Band set for lights switch-on as winter events are revealed

Winter is hotting up to be a rockin’ season of family fun with chart- topping band Ash set to headline Paisley’s Christmas lights switch-on.

The town’s winter events programme will kick off with the two-day Halloween Festival on Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28.

Then an 80s-themed Fireworks Spectacular will take place on Saturday, November 4, with the Christmas lights being turned on a fortnight later.

Festive lights switch- ons, featuring live music, will also take place in Renfrew on Saturday, November 25 and in Johnstone on Saturday, December 2.

As well as this, the annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards come to Paisley for the first time and will be held at the town hall on Saturday, December 2. Highlights include:  The Halloween parade through Paisley town centre, with a fire monster on a chariot, a New Orleans-style street band and the Spark! Drummers

 A fire garden and fire stage at Bridge Street, with soundscapes, projections and illuminations to make for a real extravaganza of sights and sounds in Abbey Close

 A night of music, performers and spooky goings- on with a Halloween Ball at Paisley Town Hall and Friday Fright Night at Paisley Museum

 An 80s-themed silent disco in Paisley Town Hall during the afternoon and broadcasts from Clyde One DJs in the evening ahead of fireworks at Abbey Close

 The famous Reindeer Parade, starting and finishing in Paisley High Street, before Santa opens his grotto outside the Paisley Centre, and

 A live stage w i t h performances by Ash before Paisley’s festive season is officially started with the annual Christmas lights switch-on.

The winter season is part of a wider programme of events in Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021.

Bid director Jean Cameron said: “The Halloween Festival, Fireworks Spectacular and Christmas lights switch-on are established favourites in the town’s events calendar — and this year Paisley’s winter events programme is even bigger and better than ever.

“One of the key aims of Paisley’s bid for UK City of Culture 2021 is to showcase the town’s proven track record in hosting a diverse range of major cultural activities and the winter events programme highlights just that.”

Tim Wheeler, Ash frontman Ash, said the band is really looking forward to getting Buddies rocking.

He added: “Hopefully, our tunes will get the elves dancing and the Christmas spirit flowing.”

Dates for your diary: October 27 and 28, Halloween Festival; November 4, Fi reworks Spectacular; November 18, Paisley Christmas lights switchon; November 25, Renfrew lights; December 2, Johnstone lights and also on December 2, the annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.

Ho-ho-holidays DJ Gerry Lyons, who will spin the tunes for the 80s silent disco and Fireworks Spectacular, with Santa and actress Sev Ka — from theatre production Seraphina — as they launch Paisley’s winter events programme Ready to rock Ash will take...