Knockengorroch

infobox music festival
music_festival_name = Knockengorroch


location = Galloway, Forest of Ae, Talnotry, Scotland
years_active = 1998 - present
founded by = Simon and Liz Holmes
dates = Middle of May (3 days) and middle of September
genre = Celtic, World, Roots
website = [http://knockengorroch.org.uk www.knockengorroch.org.uk]

Knockengorroch is a world music festival held bi-annually in South West Scotland. The first of the 2 festivals is called World Ceilidh and is usually held around the middle of May, with the second called The Hairth which is held in mid September. The festival started in 1998 and has licensing for around 3000 fans.

The early years

In mid-summer 1998 a 'rainbow gathering' was held on the Knockengorroch Farm in Galloway by Simon and Liz Holmes. Now in its tenth year the festival is an estab-lished event in the region. It has grown since its beginnings while still remaining an intimate and hospitable experience, welcoming people from all over Scotland, the UK and beyond for a relaxed, inspiring and riotous four days.

Since then they’ve gone from an audience of 300 locals to 2,700, including a sprin-kling of international visitors. The origin of the Festivals name is unclear, but in Gaelic ‘knock’ is another way of saying neuk which means a gathering place where crofters came to discuss their common work, ‘gorroch’ has a variety of meanings. The featured artists originate from Celtic, world and roots music genre and the festival has been held in various other locations as the Forest of Ae near Dumfries, and Talnotry near Newton Stewart.

Knockengorroch today

Both Knockengorroch Festivals now take place in the Dumfries and Galloway hills, in a natural Greenfield amphitheatre. The festivals feature outdoor and covered stages, a dance marquee, a recreated Celtic Longhouse venue, a Ceilidh, a children’s marquee and procession, puppet shows, cabaret, fire shows, open mic, workshops, camping, real ale, food stalls, shopping and much more. There is an emphasis on as much environmentally sound practice as possible, with a rigorous recycling policy, use of biodegradable products and alternative sources of power wherever possible, and ‘green’ and heritage workshops available to participate in during the day.

The object of Knockengorroch artistic direction is to establish progressive linkage between the celebration of the natural amphitheatre of its two Galloway venues and the now far- flung Celtic diaspora, once rooted in such homely places. It is Knocken-gorroch’s remit not only to celebrate ethnic diversity and fusion, but to make the mu-sic home in its natural home.

On the still wider contemporary seas of world-music the aim is primarily to promote multi-cultural forms and musical genres, highlighting the connection between roots music and the land that gave birth to that music and its people. Music from all conti-nents is therefore booked alongside the best in Scottish, and European, talent to showcase Celtic and World music in both traditional and contemporary fields.

Past Line-ups

2007 Festival Line-up

* Transglobal Underground
* Natacha Atlas
* Kila
* Shooglenifty
* Go Lem System
* Mr Scruff
* Zion Train
* Fantazia
* Tannahill Weavers
* The Mordekkers
* Voces del Sur
* Mambo Jambo
* Kampec Dolores
* Albaroot
* Talking Drum
* The Belle Star Band
* Swing Guitars
* Jacob's Pillow
* Bombskare
* Big Hand [ [http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/lineups.php?FestID=1126 Line-ups and rumours - search results ] ]

2006 festival Line-up

* Bellowhead
* Eliza Carthy & the Ratcatchers
* Huun Huur Tu
* Old Blind Dogs
* Kangaroo Moon
* 3 Daft Monkeys
* The Baghdaddies
* Big Hand
* Paddyrastas
* Pendulums
* Jacob's Pillow [ [http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/lineups.php?FestID=1126/ Line-ups and rumours - search results ] ]

2005 festival Line-up

* 3 Daft Monkeys
* Babylon Arab Band
* Bebe Ouali
* Desmond Dekker and the Aces
* Elephant Talk 2
* Errol Linton's Blues Vibe
* John McSherry
* Le Cod Afrique
* Matt Seattle with the Eildon Strings
* Michael McGoldrick Band
* Mystery Juice
* Planet Woman
* Sheelanagig
* Tarantism
* The Assassenachs
* The Ruffness
* Virginia MacNaughton
* Wuyan Mei & Co [ [http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/lineups.php?FestID=1126/ Line-ups and rumours - search results ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.knockengorroch.org.uk/ Knockengorroch Official Site]
* [http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/lineups.php?FestID=1126 Knockengorroch Past Line-ups]
* [http://www.gardensessions.co.uk gardensessions.co.uk] Internet Folk radio show Garden Sessions brings coverage of both May's World Ceilidh and September's Hairth Festivals