Auchinleck - Alive & KickingFestival
from 06 August 2010 to 08 August 2010
The first ever ‘Alive and Kicking’ Music and Arts Festival will take place at various venues in Auchinleck from the 6th to 8th August. A fantastic weekend of concerts and community activities has been lined up by the Auchinleck Community Development Initiative (A.C.D.I), and it promises to be a great event for local residents and visitors to the town to enjoy.
The event kicks off in style on Friday 6th August with a concert featuring the Macdonald Brothers, ex-Bay City Roller, Eric Faulkner and the Simple Touch. On Saturday 7th August there will be a jammed packed day of entertainment with ‘free’ music concerts around town featuring talented local and regional artists; Bletherskyte, Joan Outram, The Hot Toddies and an array of Bluegrass, Country & Western, Traditional and Folk musicians. The day will also feature the official opening of the town’s Community Trim Trail, an Arts and Crafts exhibition (including a special gallery of children’s work), the Jackie Scarlett first round tie between Auchinleck Talbot and Cumnock Juniors, Funfair Rides and two showcase concerts featuring Skerryvore, Borealis and Bobby McCallum plus a youth based concert featuring the La Fontaines, the Symptoms and a DJ set from MILKY.
The weekend event will reach a crescendo on Sunday 8th August with an Ecumenical Church service, the Auchinleck Gala Day at Beechwood Park (great range of family entertainment and ‘live’ sets from the Ghosties and Inde Code) and a festival finale concert- dinner/dance with Abbamania, David Burrows as Jon Bon Jovi and Sonix.
Auchinleck was a key music destination for many fine acts during the 1960’s including; The Who, Jeff Beck, The Move, The Troggs, Tom Jones and even Pink Floyd! The halcyon days may be a distant memory but as A.C.D.I spokesperson Councillor Neil McGhee explained the town still has a bright future. Neil said “We hope that over the next few year’s we can recreate some of these golden moments with great performances from exciting local, national and international acts. The ethos of the A.C.D.I, is to promote the regeneration of Auchinleck and to do everything we can to shine a positive light on the good things the town has to offer, and in doing so attract many visitors to the area and help to boost the local economy”.
This sentiment was echoed by Councillor Jim Roberts who said, “Auchinleck and the surrounding area has so much potential as far as tourism is concerned with Dumfries House, the Barony ‘A’ Frame and Auchinleck Estate all within a few miles. The ‘Alive and Kicking’ festival receives cross-party support and I would like to congratulate the A.C.D.I for their vision and determination to stage such a wonderful variety of events”.
The organisers would like to thank all the local businesses and companies for their financial and in-kind support and give special thanks to the Cumnock and Doon Valley Minerals Trust (Main Sponsor), The Railway Hotel, Auchinleck Indoor and Outdoor Bowling Clubs, The Market Inn, The Boswell Arms, Auchinleck Talbot FC and the Darvel Music Company for managing the whole project.
Tickets go on sale on the 7th of July and can be purchased at either the Railway Hotel or on-line via PayPal at www.auchinleckfestival.co.uk. Other contacts for tickets will soon be available – see website for further details.
Cumnock
KA18 2BE
www.auchinleckfestival.co.uk
Price: £Various
Or call 01290 421288
Contact The Railway Hotel
232 Main Street
Auchinleck
KA18 2BE
