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They’re back Singin’ I’m No A Billy He’s A Tim!

The Old Firm fans Billy and Tim are back with the hilarious new sequel, Singin’ I’m No a Billy He’s a Tim 2, written by the award winning Des Dillon.

The show is coming to Johnstone Town Hall on Friday 27 September at 7.30pm. Log on to www.renfrewshireboxoffice.ticketsolve.com to buy tickets.

Scotland’s most lovable rival football fans make a bet that backfires in spectacular fashion during the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park. Throw in a wee Gallus ghost on a mission from God and Polish nurse with a short fuse and watch the comedy unfold.

This will be the first ever national tour for the production, having only ever been shown once previously at the Pavilion Theatre in Glasgow. The tour is not only being produced and directed by Chris Taylor but he will also be taking on the role of Tim once again.

Chris says “It’s been a pretty manic few months but I’m loving every minute of it. I’ve got so much faith in Des’s script it helps ease a lot of the pressure. Also, we have a really strong cast with Gary Morrison as Billy, Neil Bratchpiece (The Bam Whisperer/Scot Squad) as the ghost, and the fantastic Zofia Sokolowicz as the nurse. In fact, Zofia is flying all the way from Poland just to play the role.

“I’m really looking forward working with them all and getting this great show out to the masses across the country. It’s selling really well already and we have been constantly adding more shows, so it’s great to see the love for Billy and Tim is still there.

“And I can say with confidence that if you liked the original then you will be in bits at this one. It’s one of the funniest shows I’ve ever been involved in”.

Chris and the team will be performing at 16 venues across the country during September.

16/08/2019/by Brian McGuire

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Martha Reeves interview Courtesy of Mill Magazine

14/08/2019/by Brian McGuire

Royal Scottish National Orchestra performance kicks off Airport’s ‘Best of Scotland’ celebration

Passengers at Glasgow Airport were today (Wednesday 31 July) treated to a first-class performance with a Caledonian twist from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

RSNO Chorus Director Gregory Batsleer led over 50 orchestral musicians for two performances in the main terminal this morning (9.30am and 10.30am) to mark the start of Glasgow Airport’s ‘Best of Scotland’ celebration.

The Best of Scotland festival provides passengers with the opportunity to celebrate and experience Scotland’s finest food, drink and culture, and will see the terminal and surrounding areas showcase some of the best tastes, sights and sounds of the country during the month of August.

As part of the celebrations, the RSNO performed a selection of the country’s most iconic pieces of music, including Flower of Scotland, Auld Lang Syne and Loch Lomond.

Adam Ashe, Number Eight for the airport’s commercial partner Glasgow Warriors, was also be in attendance and swapped the oval ball for the conductor’s baton to lead Scotland’s national orchestra.

Mark Johnston, Glasgow Airport’s Managing Director, said: “For many visitors the airport is their first and last impression of Scotland, and our Best of Scotland campaign is a great way to celebrate the quality of our country’s fare while also providing exciting and interesting entertainment for our passengers.

“The Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s annual performance is one of the highlights of the year for both the terminal team and of course our passengers. We’ve enjoyed a fantastic partnership with the RSNO over the years and once again these fantastic musicians put in a first-class performance in the terminal.

“It was also great to welcome Adam Ashe along for the performance and good to know that when he eventually retires from rugby he will be well-versed to tackle a career as a chorus conductor!”

Gregory Batsleer, RSNO Chorus Conductor, said: “It’s a complete joy to surprise passers-by with the thrilling sounds that come from a large professional orchestra, especially in one of Scotland’s busiest airports.

“It’s really important that we as musicians are able perform music outside of the concert hall and I’m excited that passengers arriving to Glasgow Airport from all over the world were welcomed with music from Scotland’s National Orchestra.”

31/07/2019/by Brian McGuire

THE festive season may be months away, but it’s never too early to plan a party.

Fun-loving revellers are being encouraged to book early so they don’t miss out on a choice of three fantastic Christmas Party Nights, at Johnstone Town Hall, in December.

The party nights are being staged by Renfrewshire Leisure and as well as great music to dance to a free glass of bubbly and a four-course meal is included in the ticket price.

The first event features Ultimate Jersey Boys group, on Thursday, December 12, between 6.30pm and 10.30pm.

The popular four-piece vocal harmony group will wow partygoers with their brand of musical nostalgia singing hits by artists like Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons along with songs from the Jersey Boys musical.

