Indie favourites lead a strong return for the Scottish festival this July
Ash have been confirmed as Saturday night headliners for Back Doune the Rabbit Hole 2026, marking one of the most high-profile bookings of the festival’s modern era. The independent event returns to Cardross Estate from 17–19 July, building on the momentum of its well-received comeback last summer.
Few bands arrive with Ash’s track record. From the breakout success of 1977 through to enduring live favourites like Girl From Mars and Burn Baby Burn, the band have remained a constant presence on UK stages for nearly three decades. Their reputation as a direct, crowd-focused live act makes them a natural fit for Back Doune’s communal, open-air setting, and their headline slot feels like a statement booking for a festival continuing to reassert itself.
They are joined at the top of the bill by Huey Morgan, former Fun Lovin’ Criminals frontman and BBC Radio 6 Music DJ, and Alabama 3, best known for Woke Up This Morning, the iconic theme to The Sopranos. Together, the trio reflects the festival’s long-standing commitment to variety rather than a single-genre focus.
Elsewhere on the line-up are The Amy Winehouse Band, EMF, Space, Utah Saints, Oh My God! It’s the Church, Skids, Bombskare, Karen Dunbar and Rumac, alongside a special DJ appearance from Dick & Dom. Scottish singer-songwriter Rianne Downey also features, continuing her rise with a slot that feels well matched to the festival’s audience.
Across five stages, Back Doune the Rabbit Hole will once again mix indie, rock, ska, folk, punk, electronic and alternative music, alongside DJs and curated takeovers. The festival remains family-friendly, with the return of the Wacky Warren providing creative workshops and activities for younger festivalgoers.
Speaking on the 2026 announcement, festival lead Brian Harkin said:
“Independent events are not easy to pull off and I honestly could not believe the reaction to last year’s festival. The support from the audience and the local community was incredible and it reminded me exactly why festivals like this matter. We’re ready to take everything we learned into 2026 and build an even better weekend.”
With Ash topping the bill and a deep supporting line-up in place, Back Doune the Rabbit Hole looks set to take another confident step forward in 2026.
Back Doune the Rabbit Hole runs from Friday to Sunday, 17–19 July 2026. Tickets and further details are available now via the festival website.
