Red hot artists revealed for the Summerisle Stage, Acoustic Village, Scooter and Reggae Tents
With less than four weeks to go until Wickerman welcomes the crowds, Scotland’s hottest summer party is turning up the heat by adding a batch of exciting artists to its sizzling line-up.
On Saturday, the legendary electronic duo Utah Saints will make a much requested return to the Summerisle Stage following their show stopping 2009 performance. Since the birth of house music, the pioneering DJs have toured the 
globe, sampled a huge range of artists and sold over two million records. Still very much at the top of their game, they are set to round off an incredible day by occupying the coveted DJ slot after the iconic Wickerman burning.
Joining them will be Glasgow’s hotly tipped punk act Baby Strange who have just finished their first UK headline tour. The talented trio have received much critical acclaim from the British music press and impressively packed out the tent at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Glasgow in May. Liverpool’s up and coming dance rockers, Tea Street Band, will also be livening up the crowds on Saturday with what is set to be an electrifying live performance. Championed by Radio 2 DJ Janice Long, the band have just returned from a tour with former Dove’s front man Jimi Goodwin.
Other additions to the Summerisle Stage, which will once again be compered by BBC Introducing DJ Ally McCrae, include the winners of the Sunday Herald’s Unsigned Band competition – The Cut Throat Razors. The ten-piece act 
promise to deliver an energetic mix of classic ska, motown, new wave and big band swing. Galloway sister act, The Mermaids, will also join the line-up after winning West Sound radio’s annual ‘One to Watch’ competition.
An array of established stars and hot new talent will also be joining Wickerman’s much loved Acoustic Village this July. On Saturday, renowned producer, multi-instrumentalist and late blooming artist Ethan Johns will headline the main stage. Throughout his illustrious career, Johns has worked with a wealth of artists, including Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Paul McCartney, Ray LaMontagne, Tom Jones and the Kaiser Chiefs. He released his first solo album to much critical acclaim in 2012.
Zoe Bestel Picture Credit R.B Photography
On Friday, Glasgow nine-piece ska collective Esperanza, rowdy folk and blues act Have Mercy Las Vegas , solo acoustic act Neil Sturgeon and talented folk star Gabriel Kelly will entertain music lovers on the Acoustic Village’s main stage. Zoe Bestel, Little Fire, Duffy’s Gypsy Band, Jono and Gareth Icke, Rab McCahill and Finch and the Moon will also be bringing the stage to life.
On Saturday contemporary Celtic act Novantae, French born guitarist Anne Chaurand, Dumfries Community Choir and Scottish singer songwriter Kim Edgar will entertain the acoustic faithful. Other Saturday additions include The Minpins, Roberto Cassani and The Tickety Two, The Cracked Man, Brandon Lee Webb and Kim Wheeler.
Wickerman’s Ingrid Pit stage is a familiar attraction amongst festival fans and newcomers can also expect a treat as music, poetry and spoken word and comedy are blended together seamlessly. This year’s revellers can enjoy star turns from The Snack Family, Wooden Box, Andy Paterson and the Balgoni Boyz.
The Acoustic Village’s Barabajagal Yurt will be the perfect place for Wicker fans to jam and make music with other people. This year it will play host to local artists Sandy Cowan and Jill Johnston. Thursday’s Child will be opening the yurt on both days, providing fun for children and the young-at-heart with singalong songs.
Once again the much loved Reggae Tent will be hosted by Explosion Soundsystem. Originating in Northern Ireland they only play the best of Roots, Reggae, Dub and anything in between, whilst honouring the original Jamaican soundsystem culture. Explosion’s own MC Ranking Fox will be joined by London’s MC Brother Culture and Edinburgh’s MC Dangerman. Crews from Glasgow and Belfast will also be at the controls to ensure celebrations continue throughout the night.
The festival’s 2014 Scooter Tent line-up will be completed with four new additions, including Dundonian punk outfit The Cundeez, whose thrashing guitar sounds and explicit lyrics are not for the faint hearted. Scottish band the Ska-Beat Jakes and Lothian punk act Nine Bullets are also set to the get the crowds skanking on Saturday, whilst Wickerman’s amazing walkabout band Blowjangles will be opening the stage in style on the Friday.
