Scottish Culture Online

It has been announced today, 11 June, that a new Scottish national music and arts festival will be held in Paisley from 25-28 October, 2012 and includes a line up of artists such as Roddy Frame, Francois and the Atlas Mountains , Damien Dempsey and comedian Craig Hill.

‘The Spree’ was born from a desire to build on Paisley’s successful bid to host the Royal Mòd in 2013 and with the intention of creating a cultural legacy invigorating the town beyond that particular event. The Spree is a flagship festival and forms part of a wider plan that links with Renfrewshire Council’s events and Creative Renfrewshire strategies and is part of the Year of Creative Scotland.

There are four partners involved in funding and delivering the project; Creative Scotland, Renfrewshire Council, EventScotland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

A special addition, Sunday 28th October, is produced in association with Celtic Connections – Celtic Connections’ Danny Kyle Stage, will be hosted in the centre of the Town.

The festival will take place in four venues across the town and events will include Gaelic workshops, comedy in association with The Stand Comedy Club, Fidil and Bard and the Karen Matheson Band.

Lisa Whytock, festival organiser said:
“This is such an exciting time for Paisley, to host such a fantastic event. The events are shaping up well and we’ll be releasing more information once further acts have been confirmed.
“The Mòd is coming to Paisley next year and this year’s festival will help prepare the way.”
The four venues to host the events are a specially erected Spiegeltent at County Square, Paisley Abbey, Wynd Centre and Paisley Arts Centre.

Tickets go on sale for the events today and can be bought through Ticket Scotland, Renfrewshire Council’s box office www.tickets-scotland.com and http://www.thespree.co.uk