Electric Fields 2017 | Inverness Gigs

We take a look at what’s on offer at Electric Fields at Drumlanrig Castle

The Highland festival season has shaped up nicely so far, in and around Inverness we’re a bit spoilt for choice this summer with Northern Roots, Belladrum and Groove Loch Ness all bringing a huge variety of acts and big names on the bill. But if you’re looking to round up the festival season by travelling a wee bit further a field: Electric Fields might just be the perfect finale for you.

Set at the stunning Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries & Galloway and taking place on the 1st and 2nd of September, Electric Fields has received some pretty awesome praise from the press in previous years. The Times included them in their top 50 summer festivals and Tenement TV described them, as ‘everything a festival should be.’ Quite the compliment! The festival certainly has something for everyone and has made a real effort to be family friendly. Whether you’re just a child at heart or you’re taking your wee ones along, there’s lots of entertainment including storytelling, magic shows and face painting.

The line up for this year’s festival is definitely deserving of the high praise. There’s something for everyone here with some of the most exciting acts in Scotland included on the bill, as well as a range of talented artists from further afield. Scottish indie favourites Frightened Rabbit and hugely popular grime artist Dizzee Rascal will headline the two day festival.

Frightened Rabbit are frequent visitors to the Highlands and in the past have gone down a storm at with both Belladrum and Ironworks crowds. Their albums have gathered something of a cult following all over Scotland and overseas but this is actually the band’s first headline slot here in their home country! All signs point towards a high energy and deeply enjoyable night with frabbit.

Dizzee Rascal returns to Dumfries and Galloway for a second time after headlining the sadly deceased Wickerman festival in summer 2014 where he went down an absolute storm. The London born rapper has this week announced a UK headline tour kicking off in October so if you fancy catching him ahead of the crowds, Electric Fields is the place to be.

The line up is chocked full of fantastic bands, too numerous to mention. Kate Tempest is a name that particularly stands out for me as I’ve been desperate to catch her live since I first her debut mercury nominated album Everybody Down in 2014. Tempest’s work deals with the gritty hard truths of every day life but also explores bigger more pressing themes with pure, raw emotion. Her unique mix of spoken word and hip hop has left many an audience and critic spell bound as she has risen to fame and I expect she’ll be a highlight for many people attending in September.

If spoken word is something that particularly appeals to you, you will be thrilled by what’s on offer at the festival’s Neu! Reekie! Stage. Neu! Reekie! Formed in 2010 Neu! Reekie! is a creative collective with a predominant hub in Edinburgh. They have put together a fantastic range of spoken word and poetry acts to take Electric Fields by storm. Their line up includes the current Scottish makar Jackie Kay and previous makar Liz Lochead as well as other brilliant names such as Hollie McNish and Alan Bissett. Frightened Rabbit’s lead singer Scott Hutchison will also be treating us to a rare and special solo performance.

As well as Neu! Reekie! The festival has borrowed one of my other favourite things about the city of Edinburgh: The Pitt Street Food Market. Running regularly on weekends since 2015, The Pitt brings together some of the best and most unusual street food vendors from across Scotland. They’ve announced on their website which vendors will be attending Electric Fields this year and I’m equally excited about the prospect of a van specifically serving Crème Brulee as I am about a weekend filled with fantastic music.

To find out about any of the amazing food vendors or equally importantly, to discover more about the line up and tickets: . The tickets are currently on their third release and last release is expected to begin soon!