Helen Chalmers, Wickerman’s Festival Coordinator commented:
“Wickerman’s Acoustic Village has rapidly become a firm favourite amongst our fans and we are delighted to once again announce a wealth of established and up and coming artists.
With less than a month to go, it’s fantastic to unveil yet more eclectic acts and we very excited to announce the return of Utah Saints who we know will receive a very warm welcome from the festival crowds”
Wickerman Festival 2014
Friday 25th & Saturday 26th July 2014 / www.thewickermanfestival.co.uk
East Kirkcarswell Farm, Dundrennan, Dumfries & Galloway
Tickets can be purchased from
http://wickerman.skiddletickets.com/
More acts are still to be announced.
The Wickerman Festival
Wickerman is one of the UK’s best-loved independent music festivals and is now entering its 13th consecutive year. With ten stages featuring an eclectic and exciting mix of leading artists, alternative acts and up-and-coming talent, the two day summer party caters for all musical tastes.
It is one of the friendliest festivals in Scotland and with hundreds of music-loving families in attendance each year, there’s a host of cool kids entertainment and activities on offer. The festival site is a working farm in picturesque Dumfries and Galloway; its rolling hills, lush forests and fresh country air make for a refreshing vibe. It is also where the classic 1973 Wicker Man film was made – the inspiration for the festival’s name.
The Wickerman site is a wonderland for adults and children alike with a cinema, fun fair, circus entertainment, grass sledging, mountain biking and array of arts and craft activities scattered throughout its fields. High quality yurts, tipis and cloud houses and spacious campsites complete the magical festival experience.
Every year the festival stages an unforgettable finale, as thousands of fans flock to watch a towering 40ft Wickerman be spectacularly set alight.
Homecoming Scotland 2014
The Wickerman Festival forms part of Homecoming Scotland’s 2014 Events Programme. This year, Scotland will welcome the world in the Year of Homecoming 2014 – providing a year-long programme of events alongside the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games.
The Year of Homecoming Scotland will run from 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2014 throughout the length and breadth of the country. Visitors from around the world are invited to join in a celebration of the nation’s food and drink, active pursuits, cultural heritage, nature and ancestral heritage. Homecoming Scotland 2014 is a Scottish Government initiative being led by EventScotland and VisitScotland, supported by numerous partners. To find out more visit www.homecomingscotland.com
Artist Information
BAND BIOGRAPHIES
Summerisle Stage – Friday
The Mermaids
The Mermaids are two sisters from Galloway, Scotland. Inspired by life, love and the landscape that surrounds them, they produce hauntingly original music and display a talent for songwriting which is beyond their years. From their first appearance in public they stood out from the crowd; testament to this is the BBC Introducing session that they recorded for BBC Radio Scotland in May of this year.
Ally McCrae
Ally McCrae is a radio DJ best known for presenting the BBC Introducing show on BBC Radio 1 with Jen Long. He is also co-creator of Detour Scotland; originally a podcast devoted to new Scottish music, it has now expanded into the realms of online TV, gigs and tours. Ally will compere the Summerisle stage on both Friday and Saturday.
Summerisle Stage – Saturday
Utah Saints
Utah Saints have been making music, DJ-ing and playing gigs around the globe since the birth of House music and are made up of Tim Utah and Jez Willis. The world renowned duo have released 9 Top 40 UK hits, 4 of which hit the Top 10, they have sold over 2 million records worldwide. When the pioneering DJs aren’t playing at clubs and festivals in various parts of the world, they can be found in the studio working hard on new material; and also remixing artists as diverse as Bring Me The Horizon, Girls Aloud and DJ Fresh.
Baby Strange
Glasgow punk trio Baby Strange come to Wickerman fresh from their first headline UK tour. In their relatively short career they have achieved much critical acclaim from the music press, with NME describing them as ‘confrontational, cold-hearted and brilliantly unnerving’. This year, they have already recorded a session for XFM and played BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Glasgow.
Tea Street Band
Liverpool five-piece Tea Street Band bring their festival friendly, sun-drenched melodies to Wickerman following an amazing year that has seen them release their eponymous debut album, and support former Doves’ frontman Jimi Goodwin on tour. Championed by BBC Radio 2 DJ Janice Long, these football-loving dance rockers have had their songs played on Match of the Day and in stadiums before major Premier League matches.
