Wickerman Festival Site Dundrennan reviews by real event-goers

Review

This was our 5th Wickerman and up there with our first (which will always hold a special place in my heart) We had an excellent time and camping in the organge zone ended up with excellent neig*bours so all good there.

We brought most of our food and alcohol with us and just spent our time noodling back and forth between the festival arena & campsite. This made a major difference to the finances this year and will be our strategy from here on in.

No problems with security but we used the top entrance (by the D&D) top blokes, laid back and a welcome change from last year. Maybe being 'mature ladies' made us less suspicious.

No problems with D&D (never bother with the showers) the toilets were great but must admit I was a bit hacked off with the girlies blocking access to the sinks. How about a 'titivation block' next year for all the poor lovelies who can't cope without a full face of slap?

The major downside was the sound quality on James. I kicked myself having left the Damned for what would have been an excellent set had I been able to hear them.

Special mention regarding the response from the paramedics and stewarts. A lad by the beer tent had a seizure (1st time apparently)on Saturday evening. ? suspected dehydration/sun stroke (no hat, sunburnt and probably been drinking nothing but alcohol all weekend) He had this seizure in front of the paramedic vehicle parked by the side of the beer tent. Unfortunately this was unmanned however we managed to alert a stewart (who looked about 15) but delt with the situation swiftly, within minutes everyone decended; the paramedics, stewarts/security. The ambulance arrived, shocked girlfriend taken care of, it was all very slick and well managed. Very impressive & reassuring, but would recommend that unless dealing with an incident at least one of the paramedics stays close to their vehicle. We worked on the principle that if in doubt head for the nearest fluorescent jacket.

Many Thanks to all who made the weekend great. We'll be back again next year.

First ever festival... Why have I waited so long?

The Wickerman was my first ever festival and I am so glad it was. Although having read some of the comments, I'm wondering if I was at a different place to some people.

I am very much a girly girl and love my showers, straightners and make up so had been warned about going. My friends advised I take lots of baby wipes and toilet roll. I must admit, I found having baby wipe washes to be somewhat liberating. And come day 3 I had proper surf chic hair. Never washing it again! As for the toilet roll, it never got touched. The horror stories I had been told on the way were making me pretty worried, but them toilets were kept amazing!! No-one believes me when I tell them how well they were kept. I made sure I told the toilet cleaner guy while I was there too :)

We arrived on the Thursday, no problems at all, until we got the tent out and my wonderful boyfriend realised that the tent poles and pegs were still in the flat. Oops. But luckily a knight in shinning armour came to our rescue, not only letting us borrow a tent, but also putting it up for us! (Thanks again Alan)

The people around us were amazing. Really friendly and all looking out for each other, offering food, blankets, tourches. I never once worried about any of our possessions going missing (not that we had owt worth taking) or being tampered with. Top bunch.

The line up was absolutely fantastic! As we were right up the front, we didn't notice any sound problems when James were on, but I could understand how that would have been rubbish for those further back. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to see Utah Saints and the Damed, but I prioritised and was very happy.

I found the staff great. We did get told off for having a bbq at the tent, (silly us) but the security guy had a laugh and joke with us about it and it wasn't a problem... would have been if I had picked up the vodka bottle instead of the water bottle to put it out though.

Got talking to a steward who was a fountain of all information. I was telling the rest of my group everything from the history of the festival to the way the Wickerman is built, to the technical problems faced after spending just a short ime with the boy.

I also tried to get the stewards to search me as we went into the main arena bit... they refused.... every time... which worked in my favour.

The drink was a tad pricy, but only really had a couple in the arena bit and had expected it too. Thought the food prices were ok. Had a lamb kebab at the falafle stand. It was perfectly cooked, really tasty and loads of it... and cheaper than the kebab shop at the top of my road which is hit or miss.

The burning of the Wickerman was fab. Really loved the fireworks. Something a bit different. There were some great shops and the shed disco was great!

I have realised I'm totally rambling on here but I just loved the whole thing and haven't stopped going on about what a great weekend I had since I got back.

Thank you Wickerman Festival and all the organisers for being my first ever festival. I was worried my first would be my last, but I'm already working out where to go next!

Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic time don't think people can complain about noise at a festival, as I posted last year if your tired enough you will sleep, as was proven by my little boy sleeping in front of the main stage.Took a big group this year ranging in age from 5 to 68, and stayed in the campervan field, can't complain about the price of the food as we brought all our own. Again fantastic time loved The Pigeon Detectives, will be back.

8th. visit to Wickerman.

