A SCOTTISH music and cultural festival is to be revived two years after a union boycott led to its demise.
Doune the Rabbit Hole, which was previously organised by former diplomat Craig Murray, is being taken over by recording and touring artist Brian Harkin and Preston-based booking agency Rock Artist Management.
The event ended in controversy last year when it emerged that the Perthshire festival owed hundreds of thousands of pounds to performers and staff who worked there in 2022,
The Bectu trade union, which represented artists and crews, called for a boycott of the event as the row over payments developed. Ultimately, Doune the Rabbit Hole was cancelled for the "foreseeable future" with managers accusing the trade union of running a "campaign of misinformation" leading to a fall in ticket sales.
They promise "renewed energy and careful organisation" with aims to restore the "high regard in which it was held by audiences before the challenges of 2023".
Harkin said the team is "absolutely buzzing" for the freshly renamed Back Doune the Rabbit Hole festival to return in 2025.
READ MORE: Doune the Rabbit Hole: What my first festival was like as a person with a disability
“As the team appointed to manage this much-loved music festival, we are privileged to be able to bring it back for audiences to enjoy," he said.
“Doune the Rabbit Hole has always been known for its unique atmosphere and diverse line-up, and we are thrilled to be able to uphold its traditions to ensure we produce a festival that is inclusive and family friendly, providing an unforgettable experience for festival goers of all ages.
“With a refreshed vision and a commitment to delivering the best festival experience yet, we can’t wait to welcome everyone back next August to relive the magic with Back Doune the Rabbit Hole.”
Back Doune the Rabbit Hole will run from August 1-3, 2025 at the Cardross Estate.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here