The Cut Throat Razors
The Cut Throat Razors are a sharp dressed, Glasgow-based, 10-piece band formed at the end of 2010, they have since filled dance floors around Scotland. They have a big punchy sound, evoking classic ska, motown, new wave, big band swing and polka. At times they are theatrical and comical, and at others political and melancholic.
Acoustic Village – Friday
Main Stage
Esperanza
Esperanza are a nine-piece ska collective from Glasgow famed for live shows where their infectious rhythm has the crowd involuntarily jumping in time. The band have supported some of the biggest names in ska, including Toots and the Maytals, The Skatalites, Bad Manners, The Beat, The Heptones and The Toasters.
Have Mercy Las Vegas
Have Mercy Las Vegas have gone from strength to strength following their arrival on the Scottish music scene in 2011. Their rowdy and eclectic mix of folk and blues with a Celtic flair has received rave reviews.
Neil Sturgeon
After two acclaimed albums with The Goldenhour, Sturgeon now performs as a solo acoustic act and with live band ‘NS & The Infomaniacs’. Working on new album ‘Geography & Luck’ with Teenage Fanclub’s Raymond McGinley at the helm has so far produced two fine singles ‘Break Me’ (2010) & ‘Ride The Tide’ (2011). Neil’s ‘Painting Pictures In The Dark’ series features his rare home recordings.
Zoë Bestel
Zoë Bestel is an award winning 16 yr old singer songwriter and musician. Since picking up the ukulele in January 2011 at the age of just 13, she has won admiration from the press and supported internationally acclaimed folk musicians including: multi award winning Emily Smith, Steve Tilsten, Steve Hicks and Lynn Gouldbourn, The award winning Paul McKenna Band, The PeatBog Faeries and Emma’s Imagination.
Little Fire
Little Fire aka Jamie McGeechan is a 28 year old singer songwriter from Ayrshire who started out gigging at 14 years old. Fast forward another 14 years and he has shared stages with Damien Rice, Joan Armatrading, Andrew Roachford The Secret Sisters, Damien Dempsey, Horse, Eddi Reader, Hue and Cry, Roddy Woomble, Dougie MacLean, Capercaillie, King Creosote and many more.
Duffy’s Gypsy Band
Duffy’s Gypsy Band are one of Ayrshire’s top bands, a collaborative collection of cracking musicians coruscating with shades of genius through their instruments, influenced by everything from Johnny Cash to Gogol Bordello! This six-piece group are renowned on the local scene.
Jono and Gareth Icke
Gareth has just finished writing his third album, and has recorded the opening single, ‘Get your love on’ at Studio 5a, on the Isle of Wight. He is touring the new material single across the UK and Czech Republic, before releasing the single to coincide with his second Wembley Arena performance, in October. Gareth’s second album, A Brand New Battle, was released by Manchester based label, Eromeda Entertainment.
Finch and the Moon
Finch And The Moon is a new folk duo based in Manchester, featuring Caitlin Gilligan and Lee Parry.
Acoustic Village – Saturday
Main Stage
Novantae
Named after a two thousand year old tribe, Novantae are an award-winning three-piece band who play their unique version of contemporary Celtic music with songs inspired by the people and places of Galloway. Their vigorous sets have been frequently lauded at the Big Burns Supper festival and previous Wickerman festivals.
Ethan Johns
Ethan Johns is an English record producer, engineer, mixer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has worked with a broad variety of artists including Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Paul McCartney, Ray LaMontagne, and Crowded House, to name a few. In 2012, he won the 2012 Brit Award for Best British Producer. Johns released his debut solo album ‘If Not Now Then When’ on vinyl in November 2012, it was later released in other formats in February 2013. His second and follow up album, titled ‘The Reckoning’, was released in June 2014, and produced by Ryan Adams.
Anne Chaurand
French born guitarist Anne Chaurand lives in Glasgow, where she settled after graduating from the Conservatoire National de Montreuil, and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She is an active performer, community musician and teacher, blending Celtic and Latin roots with warmth and expertise.
