Cardross Estate
August 1-3, 2025
DIVINE’S FRIDAY
Raymond, the amazing photographer, arrived at 2pmish on Friday, and we headed to Cardross Estate and Back Doune The Rabbit Hole. It had been three years since I had been in the lush splendor of this beautiful place. It is a very powerful Healing site and I knew that this was the medicine that I needed, and headed to crew camping to swiftly pitch my tent and start giving cuddles to the crew that I love.
My first musical port of call was the Burrowland Stage to catch The Twistettes – Jo D’Arc on vocals and Bass and her Sister Nicky on drums. This is one powerful combo of skilled musicians representing contemporary art perfectly. Totally original, The Twistettes’ roots are held in post-punk, garage with more than a little of the spirit of Lux Interiors’ wonderful Cramps.
The Sisters D’Arc performed songs from their new long player, “Leaf From The Tree,” and baby, they sure did rock. Giving a performance this confident can do nothing but inspire a Good Time. My first mental boogie of the night.
Exhilarated, I dashed to the Main Stage where Marc Almond and his wonderful band performed Torch, I arrived mid-song my inner Punk still pogo-ing to the Twistettes. It was a swift adjustment to musical styles, a transition that held its own like a good post-punk club night in the 80’s.
I was a Soft Cell fanatic as a teenager. Marc Almond was my Hero. I first heard him perform Torch Live in 1983 at Ceasers in Bradford on the “The Art Of Falling Apart Tour.” Lyrically, I know the first three albums word for word, so its always a great sing-along and tonight was no exception. I love the fact that Neil X from Sigue Sigue Sputnik is his guitarist.
Marc and his band gave a moving and brilliant performance the capacity audience were lapping it up and then Tainted Love really got the party started. Marc was having a hard time singing with dry ice and I could tell that he was having to struggle a bit, had to work harder to represent this wonderful canon of hits. But he managed it and came out on top. By the end of the performance, I was smiling from ear to ear. Something Had Gotten Hold Of My Heart. What a brilliant welcome to Back Doune The Rabbit Hole.
Two very intense performances moved me deeply, so I headed back to camp and began processing such a wonderful experience.
DIVINE’S SATURDAY
I never really sleep the first night under canvas; it’s always an adjustment, and was up real early, just as dawn broke on the verge of sunrise. The sun was too hot to stay in the tent, so I went for an early morning wander to take in the magnificent beauty of Cardross Estate.
This is one of the most beautiful festival sites in the world, and indeed one of the reasons that I had a hunger to return to this place of Heaven on Earth. Steeped in history and far, far from the madding crowd. It was a gorgeous morning and it was set to be a Hot! Hot! Hot! day, packed with brilliant entertainment.
First up for Divine was a band that are steeped in Rock N Roll history, that formed in Bathgate, not far from Stirlingshire, a band that once had Shirley Manson of Garbage sharing vocal duties with lead singer Martin Metcalf; with (Big) John Duncan of the Exploited on lead guitar.
‘Goodbye, Mr Mackenzie,’ are a post-punk supergroup of sorts and this was my first time seeing the band live. Martin Metcalf has a striking presence that really tickled my New Romantic and Goth sensibilities. I was really, really impressed and I became a Goodbye Mr Mackenzie fan that afternoon. Especially when the band covered The Cramps “Goo Goo Muck” With Big John on guitar and lead vocals. Oh yes, I was being suitably entertained; this was brilliant stuff.
It is only recently that I became interested in The Bay City Rollers, it was when I discovered that they were friends with Lord and Master Bowie at his most magical and creative stage. Indeed, Bowie introduced the band to his own producer, Tony Visconti. It was this that wet my appetite and is still on the to do list.
My other connection with the band is when I lived in a flat that was once owned by The Bay City Rollers’ manager Tam Payton. The neighbors gave me lots of juicy gossip about the previous occupants of my home at the time, and after watching the You Tube film about the bands history, how they crashed, burned and resurected for the simple reason being, that everyone loves The Bay City Rollers. I was too young for them myself, but my big Sister was a fan of them and David Cassidy. Tartan Flares are ingrained in my subconscious..
It couldn’t have been a better venue for the band to perform, Doune really welcomed them, the sun had its hat on, everyone was smiling and having a really good time, they were brilliant and everyone sang along. Band and audience having superb fun. It was ace. Shangalan.
So, to the Blockheads. The first single that I ever bought was Ian Dury And The Blockheads Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick. I was 12 years old and had just got my first record player, have always been a dancer and the songs infectious rhythm had my hooked. 46 years on and I still include the song in my DJ sets. Of course with Ian now in Heaven, vocal duties are performed by Mike Bennett, a striking figure and sound alike of Mr Dury. The Blockheads played all of my favorites it was great punky, funky stomp back to my roots and inspiration to dance. And yes, the packed main arena were dancing too.
Ferocious Dog had been recommended by a good friend, so I was looking forward to this performance, too, and yes, they have suitably whet my appetite to learn more. Red Ken the lead guitarist and vocalist gave a powerful performance the band had the audience in the palm of their hands, a bewitching, folky, Rock n Roll stomp. Of which I am sure our paths will cross again.
