Wickerman Festival Site Dundrennan reviews by real event-goers

Loved it!

My first time at the Wickerman and the perfect festival experience! (Apart from the monsoon this morning and a flooded tent...!)

The people were amazingly friendly and there were so many young children enjoying themselves too. Had some lovely chats in the shower queue and some random chats in the beer tent. Extremely pleased I bought a pass for the proper toilets (too posh to p!ss in a portaloo haha) but they were such a long walk from the beer tent area.

I went specifically to see Billy Bragg who didn't disappoint, and enjoyed Zion Train too before...ummm... kind of missing any of the other bands on Friday which I was kicking myself about on Saturday morning... However, Saturday's music was brilliant - a chilled vibe in the sun before getting groovy to Candi Staton, going bonkers to Dreadzone, jumping around to Bad Manners, watching the burning and fireworks, then LOVING what the Utah Saints did to start their set.

I wished there had been more happening after that and I couldn't find the cinema! The dance tents weren't quite crazy enough when I had a wander in, so it was a relatively early night, but that definitely helped this morning!

Oh and the litter pickers were doing an amazing job, but I can't believe the mess that some people left today by their tents - you slobs!!!

All in all, the perfect size of festival for me.

Great days, noisy nights

Turned up Friday evening around 7pm and was told that the 'quiet campsite' was full which was a disappointing as we were there with our two kids (10 and 7) and could have done with a good night's sleep. Maybe there could be some way of reserving quiet camping for families when you actually buy the ticket. So ended up in the general area which turned out to be very noisy (actually due to cars and trucks driving past our tent as soon as the Raeggae tent stopped). Saturday night was better tough. We were lucky with our neig*bours. But in the end it's a festival and everyone got the right to party on the general campsite I guess... Apart from that and the beer/food prices ist was brilliant! Friday night great with the Human League headlining, Saturday a bit weak on the main stage. Scooter Tent (Berry Tw**d and the Chasers, rock on!)and Acoustic Village were brilliant. Had shower passes but they seemed to be oversubscribed, never used them as the queues were too long on Saturday but toilet passes well worth the money. All in all we loved it and will be back next year!

First timer

Bought a Saturday ticket only without knowing line up and wish I'd done whole weekend. Shame The Zutons were on at the same time as Bad Manners and watched half and half. Didn't experience the bag search. Beautiful weather (except this morning) and beautiful people.

Magic!!!

Magical weekend with fairy dust all over it. Totally loved it as did my adolescent daughters. So chilled out but crazy if you fancy. Something for everyone and superbly run, the portaloos were clean (in festival terms) all weekend. Atmosphere amazing, a happy happy place with happy happy people, can't wait for next year.

First but not last Wickerman

First time and really impressed with venue and the atmos, O'Death on Friday p.m. brought the afternoon alive, The Human League, Dreadzone and Utah Saints stole the show. The Z's a bit weak for headlining. Kid friendly, our 8 & 7 and loved it. No alcohol should be reviewed but limit the amount taken in, stewards on the whole v good but need to sort out the parking farce for some areas, we wern't given one at the enterance for our area and then were not allowed in a drove around and around for 45 mins, poor start but all uphill from then on.

Wickerchick

This was the 8th year of the Wickerman & my 5th year going....Friday was defo better than Saturday which was extremely busy but the whole weekend was amazing! Human League & The Dangleberries were my clear favourites, along with Bad Manners - wasn't especially impressed with Dreadzone or Zutons but it's different strokes for different folks which is what makes the Wickerman the best festival around!! For anyone that hasn't been before..make sure you get your tickets early for next year as it'll sell out quickly!! Loved the Acoustic Village - especially Michael (?) & his harp 'Prozac'!! and the silent disco was a fab idea with great staff. It was a shame that we couldn't bring drinks into the festival but the beer tent was brilliantly staffed & never ran out all weekend. Great to see local businesses benefitting from the festival too....bring on next year!!! :)

Wickery fun

Went to Wickerman after Latitude the weekend before, with Fiona (10) and John (8). More friendly (hey, more Scottish people, so of course more friendly), all prices lower, louder, later, more space, more relaxing and (yes) more sunshine (all day Saturday). Less ballet, less braying posh boarding school types, less bankers.

