Knockengorroch
Encyclopedia
Knockengorroch is a world music
festival
held annually among the Carsphairn hills
in South West Scotland
. Originally there were two festivals held each year - the World Ceilidh, usually held around the end of May, and The Hairth, held in mid September. As of 2010, Knockengorroch ceased hosting two festivals each year and instead focused its attention on the Knockengorroch World Ceilidh festival. The festival started in 1998 and has licensing for around 3000 fans.
Since then they’ve gone from an audience of 300 locals to 2,700, including a sprinkling of 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.
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.
2006 festival Line-up
2005 festival Line-up
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
held annually among the Carsphairn hills
Carsphairn and Scaur Hills
The Carsphairn and Scaur hills are the western and eastern hills respectively of a hill range in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. Ordnance Survey maps don't have a general name for the hill area as a whole. Also, Ordnance Survey use "Scar" rather than the local spelling of "Scaur" - the word is...
in South West Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Originally there were two festivals held each year - the World Ceilidh, usually held around the end of May, and The Hairth, held in mid September. As of 2010, Knockengorroch ceased hosting two festivals each year and instead focused its attention on the Knockengorroch World Ceilidh festival. 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 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.Since then they’ve gone from an audience of 300 locals to 2,700, including a sprinkling of 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
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 Iron Age 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 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.
Past line-ups
2007 Festival Line-up- Transglobal UndergroundTransglobal undergroundTransglobal Underground is a London-based music collective who specialise in a fusion of western, oriental and African music styles...
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- Mr Scruff
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- Tannahill Weavers
- The Mordekkers
- Voces del Sur
- Mambo JamboMambo JamboMambo Jambo is the alternative name of the song by Perez Prado Qué rico el mambo.The term may also refer to:* A song of Scatman John's album Scatman's World* A theme clubbing night of Zouk club, in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur...
- Kampec Dolores
- Albaroot
- Talking Drum
- The Belle Star Band
- Swing Guitars
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- Big Hand
2006 festival Line-up
- BellowheadBellowheadBellowhead are an English contemporary folk band originally brought together by John Spiers and Jon Boden. The eleven-piece band plays traditional dance tunes, folk songs and shanties, with arrangements drawing inspiration from a wide diversity of musical styles and influences...
- Eliza Carthy & the Ratcatchers
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- Old Blind DogsOld Blind DogsOld Blind Dogs is a Scottish musical group which plays traditional Scottish folk music and Celtic music, with influences from rock, reggae, jazz, blues and Middle Eastern music rhythms...
- Kangaroo Moon
- 3 Daft Monkeys3 Daft Monkeys3 Daft Monkeys are a world music-influenced acoustic band from Cornwall, UK, consisting of Tim Ashton, Athene Roberts, and Lukas Drinkwater...
- The Baghdaddies
- Big Hand
- Paddyrastas
- Pendulums
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2005 festival Line-up
- 3 Daft Monkeys3 Daft Monkeys3 Daft Monkeys are a world music-influenced acoustic band from Cornwall, UK, consisting of Tim Ashton, Athene Roberts, and Lukas Drinkwater...
- Babylon Arab Band
- Bebe Ouali
- Desmond Dekker & the Aces
- Elephant Talk 2
- Errol Linton's Blues Vibe
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- Le Cod Afrique
- Matt Seattle with the Eildon Strings
- Michael McGoldrick Band
- Mystery Juice
- Planet Woman
- Sheelanagig
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- The Assassenachs
- The Ruffness
- Virginia MacNaughton
- Wuyan Mei & Co