LIVE Argyll’s new chair has set her sights on bringing more top comedians and musical acts to Argyll and Bute in the New Year.
The leisure trust has already got visits from popular entertainers to look forward to in 2026, with Jason Manford set for a date at the Corran Halls in Oban in March.
Pop legends Wet Wet Wet are performing an acoustic evening at the same venue in May, while punk musician John Lydon will perform at Dunoon’s Queen’s Hall in November.
Other acts, such as comedian Susie McCabe and X Factor contestants The MacDonald Brothers have several dates lined up across Argyll and Bute next year.
Now Live Argyll chair Mairi Coleman hopes to add to that list after extended efforts to increase events since the nation came out of the Covid lockdown.
She said: “We have been pushing really hard to grow the events side of the business since Covid. I am not sure if the event industry has returned to pre-Covid levels but we are pushing really had.
“The Corran Halls in Oban is on target to make a profit for the first time ever, including before Live Argyll. The Beluga Lagoon tickets for the first night sold out in a couple of minutes.
“These events contribute to the entire area – there have been events when you cannot get a bed in Oban because everybody travels.
“Not only are we creating an event, but giving business to others in the area. As businesses we work together and allow that to happen.
“We have other events coming up and are looking to create as many as we can. There seems to be a real demand, particularly in Oban and at the Queen’s Hall in Dunoon.”
More details on the planned events are available through the Live Argyll website. Live Argyll manages leisure services on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council.
