The weird and the wonderful returned to Dumfriesshire at the weekend when the eclectic Eden Festival came out of its pandemic slumber.
Party-goers from across the UK flocked to Raehill Meadows near Johnstonebridge to enjoy 250 acts across 10 stages with most of them finally getting to use the tickets they had bought for the 2020 event which, like last year, had to be cancelled because of Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns.
With the wait finally over, and the chance to enjoy everything Eden has to offer – including its own eco permaculture garden and iconic 20ft willow sculpture at its heart – they made sure they enjoyed it all.
Despite Coolio having to pull out of performing “due to unforeseen personal reasons” there was something for all tastes from world to funk, classical to jungle, indie to acoustic, dancehall to folk, and everything in between.
Brit and Ivor Novello-winning Oxford “Alright” rockers, Supergrass, brought three decades of top tunes to Eden as the festival headliners and rave reviews have come for the likes of Basement Jaxx DJ Set, Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club, Bombskare, Onipa, Pictish Trail and Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5.
It was also a chance for local performers, including Dumfries Choir, to take to the stages.
Crowd-pleasers like the lost disco, the drive-in cinema, and the explosion of powder paint, were back, along with plenty of food and drink stalls, comedy, cabaret and workshops, as well as a feast of performers, artworks, games and much more.
Hailed as family-friendly “boutique” festival, there was plenty to keep the kids happy from the Eden helter skelter to the woodland area.
The usual colourful collection of amazing clothing and costumes also made a welcome return on both performers and festival
goers.
This year came with the challenge of asking revellers to get their “lightbulbs and fringing at the ready” with a 2022 theme of the Year of Lampshades.
And they didn’t disappoint with many sporting this illuminating headgear which culminated in a grand gathering for all lamps on Saturday night.
Well, you heard it here first.
