Festival optimistic about go-ahead

ORGANISERS of the first music festival planned to go ahead in Scotland after Level Zero told how they are optimistic – despite two other events cancelling.

Doune the Rabbit Hole is set to go ahead on August 12 over four days on the Cardross Estate in Port of Menteith, Stirlingshire.

Teenage Fanclub, Dizzee Rascal, 10cc and Eddi Reader are among those scheduled to perform – just three days after the First Minister is scheduled to lift most of the remaining Covid restrictions on August 9.

Organisers of two other August festivals say they had been left with “no alternative” but to cancel Party at the Palace in Linlithgow, West Lothian, and Party at the Park in Perth, affecting a total of 36,000 ticket holders.

But a spokeswoman for Doune the Rabbit said the event had a much shorter turnaround time than larger festivals.

Jamie Murray, Doune the Rabbit Hole’s director, said: “As it currently stands, we are planning to open the festival after restrictions are fully lifted on August 9, which is still the target reopening date set out by the First Minister.

“We are working with Stirling Council to create a safe environment for our incredible festival, with a number of proposed mitigations against the spread of Covid-19 in our plans.

“As the festival dates draw closer, we will continue to monitor the situation carefully and provide you with updates when new government guidance is confirmed.

“If the festival cannot take place this year, then tickets for Doune The Rabbit Hole 2021 will automatically be valid for Doune The Rabbit Hole 2022 – including previously purchased tickets for Doune The Rabbit Hole 2020, which had already been rolled over to this year – and you will have the option to either roll over your tickets to next year, or receive a refund.”