Parents criticise 'inappropriate' Caity Baser set at youth music festival

Angry parents have criticised a youth music festival in Dumfries, amid claims singer Caity Baser swore and made sex references on stage.

They say the 22-year-old musician asked the Youth Beatz audience - which included children as young as seven - whether they had ever had sex with a friend.

Run by Dumfries and Galloway Council, Youth Beatz is billed as the largest free youth music event in Scotland. It is aimed at young people aged between 12 and 25.

Baser told BBC Scotland News she was told she did not need to "censor" her set by festival staff, and apologised for "any upset".

Dumfries and Galloway Council said it had received a "small number of complaints" which it was taking seriously.

Scores of people posted their concerns about the performance on social media in the days following the festival last weekend.

Annmarie Dowell said she knew a lot of Baser's music was explicit but expected her to perform "radio edits" to her young crowd.

"What shocked me more than anything was openly asking a crowd of teenagers to raise their hands if they'd had sex with a friend. Completely inappropriate."

She said that in introducing one song, Baser used an expletive and said she wanted to get "laid".

"More thought should have been put into the act performing for the age range of the festival - not age appropriate at all," Dowell added.

Another mum, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was "gobsmacked" by some of the language used by Baser on stage.

She was there with her seven-year-old daughter and decided to walk away half way through the set.

"I completely understand that that is the type of artist she is, that's what her songs are, but why book her for an event meant to be aimed at [young people aged] 12 and up?

"I really don't think it's appropriate to be asking the audience to 'put your hands up if you have ever had sex with your friends'."

Baser has more than 500,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, with hits including Feels This Good, Pretty Boys, and Friendly Sex.

She has performed at Glastonbury and Boardmasters, and supported Olivia Rodrigo at BST Hyde Park.

In 2023 she was nominated for a Brits Rising Star award, eventually losing out to The Last Dinner Party.

Her YouthBeatz set was due to begin at 18:00 on Saturday, when many young families were still in the crowd.

Baser told BBC Scotland News she was "super sad" to learn that some people were unhappy with her Youth Beatz performance.

"I asked the festival team multiple times if anything needed to be censored and was told it didn't," she added.

"If I'd been asked to change my set, I absolutely would have.

"I only ever want to spread joy, empower young women and be fun, so I'm really sorry for any upset caused.

"I just want to spread love and positivity."

About 40,000 free tickets to the two-day Youth Beatz festival were distributed to young people and their families this year.

It was first held in 2009 and currently receives £179,000 in annual funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Other headliners at this year's event were rapper Example and a DJ set from two members of boyband The Vamps.

A council spokesperson said the overwhelming majority of feedback from the weekend was very positive, and described the event as successful.

They added: "Dumfries and Galloway Council is aware of a small number of concerns raised regarding language used during one of the performances at Youth Beatz.

"We take any concerns raised by attendees seriously.

"Youth Beatz features established mainstream artists performing live, and while every effort is made to ensure performances are appropriate for the event, live performances are not entirely within the council's control.