Early-bird tickets at only £27, plus booking fee, are available before October 30, which is a saving of £3 on the normal ticket price.

The following night, Friday, December 13, between 7pm and 1am, it’s a Back To The 80s Party Night and everyone can look out the shoulder pads for some live entertainment from The Rubix Cubes followed by a DJ set.

Tickets booked before October 30 cost only £30, plus booking fee, compared the normal price of £35.

On Saturday, December 14, between 7pm and 1am, a Nineties and Noughties Throwback Party is being held at the town hall. The entertainment comes from Fever Pitch, who are a retro-tastic live band playing all the hits from the 1990s and the start of the new millennium.

Tickets booked before October 30 cost only £30, plus booking fee, compared the normal price of £35.

Chairperson of Renfrewshire Leisure, Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “Our Christmas party nights are very popular and there has always been a big demand for tickets.

“Before we know it, Christmas will be upon us, so I would encourage people to get their tickets early, whether it’s for a office party or a night out with friends and family.

“And with everything organised to get into the Christmas spirit, they can look forward to a fabulous night of good food, good company and a great night’s entertainment.”

Log on to www.renfrewshireleisure.com/whats-on or call 0300 300 1210 to book tickets for the Ultimate Jersey Boys Christmas Party Night.

30/07/2019/by Brian McGuire

Renfrewshire community groups are being invited to take centre stage at Paisley’s Halloween Festival…by joining the spooktacular parade.

paisley haloween parade 2020

The award-winning festival – the biggest of its kind in Scotland and one of the UK’s must-see Halloween events – will take over Paisley town centre on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 October.

The event – run by Renfrewshire Council – is being supported by EventScotland as part of their National Programme funding, which will allow an extended programme of outdoor performances.

Last year’s festival was the biggest yet – with 34,000 visitors to Paisley and worth more than £1.9m to the local economy.

paisley haloween parade 2020

This year’s event will have a theme of ‘dark circus’ – with the parade co-ordinated by internationally-acclaimed performance specialists Cirque Bijou, who want school and community groups to work with them in the run-up to the event and take part in the parade on the day.

They are looking for people to take part in carnival workshops and street theatre, dance and musical performances. Any interested groups should contact events@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Julian Bracey, artistic director of Cirque Bijou, said: “We are really excited to be part of this year’s celebrations. We have some amazing workshop leaders and are looking for local schools, groups and individuals to work with to make this years festival the spookiest yet.”

Louisa Mahon, Renfrewshire Council’s head of marketing, communications and events, said: “We are proud of how our Halloween Festival has grown to become the biggest of its kind in Scotland and an event with UK-wide profile.

“But we are also proud of the way it allows the many talented community and youth groups in Renfrewshire to work with and be inspired by artists of national standing. Our local groups will love working with the talented team at Cirque Bijou and help make this year’s parade as colourful and lively a spectacle as ever.”

The full programme for this year’s festival is currently being finalised and will be announced in August – along with changes to the event site for this year.

The Halloween Festival is one of the top dates within Renfrewshire’s major events programme, which brought 160,000 attendees and a £4.7m economic impact into the area in 2018 alone.

For more information on Halloween and all local events, see www.paisley.is

18/07/2019/by Brian McGuire

CHILDREN can enjoy a fun-packed day of free activities and entertainment being staged by Renfrewshire Leisure.

The annual Summer Family Day is being held at various venues throughout Paisley, on Saturday, July 13.

Youngsters can journey into space at Paisley Arts Centre with lift off at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm when they join children’s theatre maker, Clare McGarry for a drama workshop that is out of this world. They’ll be taken on an adventure in a homemade rocket to meet the mysterious Mrs Silver, and be back on Earth in time for tea.

Also at Paisley Arts Centre and on a space theme, children can visit the Cosmos Planetarium, which is an immersive cinematic dome. Once inside children will try on a space suit and zoom to outer space in a virtual reality headset. Take off at the Cosmos Planetarium is at 10:15am, 11am, 12:15pm, 1pm, 2:15pm, 3pm

Youngsters can also enjoy Unicorn Dance Party at the Arts Centre and meet two unicorns spreading joy through the power of dance. This event is on at 1:45am, 12:45pm and 2:45pm.

