This year’s World Ceilidh was the 20th Knockengorroch festival that Simon and Liz have organised and to celebrate this landmark the festival was extended to a 4 day event. It was also moved back a week from its regular slot to take place on the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend.

Many old favourites such as the Peatbog Faeries and Orkestra Del Sol returned for headline performances plus there was a noticeable diversification in the entertainment with the likes of human beatbox, Shlomo, and stand up comedian, Phil Kay, both appearing on the second Shieling Stage. Much in line with other larger events, a headset disco also made its debut at the festival to great acclaim.

We were extremely lucky with the weather and once we got a small amount of rain out of the way on Friday morning the rest of the weekend remained dry and sunny and dust and midges became more of a problem than the mud that we are more usually accustomed to on the banks of the Water of Deuch. We decided to park our campervan in one of the smaller camping areas a short 5 minute walk from the festival in order to have a little more living space. A decision which not only gave us peace & quiet but also the ability to enjoy the beautiful surroundings even more than usual as we strolled to & from the festival each day.

My only minor complaint would be that the beer ran out rather too early at the bars but otherwise Knockengorroch was even more of the festival-goers paradise than it usually is & huge thanks go to Simon, Liz and all the rest of the team for making our return to the place that my girlfriend Lisa & I first met such a pleasurable one. We are only sorry that other commitments prevent us from being able to return for the Hairth in September.