First Set of Spree acts revealed

Some of Scotland’s top music and comedy acts are on their way to Paisley to perform at national arts festival The Spree later this year

The Spree, Paisley’s national arts festival, is back for 2013 after making its debut last year…and is set to be even bigger and better.

thespreeThe Spree (10 – 20 October) is back in the town for a second year after its successful debut in 2012, and will wrap around the Royal National Mòd (11 – 19 October), Scotland’s premier celebration of Gaelic culture, on its first visit to Paisley.

Much of The Spree action will again take place in the spectacular setting of a Spiegeltent in the town centre, with other shows in Paisley Abbey.

Royal National Mòd events will take place in a wide range of venues across the town, including the newly-refurbished Paisley Town Hall, and the Abbey.

The first batch of musical acts to be announced for The Spree include…

– traditional music stars, Capercaillie, celebrating their 30th year, who will play Paisley Abbey on Friday 11 October;

– a rare acoustic performance from Donnie Munro, who will treat fans to Runrig favourites and solo material in the Spiegeltent on Thursday 17 October;

– Highland-born folk-noir balladeer Rachel Sermanni, with special guest Colin Macleod, in the Spiegeltent on Saturday 19 October;

– Fife-based folk-popsters The Fence Collective present: The Pictish Trail and Friends, in the Spiegeltent on Friday 11 October.

As has already been announced, there will also be a unique combination between Admiral Fallow and The Twilight Sad with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, in the Abbey on Monday 14 October. An initial allocation of 100 tickets were snapped up within minutes of going on sale last week.

Comedy fans will have plenty to keep them entertained, with two Best of Scottish Comedy nights on the 12th and 19th. Produced in association with The Stand comedy club, acts include Gary Little, Raymond Mearns, Bruce Morton and Susan Morrison.

There will also be a literary element, with free book readings from Scottish novelist Denise Mina and music broadcaster Vic Galloway.

Tickets for all shows will be on sale from www.thespree.co.uk from tomorrow (Tuesday 16 July) at 9am. Details of more music and comedy acts will be announced in the next few weeks.

And Paisley is set to be a hub of activity throughout the month, with Iomall a’ Mhòid (Mòd Fringe) events combining to add a real festival feel.

The Mòd festivities will kick off on the evening of Friday 11 October with a torchlit procession down Paisley High Street before the Mòd flag is unfurled.

This will be followed by An Comunn Gàidhealach’s official opening ceremony in Paisley Town Hall and a cèilidh dance with Paisley accordionist Grant MacFarlane, a finalist in BBC Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition.

The following day (Saturday 12 October) will see the start of the competitions, as well as sports tournaments involving football and shinty, before one of the highlights of Mòd week – the Fiddler’s Rally, led by the Bearsden Fiddlers, in the Abbey.

 

That night there will be a cèilidh dance in the Town Hall, with a top act from the traditional music set to be announced.

 

Mòd Phàislig will be releasing updates on other activities between now and October. Keep an eye on www.modphaislig.org for more details.

The Spree is being run in partnership with Event Scotland, Creative Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

An Comunn Gàidhealach is bringing the Mòd, an historic and culturally-significant festival, to Paisley for the first time.

For further information on The Spree visit www.thespree.co.uk

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Founder of Paisley.org.uk in 1998 and constantly strives to change peoples attitudes to the town, Brian is a self described Paisley Digital Champion who promotes Paisley via any means necessary. You can also follow me on X