This was my 8th. time at Wickerman and yet again it was an amazing weekend. As part of camp Chaos, we always stay on the noisy campsite, which actually was not too bad. Think we were maybe the noisiest but lots of friendly people camping around us just joined in with the fun so it was not a problem. We took our own portaloo, and only once found the public loos in a bad condition. Security did their job in a friendly manner, no problems at all with them. I accept and understand the dangers of using gas cookers on a campsite, but think it is rather ironic that the first stall you come to in the Arena is the Happy camper, and they are selling them along with the cylinders.
Camp chaos age range is 12 the youngest and 59 the oldest, yet we all enjoyed the festival for various reasons.
I cannot say enough good about this festival, absolutely love it, and we will definitely be back next year, for the ninth time.
Thanks to all the organisers and everyone involved in the organisation and running of this event.

Wickerman 2011

I throughly enjoyed my Wickerman 2011. I went to Wickerman last year and had such a great time I thought it would be difficult to top this year. However I found this year just as great, if not better. I felt there was a much wider variety of music and stalls compared to last year. It was slightly annoying when the Friday night mainstage line up was running late, however standing for ages and getting to be right at the front at the barrier for Yasmin, Noisettes and The Hoosiers was definately worth it, they were the highlight of my weekend. I felt that the portaloos could have been cleaned more regularly because they were absolutely disgusting, but that's no change from last year, I'm just grateful that I managed to remember my hand sanitiser. I think that the prices of the food stalls was slightly extortionate, £3.50 for a burger seems a bit much but after not having ate anything all bar a jaffa cake it was much appreciated. It was slightly annoying getting searched for alcohol everytime you wanted to enter the main arena, as the prices in the beer tent were a bit too much if you ask me. People seem to be complaining about the showers, but I did not have to queue once for the showers, as I got up at 0530 in the morning to be there straight away, and it did not bother me getting up at this time, as I barely slept anyway. I was not asked to turn my shower off either, and altough they weren't the cleanest showers in the world they did their job, it's not like you were staying in a hotel, it was a festival after all and that's all part of the fun. I found the burning of the Wickerman itself slightly disappointing, however the fireworks display was absolutely brilliant, it was magnificent. On the whole, I don't really see what everyone's complaining about because I found it a really good weekend and I will certainly be returning next year.

Wickerman 2011

Really enjoyed this as my first festival :D
Very friendly for myself and even though we were in the loud camp our neig*bours were lovely. The prices were a little high but I am on a budget and apparently this is normal. Loved James and Feeder and Craig Charles was awesome. The technical difficulties mentioned above did seem to hamper some acts though but I guess it is all live and it was raining. I did notice one side cutting out repeatedly too. The chill out tent and cinema neutralised the commercial aspects and allowed a quiet break. It was just gorgeous the surrounding scenery and loved the burning of the wickerman with fantastic fireworks, a real amazing life experience.

wickerman 2011

its not about being grumpy. I choose to spend my hard earned cash wisely.

In this case the Saturday line up was really poor in my opinion, but what swayed it for me was James.
Only for my weekend to be what I would consider to be ruined because of the sound problems. Whats annoying is that the Wickerman dont seem to be saying much about it.
Did they employ a contractor for this?, if so,they failed to deliver for what was surely the Wickermans main attraction this year.

Are we supposed to just accept this? Was told to email the co-ordinator, which so far there has been no reply.

There have been a lot of complaints this year, mostly from people who have seen what Wickerman used to be like and what it is now evolving in to.

There are many things good about the Wickerman but greed as usual spoils it. "If you build it? they will come". spend money on a better line up and it will sell out......simple.

Its a shame the festival is changing, for the worse in my opinion. Line up has been getting poorer and poorer, year on year.

This is what JamieGilroy said in the Galloway news
"The biggest challenges that we face every year is to continually keep the atmosphere, improve the quality of the show, increase ticket sales and, primarily, to make sure that everyone who comes has a good time.

Ensuring that all of our guests go home feeling as though they have had their moneys worth and enjoyed the festival is the main challenge that we face.

Sorry Jamie, but this year failed an all accounts.

Best One Yet

Ignore the grumpy reviewers. It's a festival not a 5 star hotel! Second time I have been and it was better than last year. Prices inside a bit much, I know it's a festival but go against the grain and make a bit cheaper?! Could have better communication regarding BBQ's. Wee things though. Don't get too big Wickerman. Stay true and don't ruined. You're our final hope for what a festival should be about(in Scotland!)Keep it up Wickerman and we will be back!

1st visit

1st visit to Festival and thought it was great.Very family friendly and although loads to see and do also very relaxing.Weather fab too.Loads of new bands to hear - loved Oil on Canvas!We had caravan with electric hook up,bit of a mix up with that and could have been better organised,also waste disposal from caravans could be better signposted. All told a brilliant experience.
Would go again!

wickerman 2011 review

This was our 6th Wickerman and it was as ever fantastic. Well done again to the organisers for a cracking mix of music and other activities. The atmosphere, the people, the costumes, combined a wonderful weekend.
The loos were clean and the down n dirty's are great. Could do with more showers as you had to wait ages.
Can't wait for next year.

Best Wickerman Yet!

