2 - 4 Sep 2022
About
Our second and final Dandelion Festival takes place in Inverness’s Northern Meeting Park on 2–4 September – a three-day spectacular of live music, performances, talks, workshops and food that’s open to everyone and completely free.
Download the Schedule for Friday, Saturday and Sunday here.
There’ll be…
• Live music across two stages – including the Pavilion of Perpetual Light, a spectacular 10-metre vertical farm and concert platform made from dozens of Cubes of Perpetual Light.
• Featuring Del Amitri, King Creosote, Tank and the Bangas, Spell Songs, Dallahan, Sona Jobarteh, Kefaya & Elaha Soroor, Nati Dreddd, Dreamers’ Circus, Hannah Rarity, Siobhan Miller, The Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton Trio, Hamish Napier, Cala, Scott Matthews and Acibreira.
• Plus talks by leading scientists, chefs, artists, activists and others on such urgent issues as sustainability, climate action and food poverty
• Inspiring workshops, discussions and other hands-on activities hosted by charities, campaign groups and community organisations in our intimate Dandelion Potting Sheds
• Interactive, inclusive and inspiring activities for children of all ages
• The chance to get up close with our Cubes of Perpetual Light
• Food and drink, locally sourced from ethical and sustainably minded producers and vendors
Find the full details for each day below.
What's On
Dandelion Festival Inverness
Live Music
Live music across two stages – including the Pavilion of Perpetual Light, a spectacular 10-metre vertical farm and concert platform made from dozens of Cubes of Perpetual Light.
Live Music
Artists include Del Amitri, King Creosote, Tank and the Bangas, Spell Songs, Dallahan, Sona Jobarteh, Kefaya & Elaha Soroor, Nati Dreddd, Dreamers’ Circus, Hannah Rarity, Siobhan Miller, The Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton Trio, Hamish Napier, Cala, Scott Matthews and Acibreira.
Artist information further down this page.
Talks and Events
We will have a wide programme of talks and events by leading scientists, chefs, artists, activists and others on such urgent issues as sustainability, climate action and food poverty. Sparking conversations and brining varied viewpoints on a whole range of conversations. Find talks programme on event pages.
The line-up for our talks programme includes the The Lost Words collective, former Welsh environment minister Jane Davidson, writer and GP Gavin Francis, poet Jen Hadfield, artist Simone Kenyon, and author Patrick Laurie. Find the full details on the event pages.
Food and drink
You will be sure to eat well at Dandelion Festival Inverness. With a number of vendors and producers who create delicious locally sourced, ethical and sustainable dishes. These will include Scottish Street Food Trader of the Year 2022 finalists, Lemon Squeezy, the original Oak & Grain pizza, Hector & Harriet for all those with a sweet tooth, Papa’s Loaded Fries and how could we not have Asher’s Ice Cream. In addition to a bar with local craft beers, wines and spirits. Come share in our celebration.
Traders
Lemon Squeezy
Lemon Squeezy will serve up fresh global flavours with local ingredients, with an ever-changing menu focused on citrus, spice, and umami. Come try our rice bowls, gyozas and more.
Oak & Grain
Ullapool’s Oak & Grain offer authentic Neapolitan woodfired pizza, using delicious, local ingredients.
Papa’s Loaded Fries
Papa’s Loaded Fries is a family-run business offering a variety of seasoned fries with tasty toppings and sauces loaded on.
Asher’s Ice Cream
Asher’s Ice Cream offer locally sourced, high-quality products including bespoke dairy ice cream, sorbets, and fruit coolers.
Hector & Harriet
Hector & Harriet will be bringing their finest craft coffee, crepes, churros, and iced drinks to keep you going through the day.
Potting Sheds
Visit our Potting Sheds dotted around the site to discover some of the amazing community organisations, artists and growers who will all have hands on activities for the whole family and information prompting discussion.
Nursery
A place for our smallest growers to explore, play and learn.
Theatre & Performance
A variety of spontaneous street performances and theatres will entertain you throughout the festival! You never know what you may see, so keep a watchful eye and hold on to your hats!
School's Day
Our Festival in Inverness starts with a programme aimed exclusively at young people. Inspiring them, empowering them and giving them the opportunity to ask the questions that matter to the next generation. If your school or youth group wants to get involved sign up by emailing [email protected]
Your Questions
Venue Information
Travel
If you are travelling on foot to Dandelion Festival Inverness, we have been informed that the Infirmary Footbridge will be closed for the entirety of the festival. If you were planning to use this bridge on your journey, we advise you to please take alternative routes to join us at Northern Meeting Park.
