Rediscover magic as Back Doune The Rabbit Hole returns with new owners
To mark its triumphant return to the festival circuit, the event has been dubbed Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, with the revival coming under a new and experienced management team appointed to oversee the organisation of the 2025 festival.
The event is now being led by musician and festival organiser Brian Harkin, alongside Rock Artist Management's Colin Black and Paul Aspey. Managing bookings for over 70 bands, including Bay City Rollers, Bad Manners, and Big Country, Rock Artist Management is a company run by musicians, for musicians, and currently supplies acts for festivals and venues across the UK.
Strengthening the expertise of the new management line up is a wider team of music industry leaders who have a combined experience of over 45 years in running festivals. The team has organised over 150 festivals in the last 10 years. The new team's goal is simple: take what people loved about Doune in the early days, and build something solid, imaginative and inclusive.
"We're buzzing to bring Doune the Rabbit Hole back to life," said Brian Harkin. "The response and support so far have been incredible, and we're so grateful to everyone who's placed their trust in us to carry this festival forward.
This event has always been about bringing people together through a love of music, and we've worked hard to put together a lineup that reflects that spirit. We can't wait to welcome festivalgoers back to Cardross Estate in August for a weekend that stays true to what has made the festival special, while bringing new energy to lead it into this new chapter."
The festival, which ran successfully for 10 years before taking a two-year hiatus, has long been known for its diverse programming and laid-back atmosphere. The 2025 edition promises to build on this legacy while offering a revitalised and inclusive experience for festivalgoers of all ages.
The connection between the festival and its community has always been a defining feature. Many attendees return year after year, not just for the music, but for the eclectic atmosphere that sets it apart.
Families, long-time fans, first-timers, and artists alike have spoken about the unique sense of place that Doune offers. With the 2025 edition, organisers are hoping to rebuild that same sense of trust and belonging, while opening the gates to a new generation of attendees.
Headlining the weekend are Marc Almond on Friday, The Fratellis on Saturday, and The Zutons on Sunday, delivering high-energy performances that will frame a weekend packed with diverse musical talent.
The lineup reflects the festival's commitment to celebrating a wide range of genres, featuring chart-topping pop from Scouting for Girls, feel-good anthems from The Feeling, the soulful acoustics of Newton Faulkner, and the unique tribute act Elvana. Adding to the mix are acclaimed singer-songwriter Lucy Spraggan, folk-punk favourites Ferocious Dog, and the legendary Undertones, with more than 60 acts set to perform across five distinctive stages.
Pictured: Sunday's headliner, The Zutons
Each of the five stages brings something different to the table. The Garden is the main outdoor stage and the beating heart of the festival, perfect for those sunlit headline sets and crowd singalongs. The Big Top offers a covered space with big energy from morning to night. Mad Hatters, created in collaboration with Passenger, brings the best of Scotland's electronic and club scene into the wee hours.
Burrowlands highlights alternative and emerging acts, giving new voices and experimental performances a platform. Jabbers, the newest addition, introduces comedy and spoken word, with sets hosted by Elaine Robertson and Lee Kyle and a lineup drawn from the spirit of the Edinburgh Fringe.
For families, the festival continues to be one of the most welcoming around. Wacky Warren, run by the returning Kidding Around team, is the dedicated kids' area with programming from 10am to 10pm. Children can expect a mix of imaginative and active play, from giant sandpits and train sets to craft zones, a teen space, an on-site library, and more. It's designed not only for kids to get stuck in but for grown-ups to enjoy time and space to relax too.
Food and drink have always played a big part in the festival experience, and Back Doune aims to get the balance just right. From locally sourced dishes and veggie-friendly options to late-night bites and proper coffee, there's something for every taste and budget.
The bars will be stocked with a mix of craft favourites and familiar staples, all at fair prices. Meanwhile, the new wellness and healing area will offer a slower pace for those looking to reset between sets. Expect everything from yoga sessions to creative workshops, guided meditation, and more.
Volunteer applications are open, offering a great opportunity for people to get involved behind the scenes. Volunteers contribute three shifts over the weekend and in return receive meals, access to crew camping, and all the perks of the full festival experience.