Dumfries Community Choir
In just three years of existence Dumfries Community Choir has managed to punch above its weight on the national stage, and it all started with just twelve participants in a café in Dumfries. Since then highlights for the company have included welcoming the Olympic Torch to Dumfries and singing for the First Minister. Part of Electric Theatre Workshop, the choir now boasts over one hundred people taking part in the biggest singing group in South Scotland. This will be their third consecutive year at Wickerman.
Kim Edgar
Based in Edinburgh, singer songwriter Kim’s intensity and intimacy in performance have led to her being described as Scotland’s very own Tori Amos (Sunday Herald). Attracting five star reviews for her recordings and live performances, Kim’s songs reflect her classical piano background, and her interest in horror, fairy tales, feminism and social history, which she studied during her degree in English Language & Literature. Kim ‘combines narratives of courageous honesty with darkly delicious melodies’ (Spiral Earth), crafting songs which are ‘strangely uplifting, despite the well-phrased, sombre lyrics’ (The BIG Issue).
Roberto Cassani and The Tickety Two
Roberto Cassani is a double-bass playing Italian hailing from the world of Milanese musical cabaret. Maverick by nature, he ‘escaped’ the Italian musical establishment and found refuge in Scotland, where he quickly gained cult following and a reputation as funny musical eccentric. The Tickety Two comprise of guitarist Owen Nicholson and drummer Dave Clelland.
The Cracked Man
The creation of singer and guitarist, Marcus Wright, and bouzouki player, Kim Ayres, The Cracked Man combines rock, blues, folk and even a smattering of punk influences, played on acoustic instruments.
Brandon Lee Webb
Brandon Lee Webb is a multi-instrumentalist with a love for organic, original music with wide ranging influences. Born in Blackpool and raised in Skelmersdale in the Northwest of England, he currently resides in Orrell, Wigan.
Kim Wheeler
Kim Wheeler is an acoustic singer/song writer from Ayr in Scotland. He unites popular music with soulful lyrics and intricate vocal melodies.
The Ingrid Pit
The Ingrid Pit will feature an eclectic mix of musicians, spoken word artists and comedians, including:
The Snack Family, Woodenbox, Andy Paterson, Milton Balgoni and the Balgoni Boyz, Toni, Dr.Gramophone, Dr Escheton, Bruce Morton, Derek Johnston, Seppi Preston, Obie, Robin Cairns, Jim Monaghan, Rachel McCrum, Rachel Amey, Sam Small, Kevin Gilday, Steven Watt, Gasp, Mark My Words, Loki, Miko Berry, Kevin McLean, Mark Thomson and Neil Paterson, Colin Storrie.
Barabajagal Yurt
Thursday’s Child are the opening act for both days in the yurt, providing fun for children and the young-at-heart with their singalong songs. Sandy Cowan and Jill Johnston will also be providing their own brand of folk music.
Reggae Tent
Explosion Soundsystem
Explosion Soundsystem, originating from Northern Ireland, can noise up any session. They play the best of Roots, Reggae, Dub and anything in between, whilst honouring the original Jamaican soundsystem culture. Formed in 2002, Explosion have been successfully promoting and running Reggae nights ever since. Over the years the Soundsystem has gradually grown along with the experience and knowledge of its operators and selectors. Now, in their 13th year, with a top drawer of selectors and sound men plus the sweet vocal stylings of MC Ranking Fox, Explosion guarantee to have you skanking until the early morning.
Scooter Tent – Friday
Blowjangles
Blowjangles are the best walkabout festival band in the UK. They are a multi-age, multi-cultural, multi-talented group of fourteen who play sax, sousaphone, trumpet, drums and percussion. On Friday, they will open proceedings on the Scooter Tent stage.
Scooter Tent – Saturday
The Cundeez
Kilted Dundonian four-piece punk outfit The Cundeez bring a totally unique, fresh and exciting sound to the world music scene. The words are unashamedly (and explicitly) performed in the raw Dundee dialect and combine punching guitars, pounding drums and occasional bagpipes to produce a sound free from the shackles of genre.
Ska-Beat Jakes
Ska-Beat Jakes are a six-piece ska punk band hailing from the mean streets of Paisley.
Nine Bullets
Nine Bullets are a six-piece anarcho-punk band based in Glasgow. Since making a remarkable debut in November 2011, the band have been booked for gigs all over the UK.