By train:
The shortest travel time from Glasgow Queen Street is just over 3hours. The shortest travel time from Edinburgh Waverley is 3hrs 20mins.
The nearest train station to the Park is Inverness Station. The station is a 15 minute walk (0.8miles) to Ardross Street.. The entrance adjacent to Eden Court Theatre is a 17 minute walk (0.9 miles). Both routes are paved and mostly flat.
By bus: The nearest bus station is Stagecoach Inverness Bus Station. The station is a 13 minute walk (0.6miles) to Ardross Street. The entrance adjacent to Eden Court Theatre is a 14 minute walk (0.7 miles). Both routes are paved and mostly flat.
The No 919 bus (to Fort William) leaves the Bus station from Bus stance 1 every 4 minutes. Travel 2 stops to Planefield Road and it is then a 3 minute (0.2 mile) walk to the Ardross Street entrances.
Before travelling, remember to double-check all travel arrangements and for the most up to date information check out your journey on the day on www.travelinescotland.com
By taxi: Inverness Taxis: 01463 22 22 22 / Capital Taxis: 01463 80 80 80 / Inverness City Taxis: 01463 22 25 55
Access
There are three entrances to the Festival:
Two entrances on Ardross Street;
One entrance adjacent to Eden Court Car Park.
These entrance points will be stewarded. All stewards will be wearing hi vis vests and have been trained to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults.
The Pick Up and Drop Off point for disabled visitors is on Ardross Street.
There is step free access into the Park from all entrances. Access to the Festival site is level and paved. Most of the paths in the Park are asphalt and smooth. Grass areas will have track access for those with restricted mobility, wheelchair or walking aid users.
The programme of Talks will be held in the Hothouse Tent (a stretch tent) immediately adjacent to Eden Court Theatre. Access to the tent is step free, level and paved.
The Festival is suitable for those with additional sensory needs. Music on the Dandelion Stage and Pavilion Stages will be amplified. The stages will be lit but flashing or strobe lighting will not be used.
There is one Information Point: at the Main Gate at Ardross Street.
BSL interpretation will be provided for the Talks programme and there will be ‘roving’ BSL interpreters throughout the Festival.
There is a viewing platform for disabled visitors - it is possible to pre-book a space before your arrival on site. Please contact Caroline Thompson - [email protected]
Well behaved dogs are welcome and fresh drinking water will be provided in the Food and Drink Area.
Parking
All disabled parking pay & display bays for blue badge holders are free of charge and have no time restriction. Anyone displaying a valid blue badge may park in a ‘limited waiting’ bay without time restriction.
For all other visitors, there is a pay and display car park at Eden Court Theatre/Cathedral. The car park is 400 yeards from the entrance to the Festival site.
Toilets
There are Accessible and Gender Neutral Toilets on site. These are located inside the Park on the wall closest to the Cathedral.
Northern Meeting Park
14 Ardross StreetInverness
IV3 5NS
- Disabled Toilets
- Facilities for Assistance Dogs
- Sign language interpretation
- Viewing Platform
Line up
Del Amitri
Del Amitri are back – and we’re thrilled that one of Scotland’s best-loved bands are joining us to headline our free Festival in Inverness. Fatal Mistakes is the band’s first album in nearly 20 years, but it’s a perfect fit with their peerless back catalogue. Expect a mix of new tracks and old favourites from Justin Currie and pals at this extra-special show.
King Creosote
Fiercely independent, insanely prolific and entirely unique, Fife’s Kenny Anderson – aka King Creosote – is a true one-of-a-kind. With 40-plus albums under his belt, many released on his own Fence label, it’s impossible to guess what’ll be on his set list – but you won’t want to miss this predictably unpredictable singer when he steps under our Festival spotlight.
Tank and the Bangas
The effervescent Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball is bringing her brilliant Bangas across the pond for their first ever Scottish show. The Grammy-nominated group fuse pop, R&B, hip hop, soul, jazz and more into a glorious New Orleans gumbo that’s impossible to categorise – and impossible to resist.
Spell Songs
Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux sing nature back to life through the power of poetry, art and magic. Blending music from across the traditions, recent album Spell Songs II: Let the Light In is a gorgeous homage to the world where we live – and a reminder for us to take good care of it forever.