This is a great chance for anyone interested in events or looking to experience the festival from a different angle while helping make it all happen. Many volunteers return year after year, and the team welcomes both new and familiar faces.
The 2025 edition will include a range of changes designed to make the festival experience as smooth and welcoming as possible. From layout tweaks to on-site facilities, the team is working behind the scenes to create an environment that's inclusive for everyone.
For those not bringing a car, travel partners Happy Bus are offering return coach services from key Scottish cities, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Stirling, as well as a shuttle from Stirling city centre.
The festival's new management team have made it clear that this isn't just a return, it's a rebuild. The cancellation of the 2023 edition understandably shook the trust of many, but the new organisers of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole are committed to transparency and good communication.
FAQ pages on the website aim to keep everyone informed about planning and improvements, and the team has already begun reaching out to the community, inviting feedback and ideas for the future.
"This is about more than putting on a good weekend," commented Brian. "It's about rebuilding something meaningful that people feel proud to be part of. That means getting the details right, being honest about the past, and listening to what people actually want from a festival like this. We're not here to replicate what came before, we're here to honour what made it special and make it stronger for the future."
The full line-up is now live, along with the day splits. Weekend and day tickets are available now at www.backdounetherabbithole.co.uk.
Back Doune the Rabbit Hole will run from Friday to Sunday, August 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2025.
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The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
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Anyone who grew up in the 1970s will remember the Bay City Rollers, the biggest boy band of the era, Edinburgh tartan teen sensations in trademark cropped trousers and platforms, screaming girls fainting at their feet. Now Stuart 'Woody' Wood, of the classic line-up of the Seventies, recalls the band's whirlwind rise to fame when he joined aged 17, the 'Rollermania' hysteria, fall-outs, reunions and bitter court cases, in his memoir Mania. Wood, 68, won't chart the well-documented abuse he and others suffered at the hands of their powerful and dominating manager, Tam Paton, a sexual predator and bully, who died in 2009. He says in the foreword, "all the disgusting things said about him are accurate", but he wants to draw a line under it. "I moved on a long time ago and don't want that beast to be any part of things concerning my life. I don't need therapy; I have coped in my own way and have no need to spill my emotion," he writes. The current Bay City Rollers line-up (Image: free) Today, he's still gigging in a different Rollers line-up, as the only original from the classic Seventies band, and seemingly remains a glass half-full type of person, despite setbacks including the missing millions, court battles, reunions and an arduous rift with lead singer Les McKeown, who died in 2021 after years of drug and alcohol abuse. "It's like you come away from school and many years later you only remember the good things," he says of those heydays which began in 1974, when the classic line-up included McKeown, Wood, guitarist Eric Faulkner, bassist Alan Longmuir and his brother Derek on drums. "It was like falling into a whirlpool for about four or five years, getting spun around and thrown out the other end. I remember quite vividly it was just madness - good memories, lots of energy. I just think of the audiences we used to play to, lots of smiley, happy faces, crying faces, mascara running." Yet the reality was that they were mobbed wherever they went, holed up in hotel rooms, often thrown into the boot of cars to escape the hoards of screaming girls, unable to really enjoy their newfound success because of the hysteria that surrounded them. That, coupled with a gruelling tour schedule instigated by Paton at home and abroad - they found fame worldwide - meant something would have to give. The classic line-up of the Bay City Rollers in the 1970s (Image: free) He recalls several times when the crowd behaviour was terrifying. "We were in a limo in Toronto, driving to do a radio interview, and they (the fans) were surrounding us and they were on the roof and the roof was caving in. We physically had to duck down for fear of getting squashed. And there were faces up against the window and lipstick smudges, the hysteria. "I was 17 or 18 at that point. At that age you're not so much scared as the adrenaline is in full flow. I'd be terrified if that were to happen now." The bodyguards had to pull the band, one by one, out of the side window and they ended up crowd-surfing on top of the security guys through to the hotel lobby, he recalls. They became prisoners in hotel rooms. They travelled the world, but there was no sightseeing. "I remember being in New York for the first time, looking out of the skyscraper, desperate to go out. We wanted to go to Central Park and order a hot dog, but that just wasn't going to happen." In an environment where drugs were readily available, Wood says: "I didn't do any of the bad stuff. I tried a couple of lines of coke and thought, no, this isn't for me. Smoking marijuana was about as bad as it got for me." Read more "The music kept me going," he continues. "The whole reason I got into doing this was that it was fun with my pals at school and it was great fun to get in a van and travel to venues and play my guitar and people are reacting to what you are doing." 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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Hawkwind to headline Back Doune the Rabbit Hole as they replace The Fratellis
The legendary space rock group have been announced as the Saturday night headliners on the Back Doune the Rabbit Hole (BDTRH) music festival, after The Fratellis pulled out. The iconic English rock band Hawkwind has been confirmed as the Saturday night headliners for the Back Doune the Rabbit Hole (BDTRH) music festival, stepping in to replace The Fratellis who had to pull out from their planned performance. As pioneers of space rock, Hawkwind is set to captivate festival-goers at the revamped event near Stirling. In a statement released by the BDTRH organisers, they expressed their excitement, saying: "We're thrilled to announce that the legendary Hawkwind will headline the Saturday night of Back Doune the Rabbit Hole 2025. "One of the greatest live bands around, Hawkwind are known for their immersive, mind-bending shows. Get ready to be completely transported with a set that's guaranteed to be out of this world." "They join our final line up alongside some fantastic new additions including The Sherlocks, Clearwater Creedence Revival, Ohasis and The Complete Stone Roses. "The countdown is officially on! We couldn't be more excited for what's coming to Cardross Estate this August." However, not all news was positive as they noted changes to the lineup, adding: "Unfortunately, due to scheduling and logistical conflicts, Dodgy and The Feeling will no longer be joining us this year but we hope to welcome them back in the future." Widely regarded as trailblazers in the space rock genre, Hawkwind stands out even among contemporaries such as Pink Floyd, UFO, and Parliament. Over the years, Hawkwind has seen various members come and go, including the legendary Motorhead frontman Lemmy at one point in their storied history. However, only the leader, singer, guitarist and founding member, Dave Brock, remains from Hawkwind's original lineup since its inception in 1969. Earlier this month, Glaswegian rockers The Fratellis withdrew from their top billing due to a dispute regarding an unpaid deposit. BDTRH has undergone an overhaul after previous operators – called Doune the Rabbit Hole – collapsed into liquidation amid a storm over unpaid musicians and contractors. Steering the course for BDTRH are the new faces at the helm: businessman Brian Harkin, with Colin Black and Paul Aspey of Rock Asset Management. The team behind BDTRH has pointed to a third-party promoter for the disruption. This promoter, Wannasee Ltd, is amidst proceedings to liquidate. A representative for Wannasee Ltd earlier this month clarified the situation, saying: "To clarify, Wannasee Ltd has never held a shareholding or directorship in Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, nor has it ever had any ownership of the event. "Wannasee Ltd is now in the process of entering liquidation following wider industry challenges affecting its own portfolio of events. "We wish the team at Back Doune Ltd every success in delivering what we're sure will be a fantastic festival this summer." BDTRH is scheduled to take place atthe Cardross Estate, Port of Menteith, near Stirling, from August 1-3. Among the roster of acts expected to grace the reinvigorated festival is Liverpool's indie darling, The Zutons, set to close out the Sunday night festivities. Marc Almond of Soft Cell fame is slated to take center stage on Friday evening, ensuring a star-studded kick-off to the weekend's events. Scouting for Girls, the Bay City Rollers, The Skids and Newton Faulkner are also set to take the stage.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Bay City Rollers star Stuart Wood reveals for the first time he was a victim of 'predator' manager Tam Paton's prolific sex abuse