You're never gonna get the best bands at a smaller festival, but that is just what you accept for all the good stuff.

best bits:- me - Sweet Billy Pilgrim, Fiona and John the music bus and the cycling.

Pod

Yet again another fantastic weekend. Have to say fri was better than sat. Human League were awesome (never thought i would i say that) disappointed that Kid British were moved without being properly informed( So we missed them and really wanted to see them). Scooter tent was the best i have seen,
Don,t really understand why the dance tent/Base camp was right next to the "quite" camp site.
All in all a cool time and will be back next year.

Crackin'

Tremendous after a two year break and weren't we lucky with the weather (until this morning that is - blimey, I thought it was Winter all of a sudden). Agree with the other posters on here about the bag searching nonsense which is a bit off considering a drink costs £3.20 in the Arena (we spent 'hunners'). Human League were as good as ever as were most of the last few bands on each night but for me Dreadzone busted it. Berry Tw**d & The Chasers in the Scooter tent yesterday should also get a mention as should the Scottish "SkaPunk" band who were on in the Solus tent at around 6(ish) on Saturday - they were awesome (does anyone know the name of the band?)

Cant wait for next year!

Was more dissapointed by not being able to take drinks into the area and how come some people still managed it! felt a little intimidated by the bag searches as i dont think anyone was there to cause problems anyway without a doubt will be there next year and already cant wait seems so far away though! Food and drink very xpensive but made our own by taking bbqs and out own drinks etc. would drf recommend to everyone! even the rain in the weekend didnt put a downer on things! roll on next year! xx

an amazing fun, friendly festival.

this was only my second time at the wickerman, and my husbands first, we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and now wish we had got weekend tickets and not just the sat ones, all the stalls were amazing with friendly, chatty, and helpful staff. the Zutons were totally fantastic as were all the others, we wandered round all the tents and there was something there for everyone. one thing that was different from when i was there 4 years ago was that no alcohol was allowed in the arena area! rather dissapointed by the bag searches and getting turned away from the entrance, just another way to make even more money from joe public just out to have a good time!! all in all a great time was had by us both, not sure if we'll be back due to how expensive the drink was though!!

My Wickerman 2009

Idlewild, The Magic Numbers, The Human League were fantastic on friday night. I loved how the woman from Magic Numbers watched Idlewild's full set from the side!
The Zutons were a weak headliner compared to previous years (KT Tunstll, Proclaimers)However, upcoming band Kid British (who were moved from the main stage to the Scooter tent) were phenominal, their new album should hopefuly sell very well. Utah Saints brought the biggest crowed back to the main stage after the burning of the Wickerman (compared to other years).
The dance tents were rather weak compared to the Eden Zone of previous years, loved the tank outside and the cosmetics. Hot Chip set filled out the Skiddle Tent which everyone loved.
Headphone Disco was open on the Thursday night which was great, sadly I didn't go to the Accoutic Village this year (would have loved to have seen the comedians).
All in all a fantastic weekend!

dannie aitchison

excellant weekend enjoyed magic numbers and utah saints headphone disco was amazing there till is closed bring atomshere was good very little trouble with people overall a other great wickerman probely the best bring on wickerman 2010

Fri/Sat Band allocation

No disrespect to the Zutons but Iwas a bit disapointed the best bands were all on Fri. So much so that I came home Sat !

Best Wickerman so far!!

First things first, this year was by-far the best that I have been to (Been going for the last 4 years) and The Zutons and The Human League were amazing! I dont really like their music but they were awesome live! 10/10.

KEH's Review of The Wickerman Festival 07 at Wickerman Festival Site

If chilled friendly and just a bit quirky is you idea of a good festival this is the one for you.
A great cross section of music from pop to ska to folk to electro and much cheaper prices than the bigger events.
Great children's tent and access to clean showers and toilets makes it easy if you've got kids in tow.
A must for festies everywhere