Dallahan
The glorious music made by singer-guitarist Jack Badcock, accordionist Andrew Waite, fiddler Benedict Morris and all-round strings whizz Ciaran Ryan is a virtual world’s tour, from the Americas and the Balkans to the pubs and sessions of Ireland and Scotland. Old favourites will rub shoulders with new material at this special Dandelion set.
Kefaya + Elaha Soroor
Kefaya made their name as a United Nations of sound with their Songlines Award-winning debut Radio International – and now the world music pioneers have connected with Afghan-Hazara singer Elaha Soroor for Songs of Our Mothers, a spectacular reinvention of Afghan folk music filtered through everything from Indo-jazz to electronica. Unique and unmissable.
Sona Jobarteh
Sona Jobarteh is a Gambian singer and master of the kora, the 21-stringed African harp – the first female kora virtuoso in the centuries-old African griot tradition, a unique blend of music, storytelling and oral history. Marrying her cultural heritage with grooves drawn straight from the 21st century, she’s a world music superstar in the making – not to be missed.
Nati Dreddd
She’s found fame, followers and millions of views in recent months through TikTok – but this summer, Dandelion is thrilled to be bringing singer Nati Dreddd off your screens and on to our stage in Inverness for a special set. Expect songs and tunes from the Scottish tradition, sung with tremendous charm.
Dreamers' Circus
As heard on recent album Blue White Gold, Danish–Swedish trio Dreamers’ Circus take the tradition to new, unexpected and soaringly beautiful places – marrying folk instruments to classical influences and jazz inflections to create a sound that’s absolutely all their own. Roll up! Roll up! Come and join the Circus…
Hannah Rarity
Hannah Rarity is a former BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year with a sublime voice. Drawing comparisons to the likes of Eva Cassidy and Cara Dillon, she’s sung with the likes of Cherish the Ladies, Blazin’ Fiddles, Niteworks and RURA – and here, she’ll be singing from new album To Have You Near, released in June 2022.
Siobhan Miller
Siobhan Miller’s captivating reinvention of Scottish traditional song has won her huge acclaim and a mantelpiece packed with prizes – a trio of BBC Alba Scots Singer of the Year awards, plus the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Traditional Track. Her fifth album is due later this year – and we might get a sneak preview at this one-off Dandelion Festival set.
Hamish Napier
The Woods marks the midpoint of Hamish Napier’s 10-year journey to create Strathspey Pentology – five albums of new music inspired by his homeland. This hauntingly gorgeous album is inspired by the ambitious Cairngorms Connect habitat enhancement partnership – and to perform tracks from it, Hamish is joined here by Jarlath Henderson, Innes Watson and other leading lights in Scottish folk.
Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton Trio
Two of Scotland’s finest come together for a set of tunes with deep roots in the Scottish tradition – but leaves and branches in the right here, right now. Switching between pipes and whistles, Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton are joined by brilliant guitarist Jenn Butterworth to perform tracks from hugely acclaimed albums Symbiosis I, II and III.
Scott Matthews
All the way from the Black Country Delta, Scott Matthews blends blues, folk and the finest singer-songwriter traditions into a sound with echoes of Nick Drake and John Martyn – and a character all its own. Fresh off a tour with Robert Plant, he’ll be mixing tracks from recent album New Skin with cuts from a back catalogue that grows more impressive with every year.
Pàdruig Morrison
Accordionist Pàdruig Morrison was brought up surrounded by the culture, the music and the language of the Gaels. After bedding in the first Cube of Perpetual Light on the remote Hebridean island of Heisgeir, where his grandparents set up a pioneering experiment in sustainable living, Pàdruig’s now making new music to help them grow.
Goitse
Multi-award-winning quintet Goitse (Gaelic slang for “come here” pronounced Go-wit-cha) join us in Inverness. Leaders of the new generation of traditional Irish ensembles they combine their own compositions with traditional tunes from rural Ireland and beyond, making every performance unique.
“Music that’s brimming with energy and creative zeal.”
Irish Music Magazine
Cala
Hometown heroes Cala have been making waves since their debut single Causeway two years ago. Following a string of well-received sets at the likes of The Gathering and Belladrum, the sparkling six-piece are set to take it up a gear with the release later this year of their debut album, a box-fresh take on Scottish trad. Hear it here first!
Acibreira
It’s a brave band that brings bagpipes to Scotland, but Acibreira are true masters of their own tradition. The pipes they play are gaitas from Galicia in northern Spain, the land that this fabulous five-piece call home – and the sound they make with them is an absolute blast, a full-on jolt to the senses that’s sure to get the party started.