A GOUROCK punk rocker who knows some of the biggest names in the business is bringing thousands of music fans from all over the world to Dunoon this weekend.

Iain Kilgallon's hugely successful Punk on the Peninsula Festival is back for the first time since the pandemic hit in 2020.

The carnival - which also showcases folk and rock - will see 40 bands from across the globe play across four stages.

This year's event is called Lochdown and is a celebration of life post-pandemic.

Iain said: "We have folk coming from all over this year - Canada, America, Germany, Australia and Switzerland.

"It turns the town into a blaze of colour and there's a really great atmosphere."

Iain was born in Albert Road in Gourock, in the building that's now the Spinnaker Hotel.

From the age of 15, he was releasing records with punk bands down in London, and he started to make connections in the industry.

Iain, whose late father Larry worked at the Tele, said he got the idea for the festival when he saw the Waverley sailing past his window in 2015, as it brought back memories of his jazz musician dad playing on the boat.

Iain opted to hire the Clyde Clipper and the first Punk on the Peninsula took place two years later in 2017.

Bands on this year's bill include The Skids and The Rezillos.

Iain, whose songs have been used in TV and film, says there's a host of up and coming younger bands on the bill too.

He added: "It's great to be able to bring something of this size and scale here and it will be a boost for Gourock too with people travelling over.

"If it puts some extra money in tills for businesses in Inverclyde, all the better."

The festival runs at the Royal Marine Hotel on Thursday and Friday and at Coal Pier on the waterfront open air stage on Saturday and Sunday.

To book tickets visit www.punkonthepeninsula.rocks