Prestfest buzz about town
Prestfest is back this year, with more than a dozen venues signed up for the music marathon.
Drew McCormack has been involved with Prestfest since it started five years ago, and has put together another top year of gigs.
But the show nearly didn’t go on, after Drew attempted to step back and hand the reins over to businesses in Prestwick after last year’s festival.
He said: “I retired from Prestfest last year and handed it over to the Prestwick Business Association to run but I think they had some difficulties.
“Four weeks ago I got a call from an old committee member saying it wasn’t going to happen, and nobody seemed to know what was going on so I jumped down to Prestwick, went up and down the high street and spoke to everyone I could and got enough businesses and venues to kick it off.”
Top live bands such as The Marauders, Seaside Sons and Ticket columnist Little Fire will perform around the town on the weekend of July 29 to July 31.
And five years on from their first festival, Drew feels Prestfest is still as much a part of the community as it was when it launched.
He said: “This is the fourth year out of five I’ve done it without any external funding. It’s the business community, the pubs and the shops, that are paying for it.
“I have promoted Prestwick as much as any council could promote that town, and myself and my team felt it was something a bit different and we spent a lot of time promoting the area and the shops.
“The people in the community, the shop owners who back us year after year, they appreciate that.”
Drew will finally step back from Prestfest after a five- year labour of love as he focuses on summer festivals following the same model in Renfrewshire.
But he says Prestfest will be in good hands with local musicians Rikki McKay and Scott Russell serving their apprenticeship in the organisation of the weekend- long party this year. Drew said: “The future’s bright, without a doubt. They’re two guys I feel really comfortable with. I can see their passion and their ideas.
“I’m excited about how it’s going to develop with their ideas they’ve already been talking about, and the contacts they have.
“I think they’ll bring something really different to it.”
With almost 50 bands, solo performers and DJs set to play, Drew says he wouldn’t single anyone out as his top pick – and says he’s mostly looking forward to the buzz around the town. He said: “There’s a new variety about it this year. There are some great acts coming in, but they’re all of the same level – I don’t like to mention one act above another.
“There’s a natural energy building and that’s what’s exciting about it, because it’s all been done in such a short space of time.
“I’m just looking forward to the vibe on the street, the buzz of it all.”
For more information on Prestfest 2016 with full details of all the venues and artists, visit Facebook. com/ madanglemusic.