KnockanStockan
KnockanStockan Independent Music Festival
Genre	Independent music
Dates	26–28 July
Location(s)	Blessington, County Wicklow
Years active	2007–2019
Website	www.knockanstockan.ie

KnockanStockan was an Irish independent music festival established in 2007 and held annually until 2019. In early 2020, the organisers announced that there would be no event that year, making the decision to "end the festival after 13 years".^[1][2] The festival was typically held on farmland overlooking the Blessington Lakes, near Blessington in County Wicklow.

History

In 2007, a musical weekend at The Ballyknockan Inn, with camping facilities available, had 40 acts. Marketed as "A musician’s festival for musicians", this became the basis for KnockanStockan.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, the festival moved to a local farm, and grew to three days and three stages, with over 100 acts, and in 2009, it had over 140 acts. Growth continued in 2010, and Dimestore Recordings and Jack of Diamonds Productions hosted a stage with a number of their acts from their weekly events.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011, the Circus Tent, Fairy Field, family camping, and campervan facilities were added, and local Dublin and Bray bands from the festival formed a 'Busk Mob' in Dublin, singing classic rock hits.^{[citation needed]}

The festival was not held in 2017, but the organisers ran a series of "KnockanStockan presents" events instead.^{[citation needed]} The final festival was held in 2019.^[2]

Awards

In 2008 KnockanStockan won "Best Small Festival" at the Irish Festival Awards. In 2012, KnockanStockan was shortlisted for the Irish Times "The Ticket" festival awards.^[3] Also in 2012, KnockanStockan was nominated for six Irish Festival Awards,^[4] including Best Small Festival, Best Line Up and the Social Responsibility Award.