Linkylea Festival

5^th– 6^th September 2014

Coulston Estate

East Lothian

 

Linkylea Festival celebrated its tenth birthday with a sublime splash to smash the serene continuity of the boutique Scottish festival scene, taking a distinctly different edge from the current offerings of fine Scottish music festivals. This one displays a stylish cut above in every slice possible of festival pie – and the music offerings were of no exception. Its all in a good cause too – all the money raised (this year £12,000) goes toward helping the good kids of Gwalior, India, have better lives; from supporting local orphanges to creating hit-tech computer rooms for the schools. Being there is also a great pleasure, for the festival is set in the gorgeous grounds of the Coulston Estate.

THE SARITA STAGE

The main stage was set in an epic marquee, decorated & lit wonderfully with a suitable Indian-style banner above the stage. The Running for the weekend was;

Friday

Bombskare
Hector Bizerk
Caravan Club
Man of Moon
Logan’s Close

Saturday 

Young Fathers
Numbers are Futile
Law
Kabaret Bastardo
Ded Rabbit
Seabass Kid
Skyaman
Redolent
Freddie Stevenson
Sleep Sound
Lethalise
Kae-Lei and The Krew

Nobody at the time knew that this year’s headline act, Young Fathers, would go on to win the Mercury Music Prize a couple of months later, especially The Mumble’s Teri Welsh, who wrote this prophetic review;

Young Fathers, a quintet, comprising a freaky, androgynous (but beautifully strange) alien girl, a manic powerhouse  drummer – and three intense, beat-masters – throw out a maddening, jaw-dropping but strangely intoxicating, psychedelic fusion of Afro-Scottish electro, hip hop and substation beatz.

 

I was completely blown away. The energy was like nothing I have ever witnessed before – building and rolling and building again, to intense supernatural levels, passion and energy oozing out every loudspeaker orifice. I was lifted to a new high as I travelled their musical journey and rode the crests of their punchy surreal lyrics, sweet harmonies and intoxicating insanity. The energy was raw and real. This has to be witnessed. 

Leftfield meets Adam F with a cheeky dash of Massive Attack. Surreal, powerful genius. These guys will be massive in the next few years or I will eat a furry hat.

 Other offerings on the main stage this year were the pimp-ass, hip-hop supergrooves of Hector Bizerk, & of course Bombskare, who played at the first Linkylea a whole decade ago, & have done so much to help raise funds for India.

THE GRANNY RADGE TENT

Linkylea second stage – the Granny Radge Tent – was ran by Dunbar’s own musical whirlwind, the ever irrepressible & indestructable Granny ‘Romy’ Radge, showing the cream of East Lothian’s music scene.

The Grany Radge Tent also the scene of The Mumble’s inaugaral  ‘Best Fall of the Fest’ competion… Ladies & Gentlemen, this year’s winner…. Al Roberts

With great camping, a wicked dance tent & a wee outdoor stage, plus stalls, food tents & bars, Linkeylea was a wicked weekend. At only £40 for the whole weekend this year, it was the best value for entertainment  in Scotland, if not Britain, & clearly with its fingers on the pulse having that year’s Mercury Award Winners on stage… before they won it!

And all the money goes to a good cause…