We're back and extended this year. The Shindy is now over 4 days from Thursday 15th August to Sunday 18th August, with more live performances and a mix of styles.
If that's not enough, the fully licenced bar now has a wider selection of local beers, ciders and spirits and the big marquee will stave off the variety of summer weather.
The Wigtown School Fete is also back this year - taking place in the school field on Saturday 24th August.
To add to the fun this year we will be adding in some daytime activities starting from 2pm, so even more for you to do throughout the day!
2:00pm to 4:00pm
FRIENDS OF WIGTOWN
Join the Festival Company for tea and cakes and find out about becoming a Friend of Wigtown Book Town. Help write the next chapter, and enjoy special treatment at the annual Wigtown Book Festival along the way.
4:30pm to 5:30pm
PENNY McPERSON
Join writer and artist Penny
McPherson in conversation
with Lou Martin to discuss
Penny's debut novel, The
Colours of the Sky. Penny
lives in Galloway, and after
retiring as a teacher, writes
and makes art and jewelry.
6:00pm to 7:30pm
WHERE BOOK TOWN BEGAN
The closure of Bladnoch Distillery and Bladnoch Creamery; families forced to move away to find employment; buildings derelict and in disrepair; unemployment levels up by 17%.
Meta Maltman and Sandra McDowall talk with Willie Johnson about the scene in 1996 before Wigtown became Book Town and 25 years of development.
8:30pm to 10:30pm
DRIFTWOOD KIPPEN
CEILIDH - Join Driftwood Kippen for two hours of Ceilidh fun. Put on your dancing shoes and join in. Don;t worry if you don't know all or any of the dances as they will all be called.
2:00pm to 4:00pm
BINGO
Join us for an afternoon of Fun & Prizes for all. Eyes down for a Full House.
6:00pm to 8:00pm
JOSEPHINE & THE SHADES
Covers band playing all your favourite Pop, Rock & Indie Classics … something for everyone !
8:30pm to 10:30pm
DARK SATURDAY
A dynamic four-piece pop/rock/alternative cover band hailing from Dumfries, established in 2021. Comprised of Rhona on vocals, Robert on guitar, and Scott on drums, the band recently welcomed Chris on bass in early 2024. With Scott's roots in Wigtown, the Wigtown Shindy holds a special significance as a homecoming gig for the band.
2:00pm to 4:00pm
TV GAMESHOWS
Enjoy an afternoon in the marquee or picnic in the gardens and why not be a contestant as we recreate some of your favourite TV Gameshows to win prizes. Fun for all the family.
6:00pm to 8:00pm
KISSING THE FLINT
Local multi-award nominated international singer-songwriter Leah Chynoweth-Tidy is an Australian-brewed artist, Scottish-distilled since 2020. Kissing The Flint (translation: creating a spark) is fueled by an authentic, adventurous spirit and powerhouse voice captivating audiences with heartfelt stories and vivid imagery, softness and sass – moving easily from melodic, roots beauty to empowered rock raunch.
8:30pm to 10:30pm
ESCAPADE
Hauling from Ayr these musicians led by one of Scotland's most experienced frontmen - Rab Reilly, the Wigtown Shindy is excited to announce this year's Saturday night will be ESCAPADE.
Established in 1990, Escapade are a 4 piece covers band, comprising of drums , bass & 2 guitars playing a mixture of old school rock / Americana / country and pop. They have played all over the U.K. from the smallest pubs to Hollyrood Palace.
12:00pm to 2:00pm
Nathon, Rhona and Roger: Nathon Jones is a singer/songwriter and mutli-instrumentalist who has been performing music in the region for over 30 years.
With an Irish upbringing, filled with tunes and songs, he has developed his own unique style of music with original compositions written during his time in Dumfries & Galloway.
For this year's Shindy, Nathon will accompanied by local singer Rhona Jones who hails from Wigtown and double bass player Roger Whitham.
They will be performing at Cafe Melba at the Distillery.
3:00pm to 5:00pm
CIRCUS SKILLS
Join DMC Entertainments circus clowns as the teach you some of the skills of the circus. Fun for all ages.
EASY BOB
Join local legend Easy (known as Easy Does It) for an afternoon of LIVE blues and country blues music!
Easy Bob Reid is a legendary harmonica player and he has been entertaining audiences at The Vault for years now! His smooth harmonica playing accompanies his excellent vocals and shows that the Blues runs in his blood! Don't miss the chance to experience stunning live music and see exceptional talent all for free!
8:30pm to 10:30pm
AN ABBA DREAM
Time to dust off your 70s glam as we close out this year's Wigtown Shindy with An ABBA Dream. Sunday 18th Aug from 8:30pm to 10:30pm channel your inner Dancin' Queen and make sure that your Momma Doesn't know that your out.
An ABBA Dream will blow you away with their performance and resemblance in how they look and sound like ABBA. Their stage performance, high-energy routines, stunning vocals and musicality leaves audiences blown away by their resemblance to ABBA themselves back at the full blown peak of their success. The ABBA Dream girls have performed worldwide and have sang ABBA’s biggest hits to sold out crowds on stages throughout the world. You'll be singing Mamma Mia…….. Gimme Gimme Gimme more!
