Summer set to sizzle in ‘ Shire

Hot gossip from the local music scene

The BMX Bandits are to headline not one but two gigs this summer in Ayrshire.

Having recently come to perform at Irvine’s Harbour Arts Centre for the first time in 25 years, it looks like Ayrshire has become a fine tour destination for the band once lauded by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain as the band he would most like to be in.

The Scottish indie lofi pop stalwarts led by Duglas T Stewart have been darlings of our indie music scene for what seems like forever and with both the Burns an’ a’that Festival and the Upside Down Festival at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum booking them it looks like fans are in for a great summer indeed.

Burns an’ a’that at Rozelle Park in May will also feature The Kinks Experience, The Rising Souls, Marmalade and The Silencers. Marmalade, sometimes referred to as the ‘ Scottish Beatles,’ began back in 1968 with singles including Loving Things and continued with hits such as Wait For Me Mary Anne, Baby Make it Soon, Relections of My Life, Falling Apart At The Seams and Ob La Di Ob La Da.

The Silencers formed in London in 1985 and are probably best known for their songs Scottish Rain, Real McCoy and I See Red.

They’re a band who have done it all and I’m sure there will be a great turnout for them at the Burns Festival this year.

There will be entertainment aplenty at the big tent, the acoustic tipi, open air Burns and more from 1pm - 10pm and all events are free entry. Find out more about Burns an’ a’that here www. burnsfestival. com

Upside Doon, the second in a series of live music events at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, will take part on Saturday, June 24. Featuring the aforementioned BMX Bandits, Have Mercy Las Vegas, C Duncan ( previously known as The Boy Who Trapped The Sun), The Stumblers and the Mull Historical Society.

That looks to be a belter indeed. Tickets are £ 17 and are available from www. burnsmuseum. org. uk

Eddi Reader will be performing at the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock on Saturday, April 22. A master of storytelling and a brilliant ability to blend the contemporary with the traditional, Eddi is currently on tour around the UK and an Ayrshire visit is always certainly welcome.

I will be writing my next column to you from the bright lights of New York City, I’m heading over to play a few gigs as part of ‘ Tartan Week’ – kilt obligatory of course and haggis in hand. I look forward to reporting on my experiences and sharing with you next week.

As a final thought, I hope that with the local council elections taking place on May 4 that all my readers out there will of course be using their vote. I have decided to stand as an independent candidate for Ayr North and will certainly be hoping that everyone out there will get out to use their vote. I’m following a pro culture agenda myself, and think we have so much to offer and we should make the best of what we have throughout our communities as there is so much to be proud of and to capitalise on. ‘ Til next week, @ Little Fire