Sat evening/Sunday
“Have I gone mad? I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I will tell you a secret, all the best people are.” Alice in Wonderland
Surrounded by trees and green fields and overlooked by the stately Cardross Estate House, Doune The Rabbit Hole is a bohemian family affair with an eclectic array of music.
This was the small festival’s 10th anniversary and despite a severe weather warning on the Friday, revellers partied on despite the relentless rain.
Saturday brought glorious sunshine and bare-foot dread-locked hippies, families, pensioners and dogs on leads mixed equally around the site , had a relaxed unpretentious vibe. Deck chairs and hammocks were peppered around the main stage giving relief for tired legs.
Taking fussy eating kids to a festival is always a bit nerve racking on the purse strings (who wants to risk forking out an average of £8/£9 on something they might not like), however I was pleased to see a lot of the food was reasonably priced and the kids were all able to find something they could eat (£6 for a large tasty wood-fired marguerita pizza was a winner!).
There was a brilliant selection of activities for the kids to take part in, toys for them to play with, and things to watch. Had the little ones not been in tow I would have explored some of the intriguing ‘Douniversity’ programme list which included interesting panel discussions and expert talks or taken part in the ‘Sasan-Gasana’ yoga classes.
There was also great selection of workshops (including one led by Aardman Animation of Wallace and Gromit fame) and even a cinema to take some time out from the music.
I was just in time to catch Scottish punk rock and new wave band The Skids in the tented Baino Stage, where the lack of security pit gave fans a great proximity to the musicians. The passing of time has not relented the fire, drive and energy of the band who powered through classics including The Saints Are Coming, Working for The Yankee Dollar, Hurry on Boys, Into The Valley and a covers of the Sex Pistols Pretty Vacant and The Buzzcocks Falling In Love – That’s for Pete Shelley – the first band we ever played with – they mean a lot to us.”
Despite being in his late 60s, lead singer Richard Jobson bounded around the stage shadow boxing and kicking his legs, before musing that it was a revelation to see so many women in the crowd as its usually burly men in their 60s hanging around the stage door after shows. He did get a bit annoyed with being persistently hecked by one woman though who he eventually told to “shut up”.
Ever the punk rebels, Jobson announced “the organisers want us off the stage… our times up…….but fuck it…. we want to play some more songs!” before playing Masquarade – where they pulled a young fan up onto the stage to pogo with them – then rousing set finisher Into The Valley.
Time to catch Serafyn – a five-piece folk-pop band with soulful vocals surrounded by instruments including cello and guitar – with a dream-like soft captivating sound which was enhanced by the darkness of the night contrasting with the multi-coloured lights on their bandstand. They were sited on a quiet part of the site but were a joy to watch for the small crowd who gathered in the mud to watch them.
On the Jabberwocky stage Sister Sledge provided a masterclass in glittering soulful disco. Despite the sound problems on some of the vocals it was a blissfully uplifting set including He’s The Greatest Dancer, Frankie, Lost In Music, Chic – Le Freak, a cover of The Isley Brother’s ‘Shout’ and feel good, hands in the air We Are Family.
Mid-afternoon on Sunday the heavens opened and rain showers peppered throughout the day. We pitched up at the Jabberwocky Bar which gave us a great vantage point for the main stage and allowed the kids to stay dry.
One True Pairing, the new music project for former Wild Beasts frontman Tom Fleming drew a small crowd who congregated on deck chairs huddled around the front of the stage as the rain lashed down.
Next up were prolific pioneering space prog rockers Hawkwind – who have been around for 50 years – featuring original lead guitarist Dave Brock who is now in his late 70s. With bands as diverse as the Pistols, Primal Scream, Monster Magnet and Ty Seagall covering their tunes and/or citing the band as an influence, they definitely brought a dedicated fan base who gave them a warm welcome.
My six- year old has good taste…she loved watching female trio Shonen Knife – the ground breaking Japanese pop punk band – with their joyful sound and quirky lyrics who we caught before Kathryn Joseph, winner of Scottish Album of the Year 2015 with her debut album Bones You Have Thrown Me and Blood I’ve Spilled. She was a delight on the main stage bathed in pink and purple rays of light.
“Sorry to all the kids in the crowd about all the fucks in this song – and that includes my daughter” she apologised. Joseph’s music keeps you enthralled in a trance like state where it draws you in and manages to be both powerful and delicate in equal measure. Pared back to her vocal and piano she struck an enigmatic presence and comparisons could be drawn with similar acts such as Tori Amos.
Free Love – Scottish duo Suzanne Rodden and Lewis Cook (formerly known as Happy Meal) – were a delight on the senses in the Baino tent with their dreamy sensual electric dance pop. Barefoot Suzanne moved across the stage with dancers dressed like Greek gods statues silently adorning the stage before moving into the crowd waving large flags.
All that was missing from festival closers The Wailers was some sunshine to enhance the reggae sounds, but it didn’t deter the crowd from loving the set and revellers danced around blissfully to the band’s beats. Strangers hugged and high fived channelling the warmth and love of the sound of the band unleashing uninhibited dancing and gyrating from young and old as they sought to capture some of the Bob Marley spirit in a drizzly field in Scotland.
This was our first visit to this festival but it won’t be or last – the kids loved the music, the freedom, the food, the people watching, the activities and the atmosphere – and happy kids meant we could relax and enjoy the whole event.
Our 9 year old said he particularly enjoyed the “Rastamouse band” – a reference which only those with kids old enough to have watched Cbeebies will understand (I am betting The Wailers have never had that reference before).
Just like Alice In Wonderland, Doune The Rabbit Hole is mad in all the best, fun bonkers ways…but I will tell you a secret… all the best festivals are.
Mixtape Mum 