Wow! I’d heard so many glowing reports about what a superb little festival “Knocky” is but despite some typically cold & wet Scottish weather this surpassed all expectations. This really is how all festivals should be. Small, eclectic, friendly and set in the most beautifully rugged and remote countryside. It really is literally in the middle of nowhere, at the end of a 4-mile single track road along which there is absolutely no sign of civilisation other than the sheep & highland cattle for whom this Galloway glen is home.

The festival itself is held in a small valley with a fast running stream and woodland to one side. Camping, car parking and the festival itself are all intermingled in a higgledy-piggledy fashion with overflow camping a little way back down the track. The main “arena” is intimate & small and the colourfully decorated main stage is faced by the large beer tent which serves 4 unpronounceable real ales as well as some superb mead.

The second “Shieling” Stage is in a large marquee at the farmyard end of the site, which also doubles as a late night dance venue. At the other end of the site the Acoustic Tent has an open invitation to all-comers to perform.

Other attractions included Craft & Jewellery Stalls, a Sauna, a Fire Show, a Sculpting Tent, Storytelling and a Kids Area. The kids also have a bagpipe led parade on the Sunday afternoon, which I was honoured to be asked to lead in my Cardinal’s robes.

Food is supplied in the form of the wonderful Stoat’s Porridge in a variety of flavours and homemade Pizzas from a tent which also boshed out 24 hour techno. There were also several other small cafes and caterers dotted around the site.

I have so many photos of my wonderful friends from the Glastonbury Message Boards who joined our superb island encampment, as well as a few other regular festival friends and one or two new acquaintances. I have therefore separated these from my photos of the event itself so that people who only want to see what the festival was all about are able to get a flavour of Knockengorroch and the many excellent live acts who performed can do so.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them.