Loopallu squeezes out the last sweet drop of craic of the festival season

Loopallu's ardent and loyal punters are the festival world's "bitter enders". The equivalent of partygoers who gather round the dieing embers of the firepit until the last bottle is drained and the final yarn has been spun, squeezing out the last sweet drop of craic until bitter reality kicks in.

So when September arrives and the sun starts to dip behind the horizon ever earlier, the summer festivals of Glastonbury and T in the Park seem a distant memory. Envy then, those lucky souls who live in the beautiful north west Highlands and have Loopallu on their doorsteps to temporarily extend the festival season to the bitter end.

Loopallu is a small festival compared to most, and tiny when mentioned in the same paragraph as Glasto or T, but it certainly punches above its weight. Headline acts The View and the revived Lightning Seeds are probably the main draw this year. The John Lawler (Jon Fratelli) sabbatical project Codeine Velvet Club is also eagerly anticipated. Acts such as The Dykeenies and Pearl and the Puppets are rapidly gaining popularity north of the border, but are sure to make new friends among intrepid festival addicts from down south. Mumford and Sons clearly think it’s a worthwhile trip, as they are on the billing for the second year in a row. Loopallu stalwarts and good friends to the festival The Family Mahone are also here once again.

As in past years, there is one main tent, which is more than adequate space for the entire crowd. The location is stunningly beautiful with Loch Broom and The Cuillin of Skye providing the backdrop. I'm not sure how the local tourist board spin doctor tackles it, but just let's just say you do get more than the occasional rainbow in these parts, so an undercover performance space is pretty much essential.

Having only one stage, Loopallu's programme is boutique, however there is a sense here that the music can be dipped into while catching up with old friends and enjoying a beer or ten. This reviewer found it difficult to pass local beer maker An Teallach Brewery's tent without calling in and sampling another one of their excellent range of real ales and the banter with the delightful staff.

The variety of foods available round the festival site is not very extensive, but it is mostly locally sourced and reasonably priced - at least in comparison to bigger events. The key charm of Loopallu is its location in the centre of a small town well served with cafes and pubs, the latter of which host a buzzing festival fringe lasting late into the night. The campsite is slap bang next to both the town and the festival site, so ambling or tottering between each can be done quickly. Nipping into town for ice for G&T's in one's tent doesn't mean having to miss any of the bands.

As per tradition, the stirring sound of the smartly turned out Ullapool Pipe Band officially kicks off the festival with a procession through the campsite finishing up in the main tent. The tent is as yet only sparsely populated while the crowd arrives and makes camp.

First act onstage is guitar and drums two-piece Bronto Skylift who give the sound system - not to mention the ear drums - a thorough testing with their uncompromisingly brutalist grunge. A lot of noise for just two guys, although if you can stay the course for the full set, it's actually more subtle than it first sounds.

Pearl and the Puppets are a complete and altogether fluffier contrast. Pearl (Katie Sutherland) has only been playing and writing for three years, but is making rapid progress with her distinctive and affecting vocals and her well crafted songs. Her set is well received and the tent begins to fill as Kid British get the party started with their poppy and slightly frothy ska sound. There's something a bit too 'boy band' about this crew, but you can't help warming to their youthful enthusiasm.

Back to homegrown talent with The Dykeenies who raise the stakes to a new level with catchy indie tunes that have the crowd truly surging and moshing for the first time today.

Ex-Specials front man Neville Staple has had to pull out due to ill health, however, a cut down Alabama 3 – yet again no strangers to Loopallu - have stepped in at the last minute and perform a brilliant set complete with encore. These guys have a style and look that's all their own, but the political pontificating and colourful language don't go down well with everyone from this fairly conservative-with-a-small-C part of the world.

The View are well up to following these two class acts and close the stage in cocky, strutting style, though for the first time today the sound quality suffers for the sake of volume and Kyle Falconer's vocals become distorted and indistinct.

We head into town to keep up the momentum and bump into The Family Mahone outside The Ceilidh Place where they have just completed their fringe appearance. Clearly still on a rush from their performance, they amiably submit to our gushing adoration and pose for mobile phone fan photos. Eventually the drummer chappie quite rightly realizes valuable drinking time is being eaten into by all this nonsense and sensibly heads for the bar. It seems rude not to follow.

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