Music on the Marr is a small but perfectly formed not for profit music festival held in Castle Carrock. It’s been held every summer since 2010.

It was born out of love. There was a village wedding taking place on the Marr (village green) one Saturday in June of that year, which meant that a large marquee was being hired for use. The hirers kindly agreed to it being available for use the following day by the village and local people. And a fine fellow by the name of Richard Johnstone, himself born in the village, took it upon himself to create a music festival, involving the church, the two pubs (when the Weary was still a pub), the village hall and the main marquee. The sun shone, the beer was drunk and the musicians played beautifully.

The festival in July 2018 was the biggest and best yet, with 84 hours of performance, 146 performers and artists singing at least 408 songs at 88 different events, 35 casks and 11 kegs of ale and beer drunk, over 150 children attended free of charge, 91 runners took part in the Round the Reservoir Race and venues included the school, the church, the Institute and on the Marr itself. There were also over 80 tents and motorhomes on a temporary campsite behind Town Foot farm and a Big Top circus tent on the school field. The festival also raised over £3,000 for the St Peters Restoration fund and the Eden Valley Hospice. 

More information about Music on the Marr can be found at www.musiconthemarr.com.