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home » festivals » The Wickerman Festival » The Wickerman Festival 2011
on the whole The Wickerman Festival still gives a great family festival experienceThe Wickerman Festival 2011 reviewTuesday 2nd August 2011 On Saturday morning summer officially arrived in Scotland......I had years of sweet dreams about walking up to a cloudless sky at a Scottish festival and today my dreams came true.
The Scooter tent continued to build on Friday with strong sets from Glasgow's Fire Exit, and Jericho Hill (Johnny Cash Tribute band) getting the crowd going. Added to this the high energy ska set performed by festival favourites Bombskare set the tone for the day. The crowd was packed out with the stand out tracks from the set being 'Don't Give It All Away' and a 'Fist Full Of Dynamite'.
Although 'Whatisthelight?Whereislaughter?' is an instant crowd pleaser, the set contained other highlights such as 'Time For You To Stand Up' and 'Edit Me'. For any small unsigned bands reading this; this band are proof that festival evolution works. Twin Atlantic first played Wickerman at the Solus Emerging Scottish tent three years ago. Take it form me they have emerged. This band are on the ascendancy. If you want to see them at a small venue, check them out soon.
I usually find The Coral too low key and chilled out for a evening festival set. Following on from the Pigeon Detectives they had their work cut out but they lived up to it. Maybe the crowd were just in the right mood for 'Dreaming Of You' and 'In The Morning' but the tempo of the main stage just continued to build. By the time they covered the Beatles 'Ticket To Ride' the atmosphere was electric.
I've seen several posts on eFestivals criticising the organisers choice of bands for the festival. In my mind for less than a hundred pounds everyone got great value. There was something here for everyone young and old. After the ritual burning of the wickerman, in which the atmosphere was kind of ruined by a piper playing happy birthday, unlike many other festivals in Scotland that stop dead, Wickerman continues for most of the night, well into daybreak. They don't call it 'Boomtown' for anything.
With the main stages closed I took the opportunity to check out some late night folk music in the Acoustic Village. If Modhams set is an example of the quality on show at this stage over the weekend then its another example of the strength and depth that this festival offers. My late night highlights include enjoying people watching the crowd in the Axis Sound System Reggie Tent. Dr Huxtable's late night (4am) mash up sets this tent up as a unique addition to the Scottish Festival scene. The two boomtown stages offered a late night sound clash on both nights. Whereas I'm not sure of the morality of dancing round your baby in a buggy at 2am the tents certainly give the 'older' clubbers the opportunity to relive their past. Whereas I'm certain that the senior clubber I saw was in his late 50's his trilby hat and clubbing gear certainly matched his rhythmic movement and trance like being being. Basically this festival has something for everything. There are some issues that need sorted by the organisers like ensuring the sound is spot on and getting the security team to chill out a bit. On the whole it still gives a great family festival experience. Check it out sometime soon. In the words of three wise festival goers I know it's "Awesome, Crazy and Wicked" rolled into one. 
review by Greg Forbes photos by Carol Keith / Greg & Rachel Forbes 
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