Tickets to go on sale for this year’s Perth arts festival

Tickets for this year’s Perth Festival of the Arts will go on sale at the end of this month.

The annual gathering – now in its 47th year – will welcome a host of top names, including Jools Holland, Marc Almond and Ruby Wax.

The programme for this year’s festival, taking place from May 17-26, will also feature the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, playing along with violinist Jennifer Pike.

Jennifer was the youngest winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year award, while the band starred in the hit film Brassed Off.

A particular highlight will be the return of Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, performing at the event for the 10th time. Jools will be joined by former Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond for this appearance.

Ruby Wax is sure to be another big draw when she brings her Frazzled show, based on her book, A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled, to Perth Theatre.

Other acts will include The Rev Richard Coles, Emma Johnson and Fife crime writer Val McDermid.

Peter Rutterford, chairman of Perth Festival of the Arts, said: “It’s great to welcome Jools Holland back to Perth once again and this year he will be bringing Marc Almond as his guest which I’m sure will excite music fans not just here in Perth but right across the country.”

He continued: “We also have some terrific classical and operatic performances to look forward to, as well as the ArTay exhibitions. And we’ll be welcoming big names.”

Tickets go on general sale to the public from 10am on Monday March 26.