Lughnasadh came back for its second year at Forgan Arts Centre in Newport-on-Tay, to flag up the talent that resides not just in the central belt of Scotland, but also in places closer to the Tay.
With Kathryn Joseph & Lomond Campbell, Sacred Paws, corto alto, and Free Love on the line-up, it was easy to see why the venue was hoaching, alongside the fine weather. It’s not simply the talent and the weather that pulls the crowds, though – the festival’s whole ethos was supportive of local business, with EH9 ESPRESSO and 71 Brewing, both local to Dundee, in attendance. This, together with the strong local volunteer effort, gave a wonderful, warm and fuzzy flavour that not all festivals can claim.
Local lad Connor Liam Byrne and The Bad Kissers kicked the music off for the day, with a fun and lively set that commenced with Black Sabbath’s ‘Paranoid’. Connor was attired in a pink jumpsuit, which he admitted his girlfriend had pieced together for him. After this rowdy affair we were graced with Becky Sikasa’s soulful voice and laid-back summertime vibes, before Lacuna and then SAY Award winners Sacred Paws picked up the pace. Following on were Free Love, corto alto, and the inimitable Kathryn Joseph: a fabulous roster of talent that had us all bathing in the warmth of the Scottish music scene.
However, as a family friendly festival, there were also plenty of other activities taking place across the festival to keep it lively. The community garden, which featured activities like screen-printing and pom-pom making, gave Lughnasadh the feel of a well-coordinated and collaborative effort between Dundee and Newport-on-Tay. It’s a festival that pulls together not only the Big Rock Records promoters and Forgan Arts Centre, but also creative workers from across the wider area, and this aspect meant the whole effort felt slicker than last year.
For us, last year’s Lughnasadh highlight was Hamish Hawk, and this time around we had just as much fun watching Kathryn and Lomond in this intimate and welcoming arts space. I’m curious as to where the festival will take us next year, but I guarantee I’ll stick around to see it.
All photos credit Kevin Linnett
