"I'm looking forward to getting bustimicated," says 30-year-old Vicky, clutching her pink-heart welly boots as the early 70s-era bus struggles up a steep incline on Rathlin Island.

Over the weekend, the population of this tiny outcrop off the north Antrim coast has risen more than 10-fold, thanks to the annual Jigs and Gigs festival taking place on a local farm.

For many of the festival goers, including Vicky, it's their first visit to Rathlin. A handful of the 70-odd islanders who live here permanently look on bemused as the ferry from Ballycastle disgorges another swarm, lugging camping equipment and supplies.

Local busman Bertie Corry runs a well-oiled service from the harbour to the campsite at Kilraver Organic Farm three miles away. He's hired an extra van to carry the luggage and explains to passengers that this puts up the price of the journey.

He's all in favour of the festival. "It brings a bit of tourism," he says. "That's very good for the island."

The bus chugs by the school, which caters for the island's four pupils, and snakes through hills carpeted with heather while Bertie exchanges banter with the passengers.

The age group ranges from late teens to 30-something, with a few family groups thrown in. Emma and Ian have travelled up from Dublin for their first camping trip with five-year-old Ella and two-year-old Jack, both of whom are breathless at the prospect of sleeping in a tent.

"Leave no trace" reads the sign at the entrance to the campsite. This is an organic farm, explains one of the organisers, Ciaran Laverty.

"I know people will leave rubbish, but we're trying to put it into people's heads to keep the place clean. We'll be here for three days lifting cigarette butts," he sighs.

The music is eclectic - heavy metal, funk, cowboy rock - and the bands mostly local. The organisers, the Force 10 crew, are a group of mainly Antrim-based music lovers. Tickets cost £20 and any money made is donated to the Tara Watch campaign to save the Co Meath historical site.

"It started off with a few friends coming out here for a campout and then there was a wee bit of music. People knew other people, and before we knew it, we got to the point where we had to make it all official with licensing and that. We don't make any money out of it," says Laverty.

Despite his scepticism, the campsite overlooking the sea of Moyle is in good order. Emma, Ian and kids head off to a specially-organised family area. Vicky and pals set about putting up their pink flowery tent.

The organisers warn people to bring what they need for the three-day run and, aside from toilets, a water container and a small food stall, there are few facilities.

"It's the effort people have to make to get here, to get all their stuff over here. It means that people really want to come - and that's what makes this really different," says Laverty.

About 1,000 people attend over the weekend. The music starts in the evening because, say the organisers, it gives people time to get to know each other. Jigs and Gigs is no Glastonbury - but that's part of the charm.