Perthshire’s Solas Festival aims to be a great spot to hang out.

Weekend of music, literature and debate in Blackruthven

A festival that is growing in size and popularity kicked off yesterday in rural Perthshire.

The Solas Festival may be one of the smallest of its kind but is now in its eighth year and will see Deacon Blue frontman Ricky Ross perform along with a host of other acts at the Bield, Blackruthven.

Around 1,500 people are expected to attend over the weekend.

Solas’ literary programme has rapidly increased and this year will have a topical theme of Home, when various writers and thinkers from across the political, cultural and religious spectrum will discuss and debate a range of topics including countries’ borders, international co-operation and migration.

Along with big-name acts such as White, Mercury Prize nominee C Duncan, and Lau, the festival will present the results of an international musical collaboration. Last year, organisers sent Scottish hip-hop artists Declan Welsh and Louie Bhoy to Palestine to perform at Solas’ sister festival Bet Lahem Live. They toured the West Bank and collaborated on a series of performances with Palestinian artists and will talk about their experiences at this year’s festival.

Booker prize-winner James Kelman will head up the literary programme with readings from his new novel The Dirt Road, which explores Americana and its roots through the eyes of a Scottish exile.

Helen Sedgwick, novelist and physicist, will discuss her acclaimed debut novel, The Comet Seekers, while Tawona Sithole will lead a late-night poetry event.

A spokesperson for the festival said: “Debate, discussion and the sharing of ideas are important parts of the Solas Festival ethos, and UNESCO chairwoman Professor Alison Phipps will curate a strand of events engaging with the refugee crisis, while activist and Green MSP Andy Wightman will host discussions on democracy and ecology.

“In addition, there will be a pop-up festival-within-a-festival celebrating a range of shorts, feature and documentary films coming from Africa.”

There will also be a number of activities for children of all ages.

Picture - Steve MacDougall.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Festival-goers Cameron Campbell and Charlotte Bell from Glasgow arrive at Solas Festival 2017 – Scotland’s midsummer celebration of music and ideas.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Fergus Bissett, aged 15 months, ready for a weekend of fun at the festival.