Eddi Reader to open Darvel Festival

Mar 27 2009

THE LINE-UP for the Darvel Homecoming Music Festival in May has been announced – and it shows the wide tastes of the music-loving locals behind the event.

Darling of the Scottish music scene, Eddi Reader, will open the festival on Friday, May 1, and will be followed by evenings of soul, jazz, blues, indie and Americana, with a super-group providing the finale on May 10.

The community-based Darvel Music Company, set up in April last year, took over the management of the festival and decided it would run on a bi-annual basis from this year onwards during May.

“It’s a new time of the year, but in the same place with another excellent line-up,” said Sheila McKenna, festival director.

“There is something for all music lovers and we are delighted that so many top-name acts have agreed to fit our festival into their schedules for 2009.”

As a prelude, The Darvel Music Company will be showcasing some of the west of Scotland’s finest unsigned and established bands in a fringe event at Darvel Town Hall on April 17 and 18.

“One of the main aims of our community music company is to nurture and promote local and regional acts so that they can take part in the wider festival celebrations,” said Sheila.

“Unfortunately we get many requests from bands and solo artists to perform and have to make difficult decisions as to who will be offered a slot at each show of the main festival.”

Stagecoach will be offering fans from Glasgow and Ayr the opportunity to purchase return bus tickets to Darvel.

See www.darvelmusicfestival.org for the full line-up, event details and transport information.