to help keep folk updated.

With late night ferries and extra buses to be organised from Lerwick, organiser Alice Jamieson is encouraging folk to book time off and get the dates in their diaries now for an outing to Yell.

“Yell has always been the place to come for a party on a pier, with a warm welcome to folk from all over Shetland – and to sailors from all over the world. We’re really proud that Cullivoe has once again been chosen to play its part in the Tall Ships coming to Shetland, and we know that this will be the perfect warm up for the festivities to follow.”

Accordion player and vocalist in seven-piece Mànran, Gary Innes, is also well known for presenting the much-loved BBC Radio Scotland music programme Take the Floor.

“We are absolutely delighted to be performing in Yell as part of this year’s Tall Ships Races. Something we learned years ago is that when Shetland comes calling - you never say no! The islands are bursting with incredible musicians and music lovers alike, and you’re always treated to an atmosphere and reception like no other. We are really looking forward to experiencing that once again this July.”

As Yell’s main port, the northerly fishing village of Cullivoe offers visiting Tall Ships the perfect mix of idyllic Shetland scenery and a bustling industrial pier – with excellent safe shelter, berthing and anchorage – as well as stores, fuel, water, and other amenities.

Famed for its musicianship and maritime history, Yell is a community that instinctively understands the sea, and knows how to welcome the world. It last hosted a Sail Yell festival during the Tall Ships Races of 2011.

Unlike a traditional race leg, the Cruise-in-Company leg of the Tall Ships Races is a chance for crews to visit some smaller ports and experience what they have to offer on their way to The Tall Ships Races Lerwick.

Shetland’s own sail training vessel The Swan Trust (LK 243) has already signed up to visit Cullivoe and take part in Sail Yell.