The bill has been announced for Paisley’s Spree festival – featuring a one-off collaboration between Scottish indie act Frightened Rabbit and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in Paisley Abbey.
The festival of music, comedy, theatre and more – which will take over the town centre between 13 and 22 October – is now in its sixth year and is part of Paisley’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021.
Frightened Rabbit will be the latest in a line of Scottish bands to team up with the orchestra in the setting of the 850-year-old Abbey on 17 October for a show which has been a highlight of previous Sprees.
Much of the action will take place in a specially-erected Spiegeltent in the town centre, which will host trad acts Dougie MacLean and Canada’s De Temps Antan (18 Oct), Breabach, Kris Drever and Talisk (20 Oct), plus Sharon Shannon and Fara (15 Oct).
Paisley Arts Centre will welcome Glasgow singers Emma Pollock and RM Hubbert (15 Oct) and a gathering of artists from the Lost Map record label, curated by The Pictish Trail (22 Oct).
The festival will have a strong international feel with an Americana night boasting Boston’s Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards, and opened by England’s Yola Carter, named UK Artist of the Year at the 2017 American Music Association UK Awards.
Specially-commissioned shows in support of Paisley’s UK City of Culture 2021 bid include:
– an opening night concert where three Scottish acts – Ross Ainslie, Blue Rose Code and Angus Lyon – and from India – Smita Bellur, Asin Khan Langa and Sawai Khan – weave together traditional music from both countries. The same show will also open the prestigious Rajastan International Folk Festival a week before;
– a show celebrating Paisley’s untold story featuring and curated by acclaimed songwriter James Grant;
– a literary celebration at a Banks Supper night inspired by Iain Banks’ novel Espedair Street, about a rock band from the town, featuring award-winning author Alan Bissett;
Tickets for all shows will be available here from 9am on Wednesday 21 June.
The Spree will also feature two comedy nights in conjunction with the Gilded Balloon, as well as film events and songwriting workshops, while unsigned musical talent will be given a showcase through the nightly Danny Kyle Open Stage run by Celtic Music Radio.
There will be plenty for kids too, with the National Theatre of Scotland bringing their Rocket Post show to town, fresh from a run at the Edinburgh Fringe, while the Big Telly Theatre Company present Operation Paisley – Alien Pursuit, an interactive, town-wide treasure hunt for kids.
Paisley 2021 bid director Jean Cameron said: “The Spree festival is the one of the flagship dates on Paisley’s current events calendar and has gone from strength to strength over the years.”
“In the year we are bidding to be UK City of Culture 2021 it is fitting the Spree bill manages at once to be outward-looking and internationally-flavoured, yet also unmistakeably Paisley – showcasing the town’s unique story and giving a platform to some of our fantastic local talent.”