PREVIEW: Loopallu Saturday

On Saturday, the 9th Loopallu festival in Ullapool kicks off its second of two days of music that blend Highland favourites (Ullapool Pipe Band), national stars (The Enemy, Newton Faulkner), veteran names (Reef) and continues to cement a reputation for spotting the next big thing (The Temperance Movement).

Below we give you a preview of the acts you can see on Saturday.

Fake Major Fiction (filmed in Inverness)

FAKE MAJOR Richard Ferguson and David McGinty came from the ashes of Glasgow band Endor but make a virtue of their two-man status.

Music sounds like: pop with harmonies plus guitar

Useful quirky fact: Lyric-writer David once likened the duo’s songwriting to Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore movie, Music & Lyrics, with Richard the music!

Follow them: on Twitter @Fake_Major and on Facebook.com/FakeMajor and at www.fakemajor.com

The New Piccadillys cover of The Ramones’ Judy Is A Punk

THE NEW PICCADILLYS lead singer and guitarist George Miller from Greenock is also known for his time with The Kaisers, the Styng Rites and Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri. But with The New Piccadillys, he and the rest of the four-piece combine a 60s sound with 70s punk. Think Beatles and The Ramones.

Music sounds like: Yesterday with a twist. Oh,and shiny suits.

Useful quirky fact: Ramones producer Ed Stasium emailed the band to say he thought their cover version of Judy Is A Punk was the best he’d ever heard. Drummer Keith Warwick was at Eden Court last week starring in play Bite The Bullet, about a band re-forming to return to Japan where they’d had a number one years ago.

Follow them: on Twitter @new_piccadillys and on Facebook.com/The-New-Piccadillys

The Moulettes perform their own song Songbird sung at the Cambridge Folk Festival last year

THE MOULETTES Moulettes made best of year album lists in 2010 with debut Balling The Jack and have been compared to everyone from the Unthanks to Tom Waits, using voices, harmonies and instruments including cello, bassoon, violin, drums and bass, among many. Ex-Moulette Ted Dwane, now of Mumford & Sons, helped them record their second album in 2011, The Bear’s Revenge.

Music sounds like: They say "modern folk music – which incorporates elements of prog-rock, indie, classical, jazz and blues".

Useful quirky fact: The attractive tea towel in their website merch section is a must for fans of classical stringed instruments

Follow them: on Twitter @Moulettes1 and on Facebook.com/Moulettes and on their website www.moulettes.co.uk

Laurence Fox Gunfight. An updated version is on his new EP Sorry For The Words

LAURENCE FOX Actor married to Billie Piper and best-known for starring with Kevin Whateley in ITV Morse spin-off Lewis expands on his youthful love of music, songwriting and guitar playing to release his debut EP Sorry For My Words and follow-up with solo live shows after appearing at Glastonbury earlier this summer.

Music sounds like: Laurence says: "I’m definitely more ‘There’s a point to this song’ than ‘I want you to feel great!’... though I still want people to feel good about it!"

Useful quirky fact: As part of the Fox acting dynasty, when it came to looking for someone to appear in his video for So Be Damned, Laurence could luckily call on his cousin Emilia, best-known as Silent Witness forensic pathologist Nikki Alexander.

Follow him: on Twitter@LozzaFox and on Facebook.com/LaurenceFoxMusic and his website www.laurencefox.co.uk

The Temperance Movement Midnight Black

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT British blues rock band put together in 2011 by Glasgow singer Phil Campbell and guitarists Luke Potashnick (ex-Rooster) and Paul Sayer plus former Jamiroquai bassist Nick Fyffe and Aussie-born drummer Damon Wilson, who’s played with The Waterboys and Feeder. Their EP Pride came out the following year and their debut album was released on Monday.

Music sounds like: Blues rock/70s classic rock/The Rolling Stones/The Black Crowes.

Useful quirky fact: They’ve been nominated for best new band in Classic Rock magazine’s awards – there’s still time to go and vote if you like them on Saturday!

Follow them: on Twitter @TTM_Tweets and on Facebook.com/TheTemperanceMovement and on their website at www.thetemperancemovement.com

The Vatersay Boys at Glasgow Barrowlands

THE VATERSAY BOYS Five-piece band from Vatersay and Barra playing traditional music with passion. Two boxes, bass guitar, drums and pipes. "Ach, we enjoying playing some tunes now and again for the craic!" they say on their Facebook page. And last Hogmanay, a documentary was shown on BBC Alba, Beware The Vatersay Boys, following the Highlands’ number one party band for six months, working by day and playing by night. The programme was later nominated for a Celtic Media Award.

Music sounds like: Traditional folk/Scottish, irresistible dancing music.

Useful quirky fact: In an interview a while ago, accordionist Michael Campbell recommended that if listeners were looking for a tipple to help get in the mood to enjoy the Vatersays, a Speyside single malt would maybe keep them light on their toes for dancing!

Follow them: on Facebook.com/thevatersayboys.com and their own website www.vatersayboys.co.uk

Roddy Woomble Listen To Keep taster

RODDY WOOMBLE These days Roddy is as well-known for his solo contemporary folk albums (three) and one-off projects like the Kris Drever/John McCusker album Before The Ruin as he is as lead singer of Idlewild.

Music sounds like: folk/indie rock

Useful quirky fact: Fans might like to note Roddy’s blog recently revealed he’s starting to compile tracks for a live album he plans to release next year.

Follow on: Twitter @RoddyWoomble and Facebook.com/RoddyWoomble and his website www.roddywoomble.com

Reef Place Your Hands

REEF Four-piece Reef are from Glastonbury originally with singer Gary Stringer’s vocals memorable on a string of eight Top 20 singles from the 90s, best-known probably being Place Your Hands. In November they set off on a 20th anniversary UK city tour. Last March they released 93/03 a nine-CD collection including B-sides, rareties and videos of all the music from their then 19-year career.

Music sounds like: rock

Useful quirky fact: Reef will follow their Loopallu Festival appearance by having to trave back 714 miles south for their next date - the Looe Music Festival in Cornwall the following Saturday.

Follow them: at Facebook.com/reefmusic and their website at www.reefband.com And if you love, love, love Place Your Hands, you might want to know, it’s got its own Twitter page @PlaceYourHands

Newton Faulkner Write It On Your Skin

NEWTON FAULKNER People first fell for Newton back in 2007, when his debut album Hand Built By Robots made number one. But a bad break to his right hand just before he planned to record his second, meant a series of nine pins and a metal plate had to be inserted, inspiring the title, Rebuilt By Humans. Live, it’s all about his abilities right there in front of you: "We don’t use any backing tracks, loop pedals, offstage performers or any of that stuff – what you see is exactly what you get," he’s said in the past. New album Studio Zoo saw Newton submit to four cameras constantly filming the rcording process for live streaming and since the album’s release at the end of August, it’s been getting rave reviews from fans. And even if you have seen his live party piece before – his version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody – you’re probably still going to be hoping he treats the Loopallu crowd to a reprise!

Music sounds like: no other, Newton’s percussive guitar sound is a one-off

Useful quirky fact: Though after his broken hand, you’d think his next album title Rebuilt By Humans was obvious, it was Newton’s dad who came up with the title among hundreds of suggestions he sent to Newton who was unimpressed ... till he realised it was really good!

Follow him: Twitter on @NewtonFaulkner and on Facebook.com/newtonfaulkner and his website is: www.newtonfaulkner.com