More than 70 acts will play at Prestfest

Jul 27 2012 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

ROLL on Prestwick’s first music festival.

More than 70 acts will perform in 17 venues during Prestfest from August 3 to 5.

Madnish, Scotland's top Madness tribute, formed in June 2010 and within six months were playing to over 3500 people at Stirling Castle's Hogmanay Party.

Come and see them at 7pm on Friday, August 3 at Ambassador Prestwick Indoor Bowling Club. Tickets are £9.

A night of jazz and blues follows at the same venue at 7pm the following night. Glasgow duo Knox and Ion bring together latin, jazz and world music consisting of Indian scales, African beats and Brubeck style changes. Their live show captures the very essence of world music.

Baby Isaac, often described as a ‘goodtime blues’ band, combine elements of swing, rhythm and blues and jazz to provide a quality mix of upbeat original music and well-known crowd pleasers.

Concluding the night, Moodswing will treat jazz lovers to music rooted in mainstream jazz of the 1950s-60s. As hosts of the Callander Jazz and Blues Festival, their distinctive swing, jazz and selected mood music will leave you wanting more. Tickets £9.

On Sunday, August 5, the Ambassador will feature Tommy Reilly plus support. Having won Channel 4 's Orange Unsigned Act in 2009, Reilly went on to score a Scottish number one, top 20 single and now has three albums under his belt.

Now a T in the Park, Rockness and Glastonbury regular, the 23-year-old singer songwriter from Glasgow has also toured with the likes of The Proclaimers and Justin Currie (Del Amitri). His latest album features members of fellow Glasgow acts Admiral Fallow and Frightened Rabbit.

There will be other quality acts on this bill such as Mark Copeland, Julia Doogan whose delicate and beautiful voice and well written songs consistently amaze crowds, Esperi also known as Chris Lee-Marr who has already supported the likes of KT Tunstall, Gomez, Johnny Flynn, Olof Arnolds and James Yorkston and is a regular at Wickerman and T in the Park and others to be confirmed. 7pm start, tickets £8.

On Sunday at 1pm, the Ambassador will hold an under 18s band showcase. This event is a chance for local young bands and musicians to perform and showcase their music to a live audience and celebrate their musical talent.

It will feature Prestwick's own The Risk, Ghlo Ceilidh Band, Closer than Scarlet, If Looks Could Kill and more to be confirmed. Tickets £3.

Musichoir, Ayrshire's own community choir, are putting on an all singing, all dancing show on the Sunday at 3.30pm at Prestwick South Church. The choir will sing everything from pop, funk, soul and R'n'B to gospel, jazz and rock.

Every Monday evening, over 90 people of all ages and from across Ayrshire gather at Prestwick Academy for Musichoir rehearsals.

Musical director Neil Thompson said: “We want to bring the feel good factor to Ayrshire, so come and along and see our show. I guarantee you will be singing along and have a great time.” Tickets are £6.

For Prestfest events that require tickets, they are available from: Ambassador Prestwick (Indoor Bowling), Bellevue Road; Emporium, 125 Main Street; Home & Glorious, 185 Main Street; Su Casa, Lorne Arcade, 115 High Street, Ayr. For ticket enquiries and group bookings phone 01292 478045.

For details on all the various free events, visit www.prestfest.co.uk or for Facebook type Prestfest Prestwick