Woodzstock organisers ‘immensely proud’ as final festival comes to an end
ORGANISERS of the final rendition of the Black Isle’s Woodzstock music festival say they are “immensely proud” of what they have achieved over nine years with “a lot of heart, teamwork and love for live music”.
Held annually at Wildwoods near Munlochy, the one-day festival had its final installation on Saturday, June 14.
Organisers of the festival cited hefty financial and logistical demands, as well as increasing work and family commitments, as what pushed them to bring the much-loved festival to a close.
Despite the bittersweet ending, a great day was had by many for the final Woodzstock, with a line-up consisting of the likes of: Utah Saints, Calum Jones, John B’s Daughter and Bad Actress.
One of the festival-goers, Craig McLean said: “It was another great day out at Woodzstock, and I'm gutted to hear that it was the last one.
“I went for the first time last year which was also a brilliant day out, and it was nice to speak to so many people again this year that we had seen at last year's event.
“It had a real vibe of having a little festival family, with people of all ages just having a fun day out and listening to a wide variety of music. Utah Saints were the highlight for me. Similar to last year when Altern-8 headlined, the set was filled with many classic dance hits from the 1990s which is easily my favourite era of dance and electronic music.
“The weather didn't deter anyone either later on in the day and I think dancing about in the rain almost added to the fun, it isn't a music festival in Scotland without a bit of rain, right?
“Although Woodzstock is now finished, I hope that Ross-shire can keep a similar presence and that another festival can pop up. It’s great to have Black Isle Calling now, but losing Woodzstock and Loopallu over the last decade has been a shame to see as its great to see opportunities for local acts and bigger names to be showcased in the area.”
A spokesperson for one of the festival’s charity partners, Highland Hospital Radio (HHR) said: "We were delighted to be a part of Woodzstock for its final year and are very grateful to have been one of their charity partners.
“The festival has always promoted an eclectic mix of local music, and we thank the team for allowing us to speak with some amazing artists for the 'Saturday Drop In' show with Tom and Shannon, who were live during the day.
“We offer our biggest thanks to the organisers and best of luck with their future endeavours."
A spokesperson for Woodzstock said: “Woodzstock was never about making money — it was about creating something joyful and inclusive. We wanted to throw a great party in a stunning woodland setting and provide a platform for the huge range of musical talent we have here in the Highlands.
“Our goal was always to offer ‘something for everyone’, and over the years our stages have welcomed artists from every imaginable genre.
“Running a festival isn’t easy — particularly a small, independent one. The financial and logistical demands are significant, and they’ve only increased in recent years. Despite our best efforts, we weren’t able to access funding or public support, which has made things more challenging.
“It’s our hope that in future, organisations involved in arts and cultural funding — both locally and nationally — will better recognise the value of diverse, grassroots events like Woodzstock, especially those based outside of city centres.
“That said, we don’t want this to feel like a complaint. Woodzstock has been an incredible experience — for us, for the artists, and for everyone who came through the gates over the years. We’re immensely proud of what we achieved with no outside funding, just a lot of heart, teamwork, and love for live music. Watch this space however, there may be scope for us to host one-off smaller events in the future, that are perhaps less financially intensive.”
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