The events at Paisley Arts Centre are suitable for all ages, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

At Paisley Central Library, next to the Lagoon Leisure Centre a Storytime session for children aged six and under between 9.15am and 9.45am. There is also a Lego Storytelling activity between 10am and 11.30am for children aged over six. They can build and animate their own story using Lego and an iPad.

The library is also hosting a Bookbug session between 2pm and 2.30pm along with Craft Sessions and Games between 3pm and 4.30pm.

And at the POP! Events space in Paisley’s Piazza Shopping Centre a space-themed Make and Take workshop is being held. This drop-in session is for children of all ages, although they must be accompanied by an adult.

Chairperson of Renfrewshire Leisure Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes said: “We’ve decided to designate Saturday, July 13 as the official fun day in Paisley. And there’s certainly plenty of free activities and entertainment to keep children amused.

“We hope to see lots of children and their families coming down to the various venues in town.”

09/07/2019/by Brian McGuire

Blog, Events, Music, Newsletter, Paisley, Paisley Events, Paisley History, Paisley Photographs, Paisley Visitor Attractions, People from Paisley, Press Release, Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire Arts, Renfrewshire Council, renfrewshire events, Video

Sma Shot Day 2019 Video

Sma’ Shot Day 2019 was a fantastic day out for thousands of Paisley buddies as we watched the parade come down from Brodie Park at the Dooslan Stane to its new finish point right beside Sma’ Shot Cottages themselves, lots to do, great bit of sunshine went down well too as Tony Lawler who has been the Charleston Drummer now for 27 years.

Brian McGuire captured the parade from start to finish and even some bits of the main stage before the finale.

07/07/2019/by Brian McGuire

A crowd of thousands enjoyed an all-day family spectacular of parades, performances and pyrotechnics as one of the world’s oldest workers’ festivals took over Paisley town centre on Saturday.

The annual Sma’ Shot Day event turned the town into a hub of activity as the sun shone, with more than 50 events taking place across 20 outdoor stages and venues.

Sma Shot Day 2019

The event – which celebrates the victory of Paisley’s weavers in a 19^th-century industrial dispute – celebrates the town’s rich textile heritage and had the theme ‘let’s party like its 1856’.

The fun began with the colourful parade – featuring colourful characters, floats and costumes and led by the Charleston Drum – from Brodie Park to the town centre.

This year’s event was taking place in a new event site in the streets around the town’s historic Sma’ Shot Cottages.

Sma Shot Day 2019

Huge crowds gathered at Paisley Arts Centre for the spectacular pyrotechnic Burning of the Cork, featuring an effigy of one of the middlemen who demanded payment from the town’s weavers for the Sma’ Shot – the unseen thread which held together the Paisley Patterned shawls.

The outdoor stages saw performances from groups including PACE Youth Theatre, Right2Dance, Starlight Music Theatre and a drumming finale from the Charleston Drummers School of Rock.

Families enjoyed kids’ activities including an outdoor beach, circus skills and carnival workshops in the streets around New Street, Shuttle Street and Brown’s Lane

The pubs and clubs along Shuttle Street opened their doors for the day to join in the fun – with The Bungalow hosting a family ceilidh with local group Fèis Phàislig and kids workshops in Faction nightclub.

Local businesses across the town have been throwing open their doors for the Creative Craft Trail, with designers from Renfrewshire’s InCube creative business incubator showing off their skills at various venues around the town today and tomorrow.

Renfrewshire’s Provost Lorraine Cameron, who joined the parade on the day, said: “Once again, there was a wonderful family atmosphere along the parade route and at the event itself as we celebrated this important part of Paisley’s heritage.

“The new event site worked really well and helped spread the activity and benefits throughout the town centre.

“We were delighted this year to work with many of the pubs, shops and cafes to make them venues for event activity and drive footfall directly through their doors.”

Sma’ Shot Day is part of Renfrewshire Council’s major events programme which last year brought around 160,000 attendees and an economic boost of around £4.7m to Renfrewshire.

07/07/2019/by Brian McGuire

The Sma’ Shot celebration always takes place on the first Saturday in July – to mark the time of year when the weavers and their families would traditionally take their holidays.

This year will be no different – everyone is invited to join the annual party this Saturday 6 July from 12 noon to 5pm. And with almost 50 events taking place across 20 different venues, this year’s celebration promises to be the best yet!

