I can't wait! Singer/songwriter Callum Beattie 'absolutely buzzing' ahead of Dunnet music festival
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Callum Beattie says he is "absolutely buzzing" about making his first appearance at Tunes By the Dunes.
The acclaimed singer/songwriter from Musselburgh has performed in many parts of Scotland – but Caithness will be a new experience for him when he takes to the stage at the two-day Dunnet festival.
Tunes By the Dunes 2023 will feature a mix of returning bands and high-profile newcomers in a 1200-capacity marquee at the village's Ham Park football ground on September 8/9.
“I’ve played a lot in Inverness but have never come much further, so the band and myself are really excited about it," 33-year-old Beattie said.
"My manager has been all over the Highlands and he has told me all about it. I’m absolutely buzzing for it – there’s nothing better than performing at a festival in a truly beautiful place. I can’t wait!”
Beattie has risen to fame in recent years with his 2020 debut album People Like Us becoming a huge success. In February 2023 he released his second studio album, Vandals, featuring the single Heart Stops Beating.
He has been shocked by the response to his music, saying: “I'm constantly amazed and perplexed by the whole thing, to be honest.
"I used to be able to walk everywhere – now not so much! I suppose it’s a measure of how far I have come, and I’ll always be grateful to everyone for buying thousands of tickets, so giving up a chunk of my personal life is a very small price to pay to be able to make a living from doing what I love. I’m filled with gratitude for it."
Beattie has been writing and performing music for almost 20 years. "I cut my teeth playing in pubs – sometimes four shows a night," he explained. "And during that time I was always writing songs. I don’t ever remember wanting to do anything else, to be honest.”
Beattie has mostly his father to thank for his musical style and influences. “He raised me on his own, and had a decent collection of vinyls, so my whole musical heritage is actually very old-school. I was raised on Bowie and Zeppelin, and I hope that’s something that’s now visible in my songwriting.
"I was fortunate to be raised listening to great songs with real long-lasting musical heritage. Thanks, Dad!
"I’m still a massive Bowie fan, and I love Arcade Fire – it’s all about embracing the 'bigness' of it and trying to write songs that people want to sing back to you.”
Beattie hopes to bring a fast-paced set to the stage. "Our latest single Heart Stops Beating is always my favourite to play, just because the energy for it is always so high.”
- There are still limited tickets available and these can be booked through the Tunes By the Dunes website. The festival is run by North Coast Entertainments. The inaugural Tunes By the Dunes was held in 2019, then it returned in 2022 after a break caused by the pandemic. Other acts on the bill are Skipinnish, Torridon, the Tumbling Souls, Whisky, Trail West, The Chair, Mànran, Brandon McPhee and Beinn Lee.
