A new, open-air festival will take place in Scotland next summer as part of the Highland 2007 celebrations.

Called The Outsider, the festival will take place in Rothiemurchus near Aviemore and has been devised by Pete Irvine of Unique Events and Neil Dalgleish of Hillside.

Core-funded by Highlands 2007 – a year-long celebration intended to promote The Highlands as a great place to live and visit – The Outsider is one of the first events to be announced within the programme.

It will celebrate nature and the environment within the Highlands with a programme of entertainment including music, cultural events, film and debate plus other activities such as dancing and stargazing.

Other potential funders and collaborators are also currently being sought by event organisers.

Pete Irvine said: “Our aim is to reinvent the open air festival. I don’t think that there is any other event like this in the world, which, by bringing together outdoor and cultural activities and live music, will have an audience that is more in tune with the changes that the planet is currently undergoing.”

Alison Magee, chair of Highland 2007, added: “I’m sure The Outsider will be an outstanding event inspired by the spectacular natural environment we have here in the Highlands. It is very appropriate that the festival is one of the flagship events for Highland 2007, which is intended to showcase the unique and special nature of Highland culture.” Details: www.highland2007.com

Photograph: www.britainonview.com