THE Wickerman Festival is to continue for the foreseeable future in honour of the co-founder and site landowner Jamie Gilroy who died last year.
And organisers have confirmed the headliners for the first festival since his passing will be singer songwriter Tom Odell and folk rockers The Waterboys.
Mr Gilroy's daughter has admitted that during discussions with mother Patsy, a Conservative councillor, there were questions over whether the event, renowned for its traditional burning of a huge wicker man effigy, could continue.
Some fans speculated on whether the festival based in Dumfries and Galloway would go ahead this year after the 66-year-old Wickerman director was found dead at his East Kirkcarswell Farm at Dundrennan in December last year with serious head injuries, believed to have been caused by a firearm. Police said the incident was not suspicious.
The two-day award winning Wickerman Festival, inspired by the cult 1970s film of the same name, has been held at Mr Gilroy's farm 25 miles south west of Dumfries since 2002 when the counter-culture music bash attracted less than 2000 people. It now caters for six times that number. This year's festival will be on July 24 and 25.
Mr Gilroy's daughter Jenny Camm, the festival director, said she is determined to continue her father's work.
She said: "Following Dad's death we looked long and hard at the future of the festival and whether or not we could, or should, continue running Wickerman without him.
"Having had such huge support from not only the Wickerman team, but also from the many loyal festival goers, Mum and I decided to continue.
"Dad was extremely proud of how Wickerman has grown from a small grass roots event into a real staple and much loved festival on the Scottish circuit.
"As a tribute to dad and to continue his legacy, we will continue to host Wickerman for future generations to enjoy and we're really looking forward to welcoming fans to the farm this summer."
Grainne Braithwaite, founder of Synergy Concerts added: "Wickerman has built its reputation as a festival which offers a truly eclectic line-up and for this reason we are thrilled to be joining the team. Our aim this year is to book the best emerging and established artists to make Wickerman the must attend for music lovers. We are really looking forward to announcing a diverse line-up of brilliant acts over the coming months."
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