28/09/2026
We are so excited for another year of baile/baile and can’t wait to get back for another amazing winter season! In the meantime however we have a wee announcement.
Over the last few years our party has grown and subsequently had to evolve quite a bit. In the name of transparency we want to explain the latest changes to how we operate.
baile/baile is a difficult party to run financially due to a variety of challenges. In cities, club spaces come ready to go and usually operate on a capacity that has a 'float' (not everyone is in at the same time and people come and go). In Ullapool, we have to operate differently. This includes lots of extra costs such as hiring all of the equipment necessary for a good night. We are, however, very lucky to have a great team who do great work with us.
In our first year we were generously given some funding by the Ullapool Harbour Trust and in the name of delivering a good party kept ticket prices low, which resulted in a financial loss for us. In our second year, our finances struggled and the first two parties fell quite short. Furthermore, the stress of low advanced ticket sales took its toll.
We therefore adapted to make sure the party was sustainable. This included helping provide some accommodation for travelling party goers and selling t-shirts. This enabled locals and travelling folk to mix - something we have loved. Despite all this, we once again fell short financially.
Year on year we have grown in recognition and this has brought more and more travelling party goers. In our third year this helped with financial sustainability and alongside a few other changes led to our first ever profitable party series.
However, despite this, locals often missed out on tickets because travelling folk were quicker off the mark in buying. We have always wanted to ensure that the people of Ullapool are at the heart of baile/baile and therefore found it really hard to turn folk away.
In the spirit of all of this, we are introducing a new ticketing strategy with the aim of re-centring locals and encouraging advanced sales:
Season tickets:
Season tickets will be available to purchase for locals. These tickets get you in to all four parties at a discounted rate of £40 (£10 per party). Season tickets will only be purchasable in person, from The Ceilidh Place, with cash.
If you are from the village and are a regular, this is the one for you! Only 20 season tickets are available - first come first served.
General Sale:
We will be maintaining our ticket banding from previous years with no increase in price:
£12 for ‘early entry (pre 10pm)
£15 for ‘anytime entry (pre midnight).
General Sale tickets will go on sale one month before the event.
On the door:
Unlike previous years we will be holding 15 tickets on the door. These will be sold at £15. Tickets on the door will be held for locals as a priority. This is a financial risk for us but we hope that it enables locals who might miss out on General Sale to attend.
We hope that folk understand what we are trying to do with these changes and hope you stick with us as we test it this year. We have huge plans for next year and our winter party lineups are genuinely so so exciting! Keep your eyes peeled.
We can't wait to dance with you all again!
Sigi and Jemima x
