Knockengorroch is a world music festival held annually among the Carsphairn hills in Kirkcudbrightshire Scotland. From its founding in 1998 until 2010 there were two annual festivals - the World Ceilidh, usually held around the end of May, and The Hairth, held in mid September. From 2011, only the World Ceilidh Festival was held, with licensing for around 3000 attendees.
The early years
In mid-summer 1997 a 'rainbow gathering' was held on the Knockengorroch Farm in Galloway with the agreement of Simon and Liz Holmes. The festival is now an established 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.
The festival has grown from an audience of 300 locals to 2700, including international visitors. The origin of the festival's name is unclear, but in Gaelic ‘knock’ (Cnoc) means a hill and ‘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
The festival now takes place in the Dumfries and Galloway hills, in a natural greenfield amphitheatre. The festival features outdoor and covered stages, a dance marquee, a recreated Iron Age Longhouse venue, a Ceilidh, a children’s marquee and procession, puppet shows, cabaret, fire shows, open mic, workshops, camping, real ale, food and shopping stalls. 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 both green and heritage workshops are 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 venues and the now far-flung Celtic diaspora, once rooted in such homely places. It is Knockengorroch’s remit not only to celebrate ethnic diversity and fusion, but to make the music 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 continents is therefore booked alongside the best in Scottish, and European, talent to showcase Celtic and World music in both traditional and contemporary fields.
In 2015, Knockengorroch was one of 12 events to be recommended to be funded by Dumfries and Galloway Council's Major Events Strategic Fund. Others on the list included the Eden Festival and the Lockerbie Jazz Festival.
Past line-ups
2015 line up
Young Fathers
Aziza Brahim
B & the Roots Ragga Band
Peatbog Faeries
Shooglenifty
Scratch Perverts
Ferocious Dog
Mungo's Hi Fi Soundsystem ft Solo Banton
Awry
Gnawa Blues All Stars
Stanley Odd
Age of Glass
John Langan Band
DJ Format
Bella Hardy and Big Band
The Girobabies
Rob Heron & the Teapad Orchestra
Samedia Shebeen
The Amphetameanies
Big Swing Soundsystem
London Afrobeat Collective
Blackbeard’s Tea Party
Bunty Looping
Jenova Collective
Samson Sounds
No Go Stop
Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5
Fitty Gomash
The Navigantes
After Hours Quintet
Ed Cox
Frogpocket
Jemima Thewes
Ewan McLennan
Kate in the Kettle
Jeremy Mage & the Magi
DJ Dolphin Boy
The Badwills
Skayaman
Sticks and Stones
The Razorbills
The Chicken Brothers (TCB) Griogair Tam Tam 2000 PyroCeltica Ross Ainslie Stivs Chapel Perilous Art System Mayawaska Breezak PJ Coyle Xymox DJ Brainstorm Easy Skankin Crew Andy Mac Ben-Jamin Papa Shanti Neil Templar Key Lo Kala Ushka DJ Nem Bit Monkey Tom Tom the Piper’s Son Mischief La-Bas Voice Box Theatre Teatro Magnetico BassTonik Swing and Shout Cosmic BBL vs Triple Drop Wobbley Social ETC The Too Much Fun Club presents Sketch the Rhyme