THE organisers of the Argyll Gathering festival say they're delighted to see the names of several local artists added to the line-up for the two-day event.

Ainsley Hamill and Ryan Young, from Cardross, and Pippa Reid-Foster, from Kilcreggan, will share the bill with Runrig’s Donnie Munro, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and the Treacherous Orchestra among others at the August event.

Singer-songwriter Ainsley fronts Barluath, one of Scotland's top up-and-coming folk groups, while Ryan was named 'up and coming artist of the year' at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards in December and has twice been nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards.

Clarsach player Pippa, who hails from Kilcreggan but is now based in Helensburgh, has played live on BBC Scotland’s Celtic Connections and was selected as a semi-finalist in the 2014 BBC Young Scottish Traditional Musician of the year competition.

The festival’s organisers are delighted to be able to announce local artists within the growing line-up and are sure they will be a great addition.

Nick Lawrie, festival organiser, said: “The team at Argyll Gathering could not be more thrilled to be able to include some really first class talent from the local area, the great thing is that its come to us on its own merit, and not just because of the geography.

“The great thing about Argyll Gathering will be the combination of the old and new, with traditional acts taking songs that have existed in Scottish culture for hundreds of years and stamping a modern identity onto them.

“We also have a strong line up of really contemporary music, acts that are representative of the cutting edge of not just Scottish music, but contemporary music on a much wider scale.”

The trio of local singers were announced as part of the line-up along with breakout band Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5, city ska outfit Bombskare, Have Mercy Las Vegas, Well Happy Band, Creative Martyrs, Mickey 9s and Rebecca’s Ruin.

These artists join Bwani Junction, who will perform “Graceland” by Paul Simon, Elephant Sessions, Manran, Federation of the Disco Pimp, Jarlath Henderson Band, Blue Rose Code, Daimh, Fat-Suit, Pronto Mama and Nae Plans (Adam Sutherland and Hamish Napier).

Organisers say tickets have already been sold around the UK and Europe – and with even more headliners to be announced in the near future. And they are confident the festival will be a “real hit”.

Nick and fellow organiser James Windebank are working to make the August 19 and 20 event as accessible as possible.

The festival can be accessed from anywhere in the central belt via train or bus – and visitors will be able to watch the final act on the main stage and still have time to catch the last trains back to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The organisers are still working to offer additional parking near the festival site, but a blue badge parking area has already been confirmed across from the site.

Nick added: “At present, we are at the stage where we have put across our event management plans to the local authority and police, which outlines plans for traffic management and so far everyone has been very satisfied.”

The duo are also keen to highlight that the event is for the people of Helensburgh and have been in touch with local businesses, police and the community council to involve them wherever possible.

Nick said: “Over the past month we have been in touch with a range of parties from the the local community, from hosting open evenings for residents nearby to the site to entering into talks with the community council, local police, medical services and local business interests.“We have been blown away with the overall positivity and well-wishing of everyone we have encountered.

“There is still a long way to go, but with additional artists being announced this week, a host of exciting news to come about the food and drink on offer, as well as some truly innovative music and arts workshops coming together – we are confident the festival is going to be a real hit.”

For more information visit: argyllgathering.com.