Local heroes Belle and Sebastian will celebrate their 20th anniversary with a series of shows at this year’s West End Festival. Purveyors of perfectly crafted whimsical pop songs, the band return to Glasgow for three shows on 13th, 14th and 15th June in the GUU Debating Hall before heading to the Royal Albert Hall in London for two sell-out shows on 22nd and 23rd June.
The shows will be a highlight of Glasgow’s largest multi-cultural event, the West End Festival, which itself is celebrating 21 years.
Announcing the shows, Belle and Sebastian told fans “As tireless champions of Glasgow’s west end, we’re DEAD excited about announcing these three shows as part of the West End Festival’s 21st anniversary programme.
“It seems fitting as we are also celebrating a special anniversary this year and we’re delighted to be involved in presenting a few other events during the festival.”
The West End Festival announced their programme this morning with highlights including
3-26 June Festival of Architecture 2016, The Ideal Hut Show exhibition at Botanic Gardens
4 June Maryhill Community Hall will host the voice of Capercaillie, Karen Matheson
19 June Oran Mor’s All Dayer
3 June Sounds of Shakespeare, commemorating 400 years since William Shakespeare’s death at St. Brides Church
19 June Gibson Street Gala
Two special events, both free, are taking place at the Kelvingrove Bandstand: Summer Arts Community Stage on 5th June will see arts groups from across Glasgow’s north west – from samba drumming to singing, upbeat dance to fresh young theatre; A Celebration of Singing on 18th June is a day of song as local choirs take to the stage.
Introducing this year’s programme, Michael Dale, West End Festival director said: “Over the last 21 years, we have not only played to over a million people in free and ticketed events, but we have given birth to a number of important mini-festivals such as the Bard in the Botanics, the Cottier Chamber Project, the Gibson Street Gala, the Partick Farmers’ Markets and The Electric Gardens. All of which have their origins in the West End Festival, and all of which have gone on to bigger things.”
The festival announced last month that it was reviewing its development. Options now include the winter festival, The Electric Gardens at the Botanic Gardens, which was very successful in year one and pounded by bad weather in year two.
As a result, the hugely popular Byres Road parade has been suspended this year with the festival planning for the return of the parade in the future.
Liz Scobie, West End Festival Chairman added: “A festival as dynamic as WEF in a city as dynamic as Glasgow can’t stand still, and as well as new venues and new performers, we hope you notice the ever-increasing section on singing. This year there are at least 29 choirs and singing groups – a whole festival in its own right.
“The West End Festival is 21 today and all of us connected with it feel very happy that we’ve reached this major milestone.”
Copies of the programme will be available later this week in outlets across the west end and can be accessed on their website later today.