Last year, the line up was fine. We weren't able to hang around to the very end, but we did catch the likes of Kasper Rosa and Pocket Billiards, knowing Mojo Fury and A Plastic Rose were to follow. It was also the first time I'd seen Gascan Ruckus, who'd kindly give me a CD to play on the radio. It's a big thing at festivals like this -the opportunity to check out a whole mess of newblood in one foul sweep. If you can trust the festival organisers and the guys who actually book the bands - and that's certainly the case with Pigstock - going to watch randoms is always a treat. There's always a chance you'll one day boast about seeing a band play to a half full/empty tent at a little festival, on the cusp of greatness, soon to be huge. It's a good feeling.

And the food - holy guacamole. It's a bit daft naming a festival after it's culinary attraction, but that pork bap I had....in the 'food at festivals' category, an all time highlight perhaps. They look after you.

This year, inevitably, Pigstock will be bigger and quite possibly better. They're obviously taking this pretty seriously - expenanding to two days and booking properly established local acts that no doubt don't come cheap. Lafaro, Ram's Pocket Radio and Axis Of are just a few stand outs from the line up so far, with the likes of The 1930s and Emerald Armada representing the newbies, while Adebisi Shank make the trip up from the south. There's rumours about another headliner as well - if it's true - well, then they're really in business.

Some festivals stand out more than others and, all being well, we'll be back this summer to see how Pigstock plans to double the fun.



****

Check out the full line up. Pigstock takes place on 27th and 28th of May just outside Killinchy.