Fun, Fire, and Freedom @ Wickerman Festival 2005

Great music, Scottish scenery, and warm summer skies. It doesn’t get any better than this. The Wickerman Festival 2005!

Chay Woodman

Date published: 31st Mar 2005

The Wickerman Festival

Bored with T in the park? Looking for a genuine alternative music festival in Scotland that’s family-friendly? That’ll be The Wickerman Festival! Proudly earning it’s reputation as ‘Scotland’s alternative festival’, it’s now hitting the 4 year mark while firmly keeping its roots true to the festival goers needs. It’s easy to see why people are opting out of bigger events to head for the blissed out chilling fields of southwest Scotland. It’s an easy going festival, but not lazy. It’s colourful and bright, but not in-yer-face with a 24hr day-glo attitude. Musically, for starters, there are headliners Alabama3 and The Stranglers. For the outdoors-and-loving-it people there’s festival legends Dreadzone, Arthur Brown and Space Ritual. There’s old and new bands on the main stages as well as a ‘new band afternoon’ (picked by Skiddle scribe/a&r scout Chay) an acoustic stage, chillout and psy trance areas, the scooter tent, a world music stage, a reggae sound system and much much more. And if all of that seems like too much, there are always workshops to visit. Herbalism, yoga, reflexology, drumming, the healing area, talks on healing systems, and wickercraft & workshops on hedgewitch craft. And what about the kids? Naturally, they’ve got their own areas too. Children’s Theatre invites children to be the stars in a magical play which takes you to Fairyrealms. The Enchanted Crystals will be filmed and a DVD or VHS recording will be available on request. But it’s not just the kids who get to join in because there’s drumming workshops too. From serious players to beginners, join in the daytime sessions given undercover in an idyllic yurt (outdoors if the sun is shining). You can learn the dynamics of the drum and cymbals with a view to performing at the Wickerman Burning. Along with all of that there’s the cinema tent (last years top crowd pleaser was Shrek 2). The Wickerman Festival is also the perfect setting for the traditional burning of a giant Wicker man at Midnight on Saturday.

Great music, Scottish scenery, and warm summer skies. It doesn’t get any better than that.

When and where:

The event takes place in deepest Galloway on the 22nd & 23rd of July 2005 all in a spacious 120 acre site. An amazing seven stages are on offer alongside late bars, and trade stalls.

Tickets are a snip at £45 for the weekend with free camping and parking included. Children under the age of 14 are also admitted free as long as an adult accompanies them.

Here’s the main stage line-up:

FRIDAY 22nd JULY

The Stranglers

Dreadzone

Neville Staple

AntiProduct

Mohair

Poor Old Ben

Degrassi

Sound Development Agency

SATURDAY 23rd JULY

Alabama 3

Arthur Brown

Space Ritual

Mostly Autumn

Mercedes

Dangleberries

Elaine Palmer

Mr Greenfinger

South West Sound Radio 'Battle of the Bands' Winner

Ticket info

Outlets include -

ABERDEEN

One Up Music 01224 642662

AYR

Unique 01292 619100

CASTLE DOUGLAS

Deli 17301556 504880

DUMFRIES

Barnstorm Records 01387 267894

DUNDEE

Grouchos 01382 228496

EDINBURGH

Tickets Scotland 0131 220 3234 0870 220 1116

ELGIN

Sound & Vision 01343 543778

GLASGOW

23rd Precinct 0141 332 4806

Tickets Scotland 0141 204 5151 0870 220 1116

KILMARNOCK

Unique 01563 570010

KIRKCUDBRIGHT

Atomic Tattoos 01557 330009

Katya Embroidery 01557 330416

Masonic Arms 01557 330517

Polar Pack 01557 330293

LEEDS

Jumbo Records 0113 245 5570

MOTHERWELL

Unique 01698 266666

PERTH

Goldrush 01738 629730

STIRLING

Europa Music 01786 448623

STRANRAER

Discover 01776 889207

By post –

Please download the form from the Wickerman website:

www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk/tickets_post.htm

Online –

Please follow this link:

www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk/tickets_online.htm

General info:

FREE CAMPING/CARAVANNING

The campsite will open at 12 noon on Thursday 21st July.

The campsite must be cleared by 12 noon on Sunday 24th July.

Camping charges are included in the ticket price.

No campfires are permitted.

FREE PARKING

There is no parking charge.

FESTIVAL TIMINGS

Friday 22nd July 2005 at 12 noon.

Main stage ends at midnight.

Saturday 23rd July 2005 at 12 noon.

All stages close at 11.45 p.m. in preparation for the Burning of the Wickerman at midnight. Most areas will re-open at 12.15 a.m. and go on into the early hours.

MOBILE PHONES

It is possible to use Vodafone mobiles throughout the site. There are certain areas where Orange and T-Mobile can be used. Top up cards are likely to be on sale this year.

NO ANIMALS

Unfortunately NO ANIMALS are permitted on site. Please arrange petsitters well in advance of the festival. Vehicles with pets on board will be turned away at the gate.

GLASS

In previous years some people have ignored the no glass on site ruling. Broken glass can pose a danger to all at the Festival, especially children and the cleaning up staff not to mention the poor animals that have been moved from their home to accommodate the Festival. So, for this year the No Glass ruling will be strictly adhered to.

To avoid being asked to leave your glass bottles at the entrance skip, it is much easier to simply pour the contents into plastic bottles beforehand and if you should forget to get plastic bottles we will have some on sale.

RECYCLING OF LITTER AT THE WICKERMAN FESTIVAL 2005

At the festival this year, the aim is to recycle as much rubbish as possible aiming to make this a ‘Greener Cleaner Festival’.

Recycled waste includes cans (such as beer, pop or baked beans tins), cardboard, even the cooking oil from the food stalls!

It’s really simple, on arrival you will be given bin bags, green for recycling, black for rubbish. Around the site you will find recycling drums for your cans and bins for your rubbish. The litter crews will be around collecting your rubbish and recycling, giving out new bags and taking your rubbish every morning.

Think green!

SECURITY

Security staff will carry out random checks so please do not bring any glass, illegal substances or objects that could be viewed as weaspons. A zero tolerance to aggressive behaviour will operate as we do not want the actions of the few to ruin the festival for the majority.

CRISIS CREW

Crew 2000 from Edinburgh will be present, offering advice and information on the dangers of drug use and offering help and advice to those suffering from the effects of drug use.

SAMARITANS

The Samaritans will be in attendance to discuss anything that's getting anyone down, no matter how serious or how trivial, and the conversation is completely confidential.

CHILDREN

Under 14's must be accompanied by an adult.

Under 14's will be admitted free of charge.

All under 14's should be informed to ask for help from a policeman, security steward or go to an information point in the event that they get separated from their group.

CRECHE FACILITIES

It is worth noting that there are no creche facilities.

FIREWORKS

Fireworks and pyrotechnics are strictly prohibited.

TRADE

No unauthorised selling of any type of goods, foods or merchandise will be permitted on any part of the site - offenders will be removed. All stalls must be booked through the organisers.

SITE PLAN

Plans will be displayed showing the layout of all activities.

CATERING

There will be a Bar situated within the main arena.

Various fast food outlets will also be situated within the main arena.

SHOPPING

As the nearest shop is Kirkcudbright (6 Miles) there will be a village store within the campsite where you can buy a variety of basic groceries.

TRANSPORT

Buses are running from several locations around the countryside. Local taxis are also available.

INFORMATION POINT

There will be an information point situated within the main arena. General information on the Festival will be available at this point.

www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk