RODDY Woomble, born in Alloway, is gearing up to headline the Upside Doon Festival.

As well as his solo career he is the lead singer of the indie rock band, Idlewild.

In an interview Roddy said: “I was born just down the road from the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum so it’s a hometown gig for me. 

“I haven’t been for a long time and it’ll be so nice to go back, especially to be playing my music there. Sometimes I play in rock clubs, sometimes folk clubs, and with Idlewild we play in much bigger halls and festivals. We love to play for any audience.

“I love a festival that’s smaller and boutique, like Upside Doon Festival. I’m just playing with two other musicians so It’ll be really mellowing and relaxed.

“Mostly I am influenced by a lot of poetry and literature that I read, you know I’m not a musician and don’t play anything, I write songs and play with people so I’m more influenced by that sort of thing than I am by bands, even though are lots of bands that I adore.

“I’m a huge Burn’s fan as he’s an emblem of what’s good about Scotland. With his poetry and romance, I guess there is an element of influence from Burns. 

“He is a master of language and I’m a romantic like he was, interested in poetry and ideas being put across in thought and song, and that’s exactly what Burns did.”