Summer FESTIVALS ➙
N IS FOR NEIGHBOURLY For the best part of two decades, Glasgow’s West End has rocked to the sights and
sounds of diverse types of performers. In 1996, the festival was just one week long, this year an entire month is taken up with over 400 events of such eclecticism that ensures no one is left out. As well as the spectacular sights of the Gibson Street Gala, a Torchlight Procession and the Glasgow Mela, individual names come thick and fast: KT Tunstall, ex-Bauhaus leader Peter Murphy, Salsa Celtica, eagleowl and Julia Fordham are all here to entertain the troops. (BD)
WEST END FESTIVAL Glasgow DATES: Fri 31 May–Sun 30 Jun + The Mardi Gras Parade is back! - Don’t forget your earplugs for those intense Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers. TICKETS: Events individually priced. MORE INFO: westendfestival.co.uk
O IS FOR ORCADIAN ADVENTURE The Orkney Folk Festival yet again promises to be a raucous affair for musicians and
fans alike as the islands’ finest team up with some of the UK and Ireland’s top talent. For four days, Stromness will play host to a treasure chest of events including concerts, workshops and no doubt countless impromptu sessions as an army of folkies invade the north armed to the teeth with instruments aplenty. Events to keep an eye out for are toe tap- inducing The Chair, Martin Donohoe & the Irish Gang, and the Home v Rest of the World Football Match on Sunday afternoon, where fancy dress is optional. (PF)
ORKNEY FOLK FESTIVAL Stromness, Orkney DATES: Thu 23–Sun 26 May + The extreme likelihood of stumbling upon an unforgettable traditional session. - The lack of a festival campsite makes accommodation a tad competitive. TICKETS: Events individually priced. MORE INFO: orkneyfolkfestival.com
- Why no Sunday? TICKETS: Weekend £95–£100; Children age 13–15: Weekend £47.50; Children under 13 free all weekend. All inclusive of camping, various prices for caravan / campervan pitches. MORE INFO: thewickermanfestival.co.uk
Q IS FOR QUAGMIRE While the TweedLove Bike Festival is ostensibly a celebration of everything on
two wheels, its setting in the rugged terrain of the Tweed Valley (incorporating the hair-raising Glentress Mountain Biking Trails) underlines an undeniably muddy aspect of some events. Used by many pros as a warm-up gig for the Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William the following weekend, TweedLove’s exhilarating downhill races are not for the white- clothed or faint-hearted. The remainder of the programme features a plethora of on and off-road events targeted at all ages and abilities, with some dynamic film and photography exhibits for those who prefer to stay out of the saddle. (NB)
TWEEDLOVE BIKE FESTIVAL Tweed Valley DATES: Fri 24 May–Sun 2 Jun + Something to attract all bike lovers, from e lovers, from the still-in-stabilizers to the saddle-sore. addle-sore. - With this country’s track record for cord for weather, take some wellies: it could get could get swampy. TICKETS: Events individually priced. priced. MORE INFO: tweedlove.com
R IS FOR ROOTS Launched in 2008, this celebration of all things Americana has been given the
thumbs-up from the diverse likes of Eddi Reader and Seasick Steve. Spread across four venues in Perth (from the lavish Concert Hall to the legendary Twa Tams pub), acts include established figures such as Shelby Lynne, The Mavericks, Roddy Hart and Patty Griffin as well as rising Scottish stars Findlay Napier & The Bar Room Mountaineers, and The Holy Ghosts, while there’s a Southern Fried Open Mic for any rootin’ tootin’ daredevils amongst ye. Soul food is available. (BD)
SOUTHERN FRIED FESTIVAL Perth DATES: Fri 19–Sun 21 Jul + Perth is a compact city, and you’ll rarely be a few minutes away from a Southern Fried venue. If you find that not to be the case, chances are you’re in Dundee. - You might be too busy tucking into your peach cobbler and lemon chess pie to realise there’s music going on. TICKETS: Events individually priced. MORE INFO: www.southernfriedfestival.co.uk
TweedLove Bike Festival
Wickerman
P IS FOR PYROMANIA Now in its 12th year, Dumfries & Galloway’s Wickerman has a unique selling point which very few festivals in Scotland can match: the iconic and edgy burning wicker man which lights up the horizon on Saturday night, a reference to the pagan tower of sacrifice in which Edward Woodward gets frazzled on film. Expect things to get almost as debauched this year, because rowdy old-timers Primal Scream and shouty y Coventry mob The Enemy are y are among the featured artists, s, as well as the more delicate te likes of KT Tunstall and Amy my Macdonald. Plus, there’s the he revived Dexys and an eclectic ectic bunch of DJs and local acts. cts. (DP)
y Orkney Folk Festival
WICKERMAN East Kirkcarswell, near Dundrennan DATES: Fri 26 & Sat 27 Jul + Who doesn’t like a pagan ritual at their music festival?
24 THE LIST 16 May–13 Jun 2013 n 2
S O N G S O F T H E S U M M E R ‘ I c h i , t h e J a p a n e s e o n e - m a n - b a n d , i s p l a y i n g a t T h e I n s i d e r. H e ’ s o n e o f a k i n d : e x t r e m e l y i n v e n t i v e a n d e n t e r t a i n i n g . Tr a c k n a m e i s ‘ (cid:1339) (cid:887) (cid:3903) (cid:881) (cid:924) (cid:892) ’ , w h i c h m e a n s ‘ L e a f K i t e A b o v e t h e S o u n d ’ . J o n n i e C o m m o n