By Mike Lloyd
For BBC News Online Scotland |
 The festival always ends on a spectacular note |
Rising policing and licensing costs are threatening the future of the "Wickerman", Scotland's burgeoning alternative music festival. The event near Dundrennan, in south west Scotland, expects a crowd of up to 5,000 when it opens next month.
But Jamie Gilroy, the local farmer backing the festival, said a new formula for calculating policing fees has given him a financial headache.
The local council is also charging him for an entertainments licence.
"The costs are a fairly thorny subject," Mr Gilroy said. "If we can't build up the numbers this year then we are going to have to seriously look at whether we can continue in the future."
"My pockets are not so deep that I can go on subsiding the festival forever."
Music lovers only
The festival was born out of a project for young people in Dumfries and Galloway. It was the brainchild of Sid Ambrose, working with the Stewartry Music Initiative.
"It is really for people who have a passion for music," Mr Ambrose said.
He added: "There are any number of festivals springing up just now, but this one isn't about big business. If we attempted to make it like T in the Park we would be doomed."
Instead the festival takes its theme from the cult film The Wickerman, which was shot on location in the area, and books a mixture of up and coming and retro bands.
Mr Ambrose said: "We try to have something for everyone. Last year it was like a gathering of the tribes of British youth sub-culture."
He added that it is more of a family event than most festivals, with lots of festival-goers happy to bring their children along.
"People behave differently when there are children around," he said.
Headline acts
Top acts for this year's event include the Buzzcocks and Spiritualized, but the festival is also a showcase for upcoming talent.
Vocalist Chris Baillie, who will be appearing with unknown band Junkstar from Fife, described the festival as "an amazing event".
He added: "It is a great opportunity for us and other bands who are starting to get known."
Despite the financial problems, Jamie Gilroy is not in any mood to give up yet.
"I am not looking at it as something to make a lots of money out of," he insisted.
"What I would like to do is to put the money back into improving facilities and encouraging bigger and better bands to come and play."
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