Festivities will get underway at noon as the colourful parade leaves Brodie Park, heading for Paisley Arts Centre led by the tuck of the Charleston Drum. The parade this year will feature local groups, performers, spectacular floats and giant puppets, all co-ordinated by parade specialists Bridgeman Arts.

2019 will also see Sma’ Shot Day return to its roots, quite literally, by moving to the streets around the historic Sma’ Shot Cottages in Paisley’s town centre; with Shuttle Street, New Street, Witherspoon Street and Brown’s Lane all set to come alive with music, theatre, poetry, crafts and lots of family-friendly activities.

Amongst these activities there will of course be the Burning of the Cork (1.20pm within the grounds of Paisley Arts Centre) which sees the ‘Corks’ – the middlemen between the owners and the weavers – meet their fate at the hands of the working weavers in spectacular fashion. Right2Dance will deliver a short pre-Burning of the Cork performance with live music in front of Paisley Arts Centre at 1.15pm.

Plus, there will be lots of opportunities to learn a new craft at a series of artists workshops taking place all over Paisley. Follow the Creative Craft Trail for mural painting, jewellery making, embroidery and loads more.

The Sma’ Shot Cottages will also be open 12 noon til 5pm for your chance to see what life was really like for the weavers in the 19th century. Catch a guided tour and watch live weaving demonstrations with Paisley Museum’s textiles expert, Dan Coughlan. We also recommend a trip to Paisley Thread Mill Museum to complete your weaving experience on the industry’s most celebrated day of the year.

Download the Paisley.is handy event map and start planning your day!

04/07/2019/by Brian McGuire

One of Scotland’s best-known Gaelic singers has signed up to help promote the town’s hosting of the world’s largest celebration of Gaelic culture – the Royal National Mòd – in 2022.

Award-winning singer, dancer, journalist and TV presenter Joy Dunlop has joined the Mòd Phàislig Local Organising Committee, which is planning the nine-day festival, due to return to Paisley three years from now in October.

Mod promo

And Joy is already helping develop Renfrewshire’s next generation of traditional music talent – by tutoring some of the young people involved with Gaelic music group Fèis Phàislig

Fèis runs a year-round programme of activity giving young people a chance to get involved in the Gaelic arts – and will be showcasing their talents with an interactive performance called Stramash as part of the programme for Sma’ Shot Day, this coming Saturday.

Joy took a break from rehearsals with Fèis to look ahead to the Mòd 2022. The event – run by An Comunn Gàidhealach – will be in Paisley for the second time, having debuted here in 2013.

The previous event was the second-largest in Mòd history, with 8,000 people over nine days, a £1.4m economic impact for the area, and a tremendous festival atmosphere around the town.

Joy said: “I’m really looking forward to Mòd Phàislig in 2022. We had a great Mòd in Paisley last time and I’m sure we will have excellent events again.

“Paisley is a central location which will help take the event to new audiences and there is already some really great Gaelic cultural talent in the town, as I know from working with Fèis Phàislig.”

Mod promo

And any residents looking for a free taster of what is to come should go to The Bungalow in Shuttle Street between 2 and 5pm on Saturday to for Fèis’s first-ever Stramash event.

Some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians will join young up-and-coming talent for a bumper afternoon of music and interactive performances for all ages, with space for dancing.

The Ceilidh Trail group will perform new material ahead of their summer tour and will invite audience members to learn a Gaelic song or two and become part of the band for the afternoon.

Stramash will also return to Paisley later in the year with a free show as part of the Spree festival

Fèis Co-ordinator Grant McFarlane said: “We’re delighted to be part of this year’s Sma’ Shot Day and to bring some traditional music and Gaelic to the event.

“We’ve got a full afternoon of music planned and can’t wait to welcome everyone in for a song, dance or just to enjoy the tunes!”

Sma’ Shot Day is one of the world’s oldest workers festivals and will take place on Saturday between 12pm and 5pm, with around 50 events across 20 different venues in an all-new event site in the area around Shuttle Street, New Street and Brown’s Lane

The parade leaves Brodie Park at noon, led by the tuck of the Charleston drum and throughout the day, the streets around the historic Sma’ Shot Cottages will come alive with music, theatre, poetry, crafts and lots of family friendly activities.

All events are free to attend. More information and full bill – including parade route, road closures, and a detailed FAQ for the event, is at www.paisley.is

02/07/2019/by Brian McGuire