12,000 tickets, acts galore, food stalls, fairground attractions and the World of Wonka it could only be the annual event that is Youth Beatz.
Once again held in the Dock Park Dumfries people flocked to the largest free music event in Scotland in their droves. With what can only be described as inclement weather nothing could put a dampener on this event.
Organisers at Dumfries and Galloway Council are once again to be praised for putting on a well run, safe event mainly aimed at young teens and families. Held throughout most of the recently regenerated award winning Dock Park’ each area is utilised to maximum effect. Leaving the play park space clear for children to use. A couple of years ago whilst the park was being regenerated the Youth Beatz uprooted and moved temporarily to the David Keswick Centre in Dumfries and in my opinion, as much as using the Dock Park is a great use of the space and works well, I still feel that the Keswick Centre was a better venue for layout and attendance control.
Kloe
This year this festival again had local, upcoming and established acts so there was something for everyone. Local sisters the Mermaids entertained the growing crowds with their amazing harmonies, definitely another act for the region to be proud of as their fledgling career continues.
Next up was Model Aeroplanes hailing from Dundee they brought a strong catalogue of original music, they have left with some new fans after a strong set of indie-pop.
Keeping the Scottish theme going Clydebank’s KLOE put on a great show of her music, music I may add that has gained great reviews and plaudits in the industry and talks of taking the trip across the Atlantic could be on the cards.
Now the next act whenever I say it, think it or read it I automatically adopt a Yorkshire accent for some reason was Nathan Grisdale, a YouTube sensation and former X Factor auditionee, took to
the stage, if any resemblances could be drawn I would have to say he is part Ollie Murs and part Passenger with at times a touch of John Popper lead singer of Blues Traveler.
The much anticipated former X Factor contestants ‘Union J’ created much screaming from the young crowd , the set only hampered by slight microphone issues but these were handled with the professionalism of the seasoned veterans working behind the sound desk.
Scouting For Girls
To finish the night off ‘Scouting For Girls’ had the crowd rocking as they played their string of hits including ‘She’s So lovely’, ‘ This Aint a Love Song’ and ‘Elvis Aint Dead’ to name just a few. Asking the crowd to join in as the bands 5th member was a genius touch, and it was wonderful to see the young crowd really participate and rise to the challenge as they sang their hearts out along to the tunes, until the night was rounded off with an amazing fire works display on the banks of the Nith that must have been seen and heard for miles.
Overall a great day for all the family with only the slightest of showers, although we were protected by one of the park’s trees which will now and forever be known as the media tree a meeting point and regrouping area if you got separated.
Written by Ali Donowho, exclusively for DGWGO – Pictures (c) R.B Photography