It really had been a scorcher of a day, so after Ferocious Dog I headed for some dinner and returned to my tent for a power nap as I was pleasantly tired. Raymond had arrived and took over reviewing duties for the rest of the day. I was soon oot for the count and slept deep and healingly until midnight.
SPUD’S SATURDAY
Refreshed and well-rested after Friday’s shenanigans, and with the sun shining over Back Doune The Rabbit Hole, Saturday night was gearing up to be a classic event of music spanning over 40 years. Wandering the compound with my bestie dog Loki, we were pulled towards the Garden Stage and was about to witness the iconic Blockheads, formerly part of legendary band Ian Dury and The Blockheads. At a time when a lot of 1970s and 1980s bands are going back out on the tour, it can be a hit or miss, but The Blockheads was a sure hit. Thrashing out classics such as “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick” and “What a Waste” created a nostalgic wave of appreciation from all present.
As the stage was being reconfigured, a nice quite calm come over the festival as most people seemed to go and refuel for the next act. Elvana, are a band that has combined their love of Elvis Presley and Nirvana to create a naughty grunge like sound that redefines the meaning of Elvis Presley and Nirvanas music as we know it.
Entertaining, thrilling and very personal… what a class act. A quick dash to get Loki settled in his bed, then my must-see for the evening was The Rezillos at the Big Top tent. Growing up with The Rezillos always on around me, I was very eager to capture these masters of glam rock punk at work.
The Big Top was buzzing, ram-packed and full of fans young and old. Home grown talent created in 1976, in Edinburgh Scotland, they were on relatively home turf for this gig. Opening with “Destination Venus” was a genius move, the crowd were instantly hooked and drawn in. “I Cant Stand My Baby” was followed by an hour of punk rock euphoria. Big up to The Rezillos for an amazing performance.
Hawkwind, the technocoloured dream-team that have traversed many a universe, festival, and stage with their weird atmospheric concoction of 1970s psychedelic sounds were again about to unleash their musical madness upon Cardross Estate. Another test-of-time band that ensured a memorable finale to Saturday night.
DIVINE’S SUNDAY
Waking up at midnight, I realised I had slept through Elvana, Hawkwind and The Girobabies. Raymond had gone home, so I had a midnight wander up to the dance tent to have a listen to the techno. which was very good and the Kids were loving it. The rain started so I headed back to camp and grabbed a nice mug of tea before getting comfy in my dry tent and warm sleeping bag. It rained quite heavily until Sunrise and then the rain stopped and the sun had put his hat back on.
Skinny Lister were the first band on the main stage, opening boogie proceedings with a very lively cajun stomp. A band that I have seen live before and indeed have reviewed them for The Mumble. Led by the very beautiful Lorna Thomas, with her brother and Husband also in the band, it really is a heartwarming family affair and the perfect opener for this day of Rock n Roll brilliance, they certainly put a bigger smile on my face than the one I already had.
Then came the Living Legend John Fogerty and his band, The Mighty, Creedence Clearwater Revival. Now these guys were one of the headliners at Woodstock in 1969 (I was 2 years old). Wow, to have such a granddaddy of Rock ‘n’ Roll performing up close an amazing cannon of hits; I Put A Spell On You, Bad Moon Rising, I heard It Through The Grapevine et al. Master musicians gathered, all the way from California, on the Garden Stage at Back Doune The Rabbit Hole in 2025. How blessed is possible to be to have experienced this wonderful music, live in such a beautiful setting. On a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon. That smile on my face was getting bigger.
The legends were gracing us, another post punk band that have been engrained into my subconscious from a young age, Working For A Yankee Dollar and In To The Valley I bought when I was a kid and were staples on the dancefloors of the alternative clubs that we frequented back in the 80’s, another Scottish band that hail from Dunfermlin And another first for Divine to see and hear the Skids give a blistering punk rock explosion of a performance. And the sun shone brighter and hotter.
As dusk approached the sonic boom of The Utah Saints took to the stage, the Big Top was packed to the rim with middle aged ravers, gathered for a Sunday service of DJ wizardry weaving different genres and different decades masterfully to a beautiful Summer sunset, another brilliant boogie and another reason to smile.
The two girls who were talking rain, never mentioned the wind, so I didnae realise the winds were coming until I started scrolling my news feed in the dark of the early hours that morning. I was thinking nah mate, the breeze is nice, then at 8am it began with one wooooosh of wind. This is how I found out that my tent was completely windproof and waterproof. I really did love the warm wind and rain this morning, it made me smile and laugh out loud.
That had been a beautiful and brilliant festival, that really healed my heart and rejuvinated my spirit. with Rock n Roll Grace and brilliant friends. Back Doune The Rabbit Hole and the Cardross Estate is certainly a contender for most beautiful festival site in the world. Its really family friendly too. So, I take my hat off to the new managers who have rescued this brilliant experience for years to come. Brilliant Music in a brilliant place.
Words: Mark ‘Divine’ Calvert
Photos (& some words): Raymond Speedie
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