Village festival hits the big time
‘Sandfest’at Glasgow Concert Hall
A Sandford family are set to take their music festival from their back garden to one of Scotland’s best-known venues.
‘Sandfest’ is the brainchild of husband and wife Douglas MacIntyre and Katy Lironi - and was inspired by their daughter Matilda, 13, who has Down’s Syndrome.
Over the last decade, Katy, Douglas, Matilda, her two brothers and two sisters have galvanised their friends and family to help raise thousands of pounds and awareness for Down’s Syndrome (DS) Scotland through the event which kicked off in 2007.
Now they are set to take it well beyond its humble beginnings in the Avondale village as they help to launch DS Awareness Week this Sunday at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for Sandfest 2018.
The event will feature a host of musicians, but the stars of the show on the night will be Choir 21 – a group of 21 young people with DS, including Matilda - put together especially for the show.
Katy and Douglas will be joined on stage by eldest daughter Amelia, who recently supported Tom Jones on stage.
Katy can’t wait for the show and said: “Sandfest has been a huge part of our lives every year for the last 10 years. It’s an annual get-together of all our favourite bands and friends in our wee local hall.
“Our five kids have grown up on the Sandford Village Hall stage and Amelia and Matilda will be making the transition to the Concert Hall stage.
“We are hugely excited and ever so slightly terrified to be bringing our fundraising gig to the Concert Hall.”
She continued: “Sandfest has a special kind of atmosphere all of its own, where some great musicians come together to help us achieve our goal of raising as much money as possible for DS Scotland.
“This year is extra special as we get to invite Matilda and Choir 21, a group of her co-stars from the Ups and Downs Theatre Group, on stage to kick off the concert.
“The audience won’t know what’s hit them!
“If we can transpose the Sandford Hall vibe to the Concert Hall stage and raise as much money as we can while all having a brilliant evening, our job will be done...for this year!”
Ticket information for Sandfest 2018 can be found online.