DUNOON’S very own trip to Hollywood delivered a blockbuster finale, as Stay Fresh Music Festival 2025 wrapped its seventh edition with a sold-out crowd and a record 9,500 raised for charity.
The total generated from tickets, donations and on-the-night fundraisingmeans the community-run festival has now donated 44,500 to good causes since launching in 2018.
This year’s beneficiaries were Dunoon Burgh Hall, Poppy Scotland (Dunoon), The Underheugh Ark Animal Rescue, Prostate Cancer UK, and the Stay Fresh Sports Fund.
Leaning into its Hollywood theme this year, the Queen’s Hall rolled out a red carpet welcome as a capacity audience took their seats for a night of live music spanning soul, Americana, indie and big-screen classics.
Glasgow’s Lynsey Dolan Band opened with a warm blast of blues and soul before singer-songwriter K-Lyn switched the mood on the acoustic stage. The Dunoon/Glasgow Americana outfit The Hellfire Club followed with a set of originals, ahead of Miller Crossan, the Dunoon/Gourock duo who laced the evening with blues-roots flair on the acoustic stage.
Liam Somerville & The Streetlight Band kept the pace high with an evolving, guest-studded set that peaked with a passionate take on Bruce Springsteen’s Badlands.
Local favourites TOAST then dialled up the cinema nostalgia, serving a movie-themed set supercharged by brass, keys and special guestsa sequence that had the hall on its feet.
To finish the night, an all star cast made up this years Stay Fresh Supergroup. Featuring performers from the bands playing on the night, coming together to create a very special experience for the crowd.
The Supergroup played a set full of movie themed songs.
Organisers reported the biggest attendance to date, with more than 350 tickets pre-sold and strong walk-up interest ahead of the house full announcement. They credited the events atmosphere to a familiar Dunoon blend: generous performers, skilled techs, tireless volunteers and a community determined to make good things happen.
This years five recipients reflect the festivals mix of arts, welfare and health causes. Funding will help sustain programming at Dunoon Burgh Hall, support veterans and families through Poppy Scotland, assist animal rescue work at Underheugh Ark, contribute to research and awareness via Prostate Cancer UK, and back local participation through the Stay Fresh Sports Fund.
For organisers, the record total is both a milestone and a mandate. Breaking the fundraising record two years running suggests the festival has found a formula–strong local bill, clear charitable purpose, and a night that feels like a celebration of the town itself.
A spokesperson for the event said: “The festival would not be able to be such a success without the support of its incredible volunteers, our partnership with Studio Cinema, the staff at The Queen’s Hall, our technicians, the bands who give their time for free, our photographers, videographer and of course the constant support of the community that makes it such a good atmosphere.”
Organisers would also like to thank the following local businesses for their support – Ingrams Bar, Balance Complementary Therapies, Stewart Shaw Ltd, Stewart and Bennett, Mrs Macs Books, Lodge Dunoon Argyll No.335, John Brown (Strone) Ltd, West End Furniture, Victoria House, Lee Burns Decorators Ltd, Walkers Dunoon, Dae It Yersel, The Icing On The Cake, JH Gas Services, Coorie Braw Holiday Lettings, Professional Diving Academy, Shearwater Marine Services Ltd, Dunoon Argyll Knotweed Solutions, The 51st State & La Cantina, John Tyre & Sons, Cruive, Hays Travel Dunoon, Cleansweep Argyll, Scottish Property Centre Argyll, The Hollies Dental Practice, Royal Bar (Innellan), CX Services Ltd, McLay Glass & Glazing, Cot House Services, The Blairmore, Black of Dunoon, Olivers Store, The Burgh Bar and George H. Currie Blacksmiths.
With the final chord struck and the totals counted, Stay Fresh signs off 2025 with momentum. Stay Fresh Music Festival will return in September 2026. If this year is any guide, it will take a sequel of epic proportions to top it–but Stay Fresh Fest has a habit of delivering exactly that.