6th festival for me and the best yet i reckon. Its difficult to find negative points when i had such a good weekend, the music was top quality throughout the festival. Only let-down musically was the otherwise talented guys from Tennessee on the Saturday afternoon. We needed a lift, some reggae or funk in the sunshine but they were more suited to the acoustic tent.
Thats not a criticism of the acoustic tent either, because i spent Saturday lunch time in there listening to some excellent acts.
The atmosphere at this festival is second to none. People are friendly and helpful and you meet new pals whilst queing at the bar.
Long may the Wickerman reign!

Bass Camp Bounce!

can we have this every weekend please (",)

wickerman 2011

bring on wickerman 2012...........2011 was amazing, shame about James but he should have just refused to play till they sorted the sound out, was way busier than last year glad they had more toilets in the vip area, love bass camp, all in all great wee festival, great atmophere, great bands, great massive hangover monday!

wickerman 2011- fantastic

our group (kids and adults) thought the weekend was just brilliant. love love loved james they just keep getting better :) The kids loved the hoosiers, the pigeon detectives and the sound of gun. The sound issues during James werent quite so obvious at the front :) Great family event with lots of friendly people (thanks very much to the couple who helped us put up out tent)
Agree with the comments that From the Jam should have been on the mainstage.
The DnD shower pass was as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike, didnt manage a shower the whole weekend - but I survived.
The finale with the burning of the wickerman beast and the fireworks had the kids (big and small) awestruck and brought a perfect weekend to a perfect end. Looking forward to next year

wickerman- family friendly? NOT

The Wickerman is being missold as a family friendly festival. We attended for the first time this year and were 3 families with children aged between 2 and 6 and won't be coming back.

Among the low points were
The quiet campsite was not in the slightest bit quiet and there was no policing of noise or rowdy behaviour
Quiet parking fee of £5 was a joke
The kids activity area was small and disorganised and again a £2 fee per child to get in.
The down and dirty toilets were too far from anywhere
Security was heavy handed and didn't use their discretion
Openingly hedonistic environment- not suitable for small kids- even had festival goers snorting drugs right next to us while watching the music friday evening.
In fact I would like a refund. Having spoken to the organiser 3 times before even buying our tickets on the 'family friendliness' and suitability of the festival for small kids,I think she is deluded into thinking the festival is now what it might have once been- a chilled gathering of like minded people. As far as I can see its a place to get really hammered. The only redeeming factor was the weather and location was fab. Will be heading back to The Big Tent festival in Fife next year!

wickerman 2011

brillant weekend the bands were awsome
glad to see the dangleberries back were they belong on the main stage but needed a longer set time after speaking to the lead singer they were only givin half hour.appart from that will be going again next year which will be the sixth time keep up the good work

Wickerman 2011 from a geordies perspective

First visit to Wickerman and thought it was a nice chilled out atmosphere, didn't see any trouble. I agree with others, in that the variation of drinks was poor and the Mojito's sold out!! We found the quiet campsite ... quiet, compared to other festivals.
The little Skiddle 'burger van' was a great idea, well done Matt Hinde!!
We didn't have to pay for any parking, and I don't think that you had to! I'd be querying that!
Burning of the Wickerman was awesome ... fireworks just finished it off.
Definately return next year .... but please please don't make it any bigger or any more commericalised ... it was just nice the way it was!

Wickerman 2011

This was the 5th time I've been to the Wickerman Festival and I usually buy my tickets long before the line-up is announced. For me this was the poorest line-up so far because it was so mainstream, there's usually a good and varied selection of quirky, reggae-type bands, but here we get bland crap like The Coral and Feeder. I generally spend most of my time in the reggae tent so this wasn't a massive problem, but it was a bit disappointing.

The main problem apart from the line-up was that there weren't nearly so many varied types of food vans as in previous years and the choices for vegetarians were quite poor. The drinks were also very overpriced compared to other small festivals like Beat Herder.

Plus points were the Kids Tent, the always-excellent Axis reggae tent and the Circus.

Despite it's faults Wickerman is still a very friendly laid-back festival, I'll definitely come again but worry that a few years down the line it will be getting too mainstream and corporate

Wickerman 2011

Loved it this year, as usual! Campsite was lovely and actually pretty quiet. The toilets were surprisingly clean - I had a D n D toilet ticket and barely used them! Food was good, bar queues were small. Atmosphere was amazing. What more could you want :)

Wickerman 2011

Had an amazing time recommended it to lots of friends with kids who all can't wait until next year!
Only complaints were that it was particularly noisy on the friday night (not sure if it was due to sound checks tho), and obviously the quality of sound for James.
Wasn't impressed with the potty mouth of Echo and the Bunnymen, (esp through a microphone) was a family festival ppl.
Having said that can't really complain about anything else. Food was great and reasonable for the quality of it. Very impressed with the fish and chip stall. Found the security staff much better than last year! Especially the two friendly guys who helped us get water.
Will defo be going next year can't wait!