Wickerman Gathers Pace as More Acts are Announced

Red hot artists revealed for the Summerisle Stage, Acoustic Village, Scooter and Reggae Tents

With less than four weeks to go until Wickerman welcomes the crowds, Scotland’s hottest summer party is turning up the heat by adding a batch of exciting artists to its sizzling line-up.

On Saturday, the legendary electronic duo Utah Saints will make a much requested return to the Summerisle Stage following their show stopping 2009 performance. Since the birth of house music, the pioneering DJs have toured the globe, sampled a huge range of artists and sold over two million records. Still very much at the top of their game, they are set to round off an incredible day by occupying the coveted DJ slot after the iconic Wickerman burning.

Joining them will be Glasgow’s hotly tipped punk act Baby Strange who have just finished their first UK headline tour. The talented trio have received much critical acclaim from the British music press and impressively packed out the tent at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Glasgow in May.  Liverpool’s up and coming dance rockers, Tea Street Band, will also be livening up the crowds on Saturday with what is set to be an electrifying live performance. Championed by Radio 2 DJ Janice Long, the band have just returned from a tour with former Dove’s front man Jimi Goodwin.

Other additions to the Summerisle Stage, which will once again be compered by BBC Introducing DJ Ally McCrae, include the winners of the Sunday Herald’s Unsigned Band competition – The Cut Throat Razors. The ten-piece act promise to deliver an energetic mix of classic ska, motown, new wave and big band swing. Galloway sister act, The Mermaids, will also join the line-up after winning West Sound radio’s annual ‘One to Watch’ competition.

An array of established stars and hot new talent will also be joining Wickerman’s much loved Acoustic Village this July. On Saturday, renowned producer, multi-instrumentalist and late blooming artist Ethan Johns will headline the main stage.  Throughout his illustrious career, Johns has worked with a wealth of artists, including Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Paul McCartney, Ray LaMontagne, Tom Jones and the  Kaiser Chiefs. He released his first solo album to much critical acclaim in 2012.

On Friday, Glasgow nine-piece ska collective Esperanza, rowdy folk and blues act Have Mercy Las Vegas , solo acoustic act Neil Sturgeon and talented folk star Gabriel Kelly will entertain music lovers on the Acoustic Village’s main stage. Zoe Bestal, Little Fire, Duffy’s Gypsy Band, Jono and Gareth Icke, Rab McCahill and Finch and the Moon will also be bringing the stage to life.

On Saturday contemporary Celtic act Novantae, French born guitarist Anne Chaurand, Dumfries Community Choir and Scottish singer songwriter Kim Edgar will entertain the acoustic faithful. Other Saturday additions include The Minpins, Roberto Cassani and The Tickety Two, The Cracked Man, Brandon Lee Webb and Kim Wheeler.

Wickerman’s Ingrid Pit stage is a familiar attraction amongst festival fans and newcomers can also expect a treat as music, poetry and spoken word and comedy are blended together seamlessly. This year’s revellers can enjoy star turns from The Snack Family, Wooden Box, Andy Paterson and the Balgoni Boyz.

The Acoustic Village’s Barabajagal Yurt will be the perfect place for Wicker fans to jam and make music with other people. This year it will play host to local artists Sandy Cowan and Jill Johnston. Thursday’s Child will be opening the yurt on both days, providing fun for children and the young-at-heart with singalong songs.

Once again the much loved Reggae Tent will be hosted by Explosion Soundsystem. Originating in Northern Ireland they only play the best of Roots, Reggae, Dub and anything in between, whilst honouring the original Jamaican soundsystem culture. Explosion’s own MC Ranking Fox will be joined by London’s MC Brother Culture and Edinburgh’s MC Dangerman. Crews from Glasgow and Belfast will also be at the controls to ensure celebrations continue throughout the night.

The festival’s 2014 Scooter Tent line-up will be completed with four new additions, including Dundonian punk outfit The Cundeez, whose thrashing guitar sounds and explicit lyrics are not for the faint hearted.  Scottish band the Ska-Beat Jakes and Lothian punk act Nine Bullets are also set to the get the crowds skanking on Saturday, whilst Wickerman’s amazing walkabout band Blowjangles  will  be opening the stage in style on the Friday.

Helen Chalmers, Wickerman’s Festival Coordinator commented:

“Wickerman’s Acoustic Village has rapidly become a firm favourite amongst our fans and we are delighted to once again announce a wealth of established and up and coming artists.

With less than a month to go, it’s fantastic to unveil yet more eclectic acts and we very excited to announce the return of Utah Saints who we know will receive a very warm welcome from the festival crowds”