is the garden sessions going to be at knockengorroch's hairth festival this year?  i hear it's changed a bit (i don't really understand what's changed though).

whilst i'm on the subject, is anyone else going to knockengorroch in september?

we will indeed be there, i'm not 100% sure what the changes are - it's called the doun hame hairth - and it's a bit smaller than normal i think.  check their website for more info:  http://www.knockengorroch.org.uk (i think that's getting a facelift soon too).

I haven't been to knockengorroch for a couple of years to am very much looking forward to this year's festival.  What aspects are people most excited about? Bands, the longhouse etc?

the longhouse, great as the main stage is, it can get a wee bit world

I will be once again moving into the longhouse for 5 days to ensure a fine selection of folky performances!  I expect to see you all there for the late night sessions!!

The festival isn't too different from previous years, initially it was going to be very small but they've changed the plan.  the first two days (Wednesday and Thursday) will be fairly low key with sessions in the bar and long house. The main stage kicks off on Friday night!

so hang on, was it all just hype? i thought you wouldn't be able to get tickets at all unless you were a "friend of the longhouse", and that the festival would be radically different.  also - did i imagine it or was their talk of a covered audience area for the main stage?

not that i'm complaining, i thought the hairth was fine already.

From my understanding they had initially planned on having only 500 people (or 499 rather) so they could do away with many of the logistical elements of the festival and have it as more of a "big party in my garden" as Simon put it.  However demand was so high they had to change this plan and decided to go ahead with the big festival, the difference this year being that you are welcomed in to the valley on the Wednesday to enjoy the landscape and the more intimate venues such as the longhouse for a few days before the main stage begins.

Whatever way you look at it it's still a big party in Simon's garden :)

As for a covered audience area . . . it took them 10 festivals to build the stage, let's just wait and see . . .

I think that a covered area for the main stage would detract from the outdoor ethos of the festival and make it more corporate.  Leave Knockengorroch as it is!!!

Knockengorroch seems to be pretty close to where I'm working just now, so I think I might head up for it. Will folk just be camping?