The organisers of Galloway’s own international roots music festival have made the first announcement for the events line-up in 2016, featuring live and dance music from across the world.
Organiser Liz Holmes said ‘we feel it’s a really special experience to listen to live bands, often who have travelled from quite far flung parts of the world, in the surroundings of the beautiful mountains of the Southern Uplands. We’re really excited by our line-up this year which features live and DJ artists from all corners of the globe playing some of the best music around!’
The acts include:
Black Uhuru:( Main Photo) All the way from Jamaica on a rare visit to the UK, Black Uhuru, whose name comes from the Swahili word meaning “freedom,” were the first reggae band to win a Grammy award. Their track “I love Selassie” and many others have become reggae classics.
Family Atlantica: Fronted by the charismatic Venezuelan vocalist Luzmira this band move between the African and American continents with strong percussion and brilliant performers
Skerryvore: Full on hi energy trad-folk-rock from the West coast from this young, award winning band.
Niteworks: Formed on the Isle of Skye, they fuse Gaelic language and traditional music with electronic influences to create a unique and exhilarating sound.
Freestylers: After a 15 year career they have covered a full 360 degrees in the Bass music genre. Their ever-eclectic style and renegade approach to production knows no bounds.
Krafty Kuts: A DJ who has never lost his passion for music and his love to create Krafty Kuts has dedicated a lifetime to his breaks and beats.
Habadekuk: Danish madness from this traditional big band
London Bulgarian Choir: The UK’s top Bulgarian choir, featuring over 20 singers of all ages, creating ethereal and beautiful harmonies
Mungo’s Hi Fi full Sound System plus special guests: Need no introduction to Knockengorroch. The mighty sound system and family is back
The Turbans are an international musical collective who bring together exciting traditional near-eastern and eastern-European styles with original compositions to create a modern and energetic performance with reverence for its ancient roots
Kog and the Zongo Brigade: This 9-piece deliver infectious West African vibes from Ghana via Sheffield, with diverse origins conflating to whip up their signature mix of afrobeat, soul, funk and reggae, otherwise dubbed Afro-fusion
Orkestra Del Sol: The swagger of a Balkan wedding band – the riotous energy of Latin carnival. Never more at home than Knockengorroch
Auntie Flo: Glasgow’s Auntie Flo picks far-flung musical styles – from Congo to Colombia – and welds them to 4×4 house music with skill and subtlety.
Optimo with JD Twitch and Jonnie Wilkes: This legendary night in Glasgow (and around the world) mixes up techno, electro, African, rock and other assorted records out of leftfield.
47SOUL: Their fresh new sound has rapidly amassed fans in the Middle East and Europe by blasting the electric Arabic debka sound through underground music scenes.
Radical Dance Faction: Punk, dub, and ska from original 90s resistance band
Also featuring Cera Impala, Awry, Afroquoi, Dangleberries, Monosapiens and Conscious Route, Grousebeater Sound System, Urban Folk Crowd, Funke and the Two Tone Baby, Pepperjam, Maxiroots, SP23 , Crystal Distortion , 69db , Ixindamix
More acts are still to be announced. Information on the acts is available on the festival’s website here
PLUS
dance, spoken word, comedy and theatre, arts, music and environmental workshops
visual arts and light installations, sessions areas, open fires, kids area, real ales, global good stalls, delicious local food and drink, fire shows, sauna, healing area
To welcome those from afar and celebrate the movement of life across this planet the World Ceilidh 2016 has a theme of migration and journeying. From the migrating buffalo to the Scottish human diaspora, all have journeyed across sea and land for fresh pastures since the dawn of life. The meetings of cultures through migration has spawned some of the most memorable music, such as Jazz, reggae, jungle and many more.
Whether seasonal or permanent, migration in 2016 continues. Whether a trip to the moon, a pilgrimage to Mecca, holiday to the seaside, or a famous character such as Paddington or Priscilla Queen of the Desert, festival goers are encouraged to get creative and celebrate journeys of all types.
Advance tickets www.knockengorroch.org.uk
