Return of Motherwell festival this weekend

Final preparations are under way as the popular Motherwell Makes Music festival is set to return this weekend.

The multi-venue event aims to promote the best local musicians, as well as some of Scotland’s hottest emerging talent. Following its unbelievable success last year, Derek Watson decided to go ahead and organise a second festival – making it bigger and better. He said: “I’m really looking forward to it. The whole aim is to give local acts a platform and showcase some of Scotland’s hottest unsigned acts, and I believe the confirmed line-up is testament to that.

“We’ve got bands from across the country who are making some real good noise at the moment.”

Motherwell Makes Music will kick off on Friday, March 16, and run until Sunday, March 18.

Derek added: “On Friday and Saturday, acts will perform in Jack Daniels and the Cooper suite at Fir Park stadium.

“On Sunday it’s in Jack Daniels after the football at Fir Park, so hopefully lots of the fans will stop by for some live music.”

Derek said that if this year is as good as last, he is hoping to make the festival an annual event and preparations will soon begin for 2019.

He said: “There’s not a great deal happening for musicians across Lanarkshire and it’s important the community support this for it to continue.

“I’d love to have the festival on an annual basis. After last year’s success, I vowed to make it an annual event and if this year is a similar success, we will start planning for 2019.”

Indigo Velvet, Loki, The Banter Thiefs, Caulder, The Ranzas, The Reason, The Rahs and Tommy McGuire are just a few of the acts who will be entertaining crowds over the weekend.

Tickets are selling fast but if you are interested in going along, you can also pay on the door.

Derek said: “Ticket sales have gone well in the run-up, but similar to last year it looks like loads of people will pay on the night.

“We are running a competition where we are giving away a pair of weekend tickets. Visit our Facebook page to find out details on how to enter.”

For more information on the festival and tickets visit the website at www.motherwellmakesmusic.bigcartel.com.