What began as a boutique, village-fête-meets-indie-showcase has grown into an even richer, multi-faceted celebration of sound, community, and craft.
Following the glowing success of last year’s inaugural gathering, the Lughnasadh Festival returned to the Forgan Arts Centre with a clear sense of ambition and confidence. Co-organised by the Forgan Arts Centre and Big Rock Records, the nine-strong volunteer collective whose radical, zero-overhead DIY model is reshaping how live music feels in Newport-on-Tay, the event proved once again why this small coastal partnership punches far above its weight.
What began in 2025 as a boutique, village-fête-meets-indie-showcase has grown into an even richer, multi-faceted celebration. Set entirely across the Arts Centre’s lush gardens and grounds, woodland trails bustled from early afternoon through to dusk with straw weaving, screen-printing, and community libraries, all bound together by a lovingly expanded musical bill.
Crucial to maintaining the day’s seamless flow across the gardens were the Funky Gunners DJs, whose intuitive, genre-spanning selections kept spirits high between stage setups. They earned immediate full marks from me for dropping The Slits’ classic reggae-punk cover of I Heard It Through the Grapevine.
Live Highlights
Holy Snakes
Opening the main stage, the Orkney-formed outfit delivered an interesting, full, and mellow sound. With Dan thrashing his Stratocaster alongside a full ensemble of drums, bass, sax, and keys, their sound channelled a distinctly ’70s prog-rock undertone paired with vocals evocative of Van Morrison and John Martyn across highlights like original track I Feel Tired and the hypnotic Witchcraft.
Matt Carmichael
The tempo shifted as saxophonist Matt Carmichael took the stage with a formidable six-piece group. Blending double bass, electric guitar, violin, accordion, and drums, Carmichael delivered a masterclass in complex, syncopated rhythms and tight, practised execution. Laid-back yet musically dense, his distinctly Scottish folk-jazz crossover proved to be the ideal accompaniment to a sun-dappled afternoon in the gardens.
Emma Pollock
A true icon of Scottish independent music, former Delgados founder Emma Pollock drew a substantial crowd for a set traversing her solo history. Flanked by cello, keys, bass, and guitar, Pollock’s powerful vocals and intricate arrangements shone through. Highlights included the Americana-tinged guitar riffs of Black Magnetic, already a BBC Radio 6 Music staple, and a stripped-back, intimate rendition of 2007’s Confession. Capping off the performance, she debuted Jessica My Queen, an alluring story-song from her forthcoming album driven by piano and cello.
Pictish Trail
By early evening, Pictish Trail (Johnny Lynch) injected a surge of raw energy across the garden lawn. Fronting a versatile five-piece featuring fiddle, keys, guitar, and electronic beats, Lynch had the audience swaying and dancing from the outset. Pushing through heavy grooves, vocal distortion, and inventive pop hooks, the band brought their set to a triumphant peak, Johnny walking through the crowd covered in pink goo playing Life in Slime, the standout closer from his new album.
Hen Hoose Collective
As dusk fell, the Hen Hoose collective offered a lush, captivating showcase of collaborative talent. With an ever-rotating lineup of singers taking lead vocals, the ensemble wove together delicate harmonies and diverse arrangements, effortlessly shifting from sophisticated modern pop to ’50s Ronettes-esque girl-group dynamics. Their fantastic finale saw them joined by Emma Pollock for a full-on version of Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).
Roller Disco Death Party
Closing out the festival’s expanded lineup, Roller Disco Death Party delivered a high-octane jolt of pure energy. The synth-and-drums duo unleashed a wall of thumping beats and funk-laden electronic dance grooves, providing a thrilling, dance-heavy finish to the night.
Expanding on the warmth and spirit of its debut year, Lughnasadh 2026 proved that this small festival has big creative horizons. By focusing purely on putting brilliant artists in front of an appreciative audience, Big Rock Records and Forgan Arts Centre have created something truly special. Set within the idyllic grounds of the Arts Centre, Lughnasadh has firmly cemented itself as a crown jewel of the summer cultural calendar.
Words: Graeme White @head_in_the_bass_bin
Pics: Kevin Linnett @kevin_linnett