Wickerman Festival @ Zelda's World: Punk & Stuff

Wickerman Festival Saturday 20th July 2002 East Kirkcarswell Farm, nr Kirkcudbright

We arrive around 12pm on the second day of the Wickerman Festival and have a wander round the site. There's the main stage, the scooter tent, talent stage, dance tent and various other tents and stalls with different things happening, but we're not yet sure what. There's no one currently playing on the main stage so we try the scooter tent where there's a band that seem to have cornered the market on songs with the lyrics "Fuck You!" and "I hate you! Fuck You!". After another wander round the site we find the running order for the main stage and the sun actually comes out; sending me, with my pasty complexion and sun allergy, into the nearest tent.

In the scooter tent The Peoples Alibi have just taken to the stage and begin with the usual instrumental followed by 'Authority'. They seem to be enjoying the festival themselves and are raving about seeing the UK Subs last night, a band who they "have grown up listening to" and they also thank the organisers for letting them play. Obviously remaining polite in spite of the old school punk attitude that definitely influences their sound. This also helps them stand out from the crowd, as most other young bands seem to be influenced by the more recent and much poppier punk sound, but they still have catchy songs and choruses to sing along to, just with a bit more attitude. A few songs in and there's a slight delay as drummer Dave decides he may actually need that other drum after all. During the epic 'Everyday' their wishes come true, as there's a timely downpour and more people arrive in the tent, some even dancing around with their beer cans during the lively 'New Militia'. Tommy dedicates the next song to all of us in the tent who have stayed to watch them; it is 'Pretty Thing'. They finish off with the excellent 'Reason 2 Believe' and 'No Explanation' with its clap-along break and defiant lyrics. The rest of the day is a mix of brief blasts of sunshine and incredibly heavy showers, but they don't last too long and no one seems to mind that much, just sheltering inside a tent, usually the beer tent, in the midst of such a downpour. Although some people don't mind a bit of rain and we even witness four guys, stripped to the waist, enjoying the mud that has appeared in the mosh pit area of the main stage. The expanse of the site ensures that it never feels overcrowded and even when we do cross paths with other people they all seem very friendly and enquire on how our 'Wickerman Weekend' is going. There's a bit of a mixed crowd, older punks, young moshers, local families and the usual festival types and all seem to be enjoying the good atmosphere and variety of bands. Although maybe a few bigger names, or not having it on the same weekend as the 'Holidays In The Sun' punk festival would have ensured a bigger turnout. As the daylight starts to disappear, though thankfully with no more rain, it's announced that Stiff Little Fingers will be on next.

Once the biggest audience of the day have gathered, waiting patiently as it takes ages to get them set up, Stiff Little Fingers finally arrive on the main stage. The pit erupts in a fury of pointing fingers and pumping fists as they launch into 'Suspect Device', which is immediately followed by 'Tin Soldiers'. The songs are interspersed with lighthearted chat about the current state of pop music as well as the more serious issues of Americans bankrolling terrorist groups in Ireland and how "ignorance kills Irishmen". The crowd is made up of what surely must be original SLF fans right down to mere kids. In particular there's a boy of around ten with a mohican who knows all the words and a 'Tots TV' fan who enjoys the show from a parent's shoulders complete with little fist raised aloft. They play some newer songs too, for the generation spanning crowd, and one that will be on the next album entitled 'Still Burning'. Unfortunately before the end of their set, it's time for us to head home; as we set out across the site they play a reworked version of Bob Marley's 'Johnny Was'.
Zelda
Wickerman Festival website The Peoples Alibi website Stiff Little Fingers website