The Knockengorroch line- up is a knockout
Harry Potter and Game of Thrones star Natalia Tena is headlining this year’s Knockengorroch World Ceilidh - Scotland’s only international traditional and roots dance music festival.
The festival has released the first names in its line- up for 2017, and the acts represent music from Scotland and across the world with a strong emphasis on traditional music both ancient and contemporary.
Molotov Jukebox - fronted by the charismatic Natalia - are a six- piece, self dubbed ‘ gyp- step’, who play a combination of gypsy, ska, funk, dubstep, flamenco, house, electro, pop, reggae, and soul.
Also appearing will be The Mouse Outfit, a nine piece hip- hop band from Manchester with live brass with driving beats and explosive energy.
They have been dubbed ‘ the closest thing to a UK hip hop super group’.
La Dame Blanche are an explosive mix of hip hop, cumbia, dancehall and reggae, the Cuban singer, flautist and percussionist Yaite Ramos Rodriguez, aka La Dame Blanche delivers a powerful and compelling sound which summons the spirits. Mungos Hi Fi Sound System are international leaders in reggae dub music Mungos’ sound system presides over the Shieling Dance Tent all weekend.
Zion Train UK are dub music pioneers. Their vast array of music from the last 25 years still sounds fresh to today’s discerning ears.
Ed Solo, with partner Deekline, will mash up the dancefloor with some banging drum n bass and all types more bass besides. Also appearing will be:
RURA - Live Act of the Year at the 2015 Scots Trad Music Awards, RURA are “one of the most exciting bands on the Scottish folk scene” ( Songlines);
Scott Wood Band, virtuoso Scots trad players who combine innovation with high energy performances;
Pronto Mama, ‘ A past postmodern bug- eyed beatnik group from Glasgow’ featuring horns and soulful song writing with a quality Glaswegian accent;
Baghdaddies - No stranger to Knockengorroch meadow the Baghdaddies bring strong Balkan tendencies alongside Caribbean grooves, Middle Eastern rhythms and humour;
Tantz – ‘ Power klezmer’ with dub, hip hop and Balkan beats;
Esperanza - One of Glasgow’s hardest working ska bands, famed for their live shows, bringing a jumping, superskanking party noise to any gig;
Sheelanagig - Intricate, groove heavy arrangements of original and traditional tunes drawing influence from the folk music of Europe and beyond;
Neck, a London Irish punk ceilidh band for those who like their music ‘ down to earth’ and from the streets;
The Inexplicables, a unique and unexpected live dance music from the roots of Bristol;
Indigo Velvet, a young, tropical pop quartet from Edinburgh are new on the scene but swiftly getting around;
Awry - If ever you wanted to freak- dance with wild abandon to a bagpipe and fiddle- driven band who have forge- fire for blood and soil between their toes, these are the providers of the now infamous Knockengorroch Sunday ceilidh;
Mambo Jambo, a fantastic duo who play a wide- ranging mix of acoustic roots, world styles and original music, on over 10 different musical instruments.
Knockengorroch World Ceilidh is the seminal outdoor roots music festival in Scotland, located deep in the Southern Uplands in a river valley on Knockengorroch farm.
As well as music, cabaret, spoken word, comedy and dance all take place across five venues, from the mighty open air stage, turf roofed and built from locally sourced timber, to a Berber tent, to the Celtic Longhouse venue, a willow wattled re- creation of an iron age dwelling.
This year the World Ceilidh is being spotlighted and celebrated as one of Visit Scotland’s partners in its programme for the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
As well as music the festival features a sauna, dedicated children’s activities, workshops in arts, crafts, heritage and environmental subjects, fire shows, flash mobs, real ales, ‘ knocktails’ and food stalls
Visit www. knockengorroch. org. uk for more information.