SCOTS rockers Del Amitri will be the headline act at the Dandelion Festival – a free outdoor music and arts event in Inverness.

They will join Malian group Songhoy Blues, King Creosote, Tank and the Bangas, The Lost Words and the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, among others, for the family-friendly festival celebrating sustainability.

The festival, from September 2 to 4, is part of Dandelion, a dynamic creative programme following the growing season.

Events across Scotland bring together music and art with science and technology to inspire people to ‘sow, grow and share’ food, ideas and stories.

Commissioned by EventScotland and funded by the Scottish Government, Dandelion is part of UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, the biggest programme of creative events ever held on these shores.

The music line-up for the Inverness event has been curated by Donald Shaw, creative director of Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival.

Young pipers are preparing to play at the festival 

Visitors to Dandelion will see a string of performances on two stages in Northern Meeting Park. At the festival’s heart is the Pavilion of Perpetual Light forms the main stage.

Part art, part plant laboratory, this stunning 10m-high installation comprises 60 cubes hosting hundreds of seedlings under LED light – many of which have toured the country to demonstrate ‘accelerated growing’ to communities.

The festival features talks by farmers, writers, artists and activists on sustainability, land management and our relationship with nature.

Dandelion ‘Potting Sheds’ will host artists, performers and community groups offering interactive sessions.

Songhoy Blues

Visitors can, for example, try traditional straw plaiting to fashion their own ‘harvest knot’ – wear it as a brooch at the festival and then take it home!

Activities also include creating soundscapes with mushrooms, seed-saving workshops and natureinspired songwriting.

“This project is something we are incredibly passionate about,” explains Dandelion executive producer and programmer of the talks and family activities Jenny Niven.

“And we are looking forward to spreading further awareness on issues such as environmentalism, sustainability and how our food is produced."

• The Dandelion Festival is free to attend and non-ticketed. For further information on the festival visit dandelion.scot