A few years ago our review concluded;
“The trick it appears with Jocktoberfest is that they have avoided the temptation to expand or complicate matters, the organisers know how to have a party or indeed piss-up at a brewery , and stick to it.”
Entering into it’s seventh (or is it eighth?) year, we look at what makes Jocktoberfest 2018 special.
The Beer Is Worthy Of Celebration
Given Jocktoberfest “guarantees delicious, organic craft beer”, the organisers are clearly very competent in creating the aforementioned “piss-up” in a brewery.
Previous years have seen specials such as the head blowing 7% plus volumes of Saison and Black and Tan, to the more subtle Anything Gose and Hefeweizen. The specials for 2018 are yet to be announced but if the past is to be trusted, then they will not disappoint.
The Music Is More Than Half Decent
With it’s two stages, Jocktoberfest manages to mix a range of crowd pleasing genres (Ska, Indie, Traditional etc…) with a strong local bias.
What do we think of Park Circus?
Read our review
This year some of the highlights include rising stars of the local scene Park Circus, the dark-pop charms of Mt. Doubt, hard-rockers Grace & Legend and theatre pop of Josephine Sillars and The Manic Pixie Dreams. It’s a right old mix up of styles that ensures that everyone will find something they like.
The Full Line-Up (announced);
Aka Ska
Emma and The Ragmen
Hot Rats
LILURA
BASIC NEEDS
Esperi
Busker Rhymes
Never Knowing
DJ Blair Massari
Tweed
AJ Stills
Sarah Gallagher
Grace & Legend
Mt. Doubt
Carma
Alice Brown
Davy Cowan
DJ Fernando Fandango
Park Circus
Getting Into The Mood
The Jocktoberfest audience do like a good theme, over the years there have been a few favourites such at the Western theme that saw wanted posters and an impressive amount of sheriffs floating around or the Homefront theme that seemed to go down particularly well.
For Jocktoberfest 2018 the event is going back in time – to the stone age – One Million Years BC (Before Craft). Who knows how the creative festival goers will respond?
It’s Great Value
At £35 for adults and free for children up to 13 for a day and a half of music (20 + bands) is complimented by reasonable beer (last year it was £4 a pint, fingers crossed it might stay the same) and food charges.
There is also free parking and camping (camper vans do require an additional fee). Tickets are still available, but supply is getting very limited indeed.
Jocktoberfest 2018 is held between Fri 7th Sep at 6:00pm – Sun 9th Sep at 1:00pm at the Black Isle Brewery, Munlochy.
We will be around the festival this year so keep an eye on our Facebook page and Instagram accounts.
Check out all of our coverage of Jocktoberfest over the years.
