WICKERMAN TAKES ITS BOW IN A BLAZE OF GLORY

Scotland’s leading alternative music event came to a fiery end in the small hours of yesterday morning (Sunday July 25) as flames engulfed the bow-wielding 40ft willow Wickerman sculpture and fireworks exploded in the sky above the Dumfries & Galloway festival site.

Highlights from the ninth Wickerman Festival included main stage headliners The Charlatans and Ocean Colour Scene; music legends Tony Christie, Teenage Fanclub and Buzzocks; as well as up-and-coming talents Fenech Soler and I Blame Coco. The festival took place at East Kirkcarswell Farm near Dundrennan on Friday July 23 and Saturday July 24.

Festival goers were also thrilled by an unannounced 15 minute solo set from Alex Kapranos who played a mix of Franz Ferdinand hits and cover versions in the Acoustic Tent on the evening of the second day.

One of the most iconic sights of the festival calendar, the burning Wickerman was made even more magical by the return of the haar or light mist from the coast which gave the sculpture an eerie glow. Wickerman organisers have been told by festival-goers that they prefer when the sculpture burn is accompanied by this meteorological phenomenon and this year have dubbed it Wickermist.

Jamie Gilroy, festival director, said: “This year’s Wickerman has been a huge success and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed welcoming a fascinating range of people of all ages and from all walks of life to the festival. It’s been exhausting but exhilarating and I was particularly pleased that Alex could join us this year. As we bid farewell to all our visitors we’re still finalising the attendance figures but we believe it to be in the region of 15,000 people.”

Artistic director, Sid Ambrose, adds: “What a Wickerman it has been: baking hot sunshine on the Friday and atmospheric mist on the Saturday made it a festival to remember. The mix of top-name acts and new talent create a real buzz and we are really looking forward to building on this success for our tenth anniversary celebrations in 2011.”

More Reviews of the Festival and Pictures from Scottish Music Network Coming soon