Bay City Rollers star Stuart 'Woody' Wood has revealed for the first time that he suffered 'harrowing' sex abuse at the hands of his former manager Tam Paton. The singing icon, 68, kept the chilling campaign of abuse secret for 50 years because he was determined not to let the ordeal 'shape his life'. It was previously uncovered that Paton was a prolific groomer and abuser right up until his death - and now Stuart has told how he was one of his victims. Paton is the disgraced former manager of Scottish band Bay City Rollers, who has been compared to one of the most notorious paedophiles in history, Jimmy Savile. He was the manager of the iconic band during their 70s heyday, where they rolled out No.1 hits such as Saturday Night, Bye Bye Baby and Shang-A-Lang. After being fired as the band's manager, Paton became a multi-million pound real estate agent but his later life was defined by sex abuse scandals and drug offences. He was jailed for three years in 1982 for gross indecency with teenage boys. In his autobiography Mania, Stuart refers to Paton as a 'true monster' and reveals why he decided to kept his attacks a secret. Stuart wrote: 'I met Tam when I was 16 years old. He was intimidating and a bully, and all the disgusting things said about him are accurate. 'He was a predator. He abused me as he did others. It was a horrific and harrowing time. The drugs he plied us with were part of that control. 'My take is that to have a healthy mind, you have to let some things go, as much as it might pain you to do so. 'So, when Tam's squalid little life came to an end in 2009, I stopped thinking about him. He was a terrible human being, but the way I see it, he doesn't get to define me. 'Tam f******g Paton doesn't get to win.' Rollers' guitarist Pat McGlynn alleged that he had been the subject of an attempted rape by Paton in 1977 in Australia, but the police could not gather sufficient evidence to mount a prosecution. Paton pushed back on the claim, saying it was because he was an openly gay man, and 'if you're gay in this country, you are considered a pervert.' McKeown claimed in a 2015 interview that Paton had also helped another man force himself on the singer while he was high on Quaaludes. He said: 'Afterwards I felt really used and abused. I never told anybody about it, not even the other guys in the band, because I was ashamed.' 'It was hell,' McKeown said. 'But we were just daft wee laddies, following someone.' The band also accused their manager of taking up to £50 million of royalties from them, though Paton claimed to have suffered financially from record deals. In 1982 he pled guilty to molesting 10 boys across a three-year period, for which he served one year of a three-year sentence. 'Afterwards I felt really used and abused. I never told anybody about it, not even the other guys in the band, because I was ashamed.' Nobby Clarke, who was the original Rollers singer, claimed that Paton pushed them to sleep with radio DJ Chris Denning, who jailed for child sex abuse in 2016. However years on, Stuart insisted he has never spoken about the abuse he suffered with either of his bandmates, Les or Alan, even when they reunited 10 years ago. Paton was musically proficient from an early age, playing the accordion and piano, despite not coming from a musical family - his father was a potato merchant. He came across the Bay City Rollers, then known as the Saxons, when he was resident bandleader at the Edinburgh Palais. Using his contacts, Paton got the band gigs around the city and eventually became their manager as their reputation grew. The band were signed by Bell Records after the new manager had invited the company's boss Dick Leahy to see them perform. They enjoyed their first hit soon after, in 1971, with a remake of the Gentrys' 1965 hit Keep On Dancing. However, a downturn in popularity led to an overhaul in personnel and image. McKeown was brought in as a singer, and Wood as a guitarist. Paton masterminded the image change; the group now wore tartan, along with half-mast trousers and scarves. He also cultivated a myth that they preferred drinking milk to alcohol to make them come across as more innocent. As the 1970s were well underway, the band had revived themselves with a number one album and a number of hit singles. Most notably, Bye Bye Baby topped the charts for six weeks running in 1975. The following year, Paton also became manager of Rosetta Stone, a Northern Irish group containing ex-Rollers guitarist Ian Mitchell. For his more long-served project, cracks were developing. The Rollers' guitarist, Eric Faulkner, almost died of a drug overdose at Paton's home in April 1976. McKeown had been traumatised by a car accident in 1975 when he killed an elderly woman. The singer also later recalled how their manager introduced them to drugs throughout the decade, contrary to the image he had nurtured. Speaking in 2005, McKeown said: 'When we got a wee bit tired, he'd give us amphetamines. 'He'd keep us awake with speed, black bombers. You end up almost showing off to each other what stupid drugs you've taken.' By the end of the decade the band's success was waning, and they disbanded in 1978.
