From Witch Trials to Headliners: The Extraordinary 400-Year Journey of Women in Brechin
Four hundred years ago, women in Brechin risked execution for having a voice. This August, thousands will gather in the town to celebrate women who are using theirs.
For the team behind Summer’s End Angus, that extraordinary journey deserved to be celebrated.
The festival has unveiled its official reusable 2026 festival cup, featuring a striking illustration of Brechin Cathedral, the festival’s SEA Wave stage, and a thoughtful reflection on one of the town’s darkest chapters – the witch trials that swept across the north east of Scotland during the 17th
century.
But organisers say the cup is designed to start conversations, not simply be the focus of them. Throughout the festival weekend, Summer’s End Angus will host a series of cultural experiences exploring Brechin’s history, including a dedicated heritage exhibition, guided witch tours, spoken word
performances, and guided meditation sessions inside Brechin’s magnificent nearly 1,000-year-old cathedral.
Festival Director Katrina Hutchinson-O’Neill said the aim was never to sensationalise stories of “witchcraft”. Instead, it was to encourage people to reflect on just how far society has come.
“History often remembers women through the worst things that happened to them.
“We wanted to remember them through hope instead.
“Four hundred years ago, women in Brechin could quite literally lose their lives for being different or for speaking out.
“This August, thousands of women will stand on the same ground as those women commemorated on the witch trials monument in Brechin once walked on – but now as performers, artists, entrepreneurs, business owners, volunteers and festival-goers.
“When you stop and think about that journey, it’s actually quite moving.”
The festival itself reflects that change.
Women still account for fewer than one in five UK festival headliners according to recent industry analysis, making genuinely female-led programming the exception rather than the norm.
Female founded and funded, Summer’s End Angus has built one of Scotland’s most diverse festival programmes, with almost half of performers across the weekend identifying as women.
The Garden was launched in January with a simple ambition: to create a stage where women weren’t a niche or a quota, but the main event. Headlined by Paris Paloma and featuring artists including Lydia The Bard, girli, Becky Sikasa and Lucia & The Best Boys.
It has since attracted attention from publications including Cosmopolitan and Gay Times as part of a growing international conversation about female-led music programming – highlighting Summer’s End Angus as part of a new generation of festivals helping reshape opportunities for women in live music.
Katrina said the recognition had been unexpected.
“When we launched The Garden in January, we weren’t trying to follow a trend.
“We simply believed Scotland deserved a stage where incredible female artists weren’t the exception – they were the expectation.
“It’s been wonderful to see that conversation gathering momentum internationally. Independent festivals don’t just reflect culture; sometimes they help shape it.”
The wider Summer’s End Angus lineup reflects that philosophy.
Alongside global names including Sugababes, Rudimental, Emeli Sandé, UB40, The Jacksons, Pixie Lott, Susan Boyle, Cammy Barnes, The Time Frequency (TTF) and more than 60 other artists across three days, visitors will also discover spoken word performances, local history, wellness
experiences, artisan food, family programming and opportunities to explore Brechin itself.
Organisers hope visitors leave with more than memories of great performances.
“People don’t just remember festivals because of who they saw.” Katrina said.
“They remember how an event made them feel.”
“If someone comes to Summer’s End Angus, discovers an artist they’ve never heard before, has an amazing weekend with family and friends, learns something they never knew about Angus and leaves with a deeper connection to this part of Scotland, then we’ve created something far more meaningful than a music festival.”
The commemorative reusable festival cups are expected to become annual collectors’ editions, with each year’s design celebrating a different chapter of Angus history.
Katrina added:
“Too often places become defined by the darkest moments in their past. We’d much rather be remembered for what we’re building now.
“History has a funny way of coming full circle. Four hundred years ago, women in Brechin could lose their lives for having a voice. This August, thousands of people will travel here to celebrate women using theirs. I think that’s a story worth telling.”
Summer’s End Angus takes place from 14-16 August 2026 at Brechin Castle Showgrounds, featuring more than 60 artists across three stages alongside camping, glamping, wellness experiences, family entertainment and cultural programming.