Acclaimed Syrian singer Omar Souleyman will top the bill at Knockengorroch the roots music festival in the hills near Carsphairn, Dumfries and Galloway in May. Performing a mix of ‘dabke’ Syrian wedding music, Kurdish rhythms and Iraqi songs combined with breakneck techno-style synths and beats, Souleyman is set to be a firm festival favourite for the hundreds of revellers who return to the festival year-on-year, alongside new festival audiences.
PLUS!
The multi award-winning Highland band Elephant Sessions . Combining the very best of trad, funk and electronica this quartet’s live set has sent audiences into euphoria throughout Europe, Australia and beyond.
2019’s Belhaven Bursary for Innovation winners Talisk (pictured) will also take to the Knockengorroch stage this spring. Led by the concertina virtuoso Mohsen Amini, this band are currently taking the Scottish folk world by storm.
The inimitable Moonlight Benjamin (pictured) will play the Galloway hills for the first time after her storming gig at Celtic Connections. With her amazingly powerful and original fusion between Caribbean voodoo melodies and rhythms alongside 70’s US blues rock, Moonlight’s voodoo trance will have Knock’s audiences transfixed.
Griogair Labruidh, collaborator with Afro Celt Sound System, will draw on the Gaelic tradition of spoken word and rhythm. He’ll be performing his new album, featuring Gaelic rap, African percussion, MC and DJs.
Also premiering his brand new album live will be rapper, multi-instrumentalist and singer Dizraeli. This knock performance will mark a much-anticipated comeback onto the music scene after a period of self-reflection and development.
Knockengorroch’s own new music commission Oran Bagraidh featuring a heady blend of Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Scots and English from Gwyneth Glyn, Josie Duncan, Lorcán Mac Mathúna, Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde, Barnaby Brown,Bragod, Conor Caldwelland MacGillivray
Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, Scotland’s own authentic taiko drumming outfit complete with after dark UV show
Glasgow’s own dub heavyweights and Knockengorroch regulars, Mungos Hi Fi Sound System, complete with full sound system and featuring MC Kenny Knots
Solareye aka Dave Hook of Stanley Odd, winner of the Scottish Alternative hip hop Awards.
From the Basque country top sounds and dance workshop from Korrontzi
Techno legend DJ Jerome Hill
British Drum and Bass pioneers Ed Rush and Optical
All female, Scottish rap group The Honey Farm
AND Delightful Squalor, Omar Afifand Gnawa Trance Fusion, Gypsy Roots, Bristol Branch, The Matatunes, Awry, the Dalmellington Silver Band…
with still more to be announced
