Doune the Rabbit Hole 2022: Ten acts to catch

When Doune the Rabbit Hole put their main announcement out earlier this week, social media lit up in disbelief at the calibre of acts they’re set to bring to Stirlingshire’s Cardross Estate this summer. The name Patti Smith in particular was somewhat of a shock and not at all who we were expecting to find in a field in the Port of Menteith in 2022; Smith is set to headline the opening night of the festival’s grand return on 14 July, while big hitters like Belle and Sebastian and Orbital can also be found high up the bill. We pick out ten further highlights from the stacked lineup which quite literally has something for everyone.

Boney M

Yes, the makers of hits such as Daddy Cool and Rasputin, Boney M will be bringing some much needed musical vitamin D to Scotland this July. Following a revival of Rasputin in 2021, thanks in part to TikTok, we’re delighted at the thought of seeing these legends in action on the Baino stage on Sunday. Disco moves at the ready! 

Camera Obscura

It’s been a turbulent few years for Scottish indie-pop darlings Camera Obscura. Following the passing of longtime friend and bandmate Carey Lander in 2015, a string of dates were cancelled and the future of the band remained unknown. In 2019 they returned for Belle and Sebastian’s Boaty Weekender and have just been announced for the Saturday of Doune where they'll play the Jabberwocky stage. Excitingly, alongside the announcement on Twitter the band even hinted at new music.

Girl Ray

With a couple of delightful albums already under their belt, 2021 brought some serious bangers for London trio Girl Ray, including the almost-eight-minute indie-disco epic Give Me Your Love, and a gleaming cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder On the Dancefloor, which we're hoping they whip out on Sunday at Doune. Find them on the Jabberwocky stage.

Nadia Rose

London rapper Nadia Rose burst onto the scene in 2016 with the bass-driven and highly infectious cut Skwod, a tribute to the women around her who consistently supported her. Since then, she’s released two exceptional records in 2017’s Highly Flammable and 2020’s First Class, which traverse bass, grime, dancehall and more. Catch Nadia Rose ripping it up on Doune’s Jabberwocky stage on Friday night.

Porridge Radio

Brighton-formed Porridge Radio released their second album Every Bad in March 2020, just as the coronavirus pandemic was coming into sharp focus. Offering catharsis at a turbulent time via Dana Margolin’s lyricism and uniquely desperate vocal delivery, their set on Doune’s Jabberwocky stage on Friday is sure to offer the perfect early weekend release.

Snapped Ankles

London-based outfit Snapped Ankles are also set to play Doune this year. With album titles like Come Play In the Trees and Forest of Your Problems, the arty post-rock band, well known for wearing outlandish "forest folk" style costumes when they play, are rather aptly going to be playing in the Warren Dance Arena, in the actual woods(!!!), the perfect setting to see this tree-loving party band.

Stanley Odd

Scotland’s premiere hip-hop outfit Stanley Odd released one of our favourite albums of 2021, the effervescent STAY ODD. A popular choice across Scotland last year, too, as STAY ODD won the public vote in the 2021 Scottish Album of the Year Award, landing them a spot on the SAY shortlist. An incredible live band, the Odd are not to be missed on the Whistleblower stage on Sunday at Doune.

The Vegan Leather

Following on from their excellent 2019 debut album, the energetic Poor Girls / Broken Boys, Paisley party starters The Vegan Leather returned at the end of last year with excellent EP Furious, Not Ominous, offering up another supreme selection of festival-ready bangers. Catch them on the Whistleblower stage on Saturday.

Warmduscher

Following on from their raucous 2019 record Tainted Love, featuring stone cold bangers Midnight Dipper and Disco Peanuts, London-based sleaze merchants Warmduscher will be bringing their new album At the Hotspot (produced by Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard and Al Doyle, due 1 Apr) to the Baino stage at Doune – the perfect Friday night energy.

Yard Act

With a nod on the BBC Sound of 2022 list, Yard Act are easily one of the most exciting bands in the UK right now. The Leeds four-piece released the character-driven debut The Overload just last week and we can’t wait to see their vital post-punk narrative play out live on Doune’s Baino stage on Friday night; good luck in the race for a Number One album this week, lads!

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Doune the Rabbit Hole takes place at the Cardross Estate, Stirlingshire, 14-17 Jul; tickets available now at: dounetherabbithole.co.uk