Knockengorroch Festival is proud to present an incredible selection of international artists and homegrown talent who will be playing at Knockengorroch Festival 2024 in the hills of Galloway. The first line up announcement reveals just a few of the acts performing next May, with many more artists to be announced in the coming months.
A.Skillz
Bringing his turntables to captivate the Knockengorroch crowd, embracing all aspects of music and mashing them up into a unique cocktail infused with his own signature flavour of funk.
Banco de Gaia
One of the world’s most respected audio artists, known for the ‘timeless’ sound that has defined his performance and releases for over 30 years. His legacy of world-infused dance and ambient music is as glittering as it is diverse; ranging from Hollywood film sound credits to the critically acclaimed Last Train to Lhasa, first released in 1995.
Bombskare
Known as Scotland’s ska godfathers, they’ve been tearing up stages since the 1990s as a live music institution combining a DIY punk ethic and big band showmanship – making their live shows the stuff of legend!
The Breath
Singer-songwriter duo consisting of Ríoghnach Connolly alongside Manchester-based guitarist Stuart McCallum, the duo bring their contemporary take on alt-folk; a sound that’s all about the song, focusing on anything from childhood summers and first love as cultural dislocation, to post- colonial injustices and grief, with synths and effects so subtle as to be almost invisible.
DJ Rap
Bringing the British drum and bass, the late ‘90s talent and classically trained pianist-songwriter who has dominated genres like house, jungle, and progressive electronic for decades as a leading name.
Ewan Macintyre
Bringing a transatlantic, folk, Gaidhlig and soul inspired show, Ewanand his band combine lush string arrangements, intimate acoustic storytelling and thought provoking lyrics with a fun, bombastic sensibility and showmanship.
Frankie Archer
Fresh on the scene, shaking up genres and traditions by sharing the lesser told sides of stories – championing women, challenging perspectives, and calling for a fairer future. Her imaginative and bold mash of electro alt-trad shows her Northumbrian fiddle roots, her deep love of electronic music, and her immersion in soulful folk songs.
Jemima Thewes & LANES
From the Scottish Highlands that still provide the bones of her music. Rooted in the folk ballad tradition, with inspiration coming from many additional genres, Jemima’s songs are layered with grit, tenderness, mischief, humour and wisdom.
John Fairhurst
Having spent the majority of his time travelling the world with his heavy blues music, John has met innumerable characters and collected many stories over the years, and draws influence and inspiration from the varied musical styles and first hand experiences found in life on the road.
Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening
The international leading exponent of the Northumbrian pipes, this genre-melting band connects and explores the land’s historic threads of music, landscape, and people with songs ranging from Amen-inspired breakbeats and ominous vocals, to the wildest of piping!
Mairi Campbell
Scottish folk legend who pushes boundaries with her use of free improvisation, songs and stagecraft. Her music takes audiences on a journey with waypoints that include her own and a careful selection of others’ songs.
Malin Makes Music
Malin’s trio blends effervescent folk played on fiddle, bouzouki, double bass, and a newly invented bagpipe. They draw inspiration from timbre (the sounds and textures of the notes themselves) alongside European folk traditions, humans, queerness and the universe.
Maranta
Synth-pop duo Maranta bring their left-field pop and dance music with their mission to make visceral, textured and infectious songs easily translated to the dancefloor. Maranta are currently gearing up to release their debut album due for release in 2024.
Mungo’s Hi Fi x Eva Lazarus
Knockengorroch favourites return for another party in the hills! For this year’s closing takeover, the Glasgow collective will be joined by the larger than life vocals of singer Eva Lazarus, who finds joy in dexterity, spontaneity, and experimentation; her kaleidoscopic shift of momentum will be a welcomed addition to Mungo’s sound.
N’famady Kouyaté
From Conakry Guinea is the talented multi-instrumentalist N’famady Kouyaté, charming audiences with his enthusiasm and joy alongside his fusion of Mandingue African with western jazz, pop, indie, and funk influences.
Queen Omega & The Royal Souls
Trinidad & Tobago’s Queen Omega is one of the most valuable voices from the world reggae scene. Her almost unlimited vocal performances combine reggae, Caribbean, jazz and soul sounds with her authenticity, energy and undeniable presence.
Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet
An eclectic troupe with heavy sound that spans from the bountiful to the subtle across everything from big-band swing to Alabama blues-tinged folk, all held together by powerful vocals and flute from Ríoghnach.
Yoko Pwno
Edinburgh and Dunbar based 6 piece bring their accessible and irreverent take on the music of Scotland to the festival, with a high-energy fusion of Celtic and electronic styles and a mix of vocals, fiddle, flute, banjo and drums.Their mad eclecticism and solid grooves takes their tunes far from tartan-shortbread-tin territory.
808 State
Considered to have a prominent impact on the UK’s burgeoning acid house scene, with their first album Newbuild now regarded as a milestone in UK electronica music, 808 State comes to Knockengorroch – bringing a sound inspired by the haunting industrial history of their home-city Manchester’s past mixed with classic Detroit techno. Considered to have a prominent impact on the UK’s burgeoning acid house scene, with their first album Newbuild now regarded as a milestone in UK electronica music, 808 State comes to Knockengorroch – bringing a sound inspired by the haunting industrial history of their home-city Manchester’s past mixed with classic Detroit techno.
Find out more and listen to all of these artists HERE
With many more acts to be announced for the 26th festival line-up, the full dance tent line-up will be revealed in the coming months and festival goers can expect cutting edge tunes from the length and breadth of these islands.
The festival will also feature environment and heritage workshops and activities, dancing, comedy, theatre shows, arts and crafts and lots for the kids.
Scotland’s longest running greenfield festival will take place Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 May 2024. Tickets are on sale NOW and payment plans are also available.
Photo: N’famady Kouyaté by Andrew Lewis
