Having missed last year due to a family illness, it’s hard to believe that it is 2 whole years since we were last at Knockengorroch (or Knockyercockoff as Adrian Edmondson rather unfunnily referred to it). Very little has changed in our absence. The chunky, grass roofed, wooden structure of the Bo Airigh Stage, which was new on our last visit, has matured beautifully and the lighting here seems to have improved, albeit still challenging for photographers. The tented Sheiling Stage is exactly as it was we left it and after-hours entertainment was also provided on the Bar stage, which was unbelievably rammed with people dancing into the early hours on the Thursday night.

There was the usual fantastic selection of ales, although they do seem to have bumped up the prices somewhat with most coming in at £3:30 a pint for draft or 20p more for the bottled varieties. A couple of new stalls gave punters a greater choice on the food front and there was also the usual good selection of clothing, fabric and jewellery plus the army surplus place where I bought myself a gas mask which may or may not come in handy at some point in the future.

The biggest change I noticed was that dogs are officially allowed back at Knocky. They were pretty much banned a few years ago after a couple of strays killed some of the local lambs but there were plenty of dogs onsite this year and owners were generally very good at ensuring they stayed on their leads. The weather could have been better but at least we missed the torrential downpours which the set-up crew suffered the day before we arrived. Most of the weekend was showery but it remained dry on the Sunday and there was plenty of straw around to mop up most of the gooey mud which formed in front of the Main Stage.

Knockengorroch is without a doubt my favourite small festival and the thing that I love most about it is the friendliness and enthusiasm of the people. From the heaving bar tent at 4am on the Friday morning all the way through the weekend, punters needed no excuse to jump around and lose themselves in a sea of flailing arms and legs. If only all festivals had the atmosphere, freedom and sheer beauty of Knockengorroch!

PS there where a couple of bands in the bar on Thursday night whose names I didn't catch so if anybody can help me out with these I'd be eternally grateful. Thanks!