Party at the Palace has something for everyone
Linlithgow’s own music festival, Party at the Palace, is back on for this summer and has announced its lineup of over 50 acts over two days.
Headlining the main stage on Saturday, August 13 is rock band Ocean Colour Scene and Del Amitri.
On Sunday, August 14, The Human League will headline the main stage, alongside Sophie Ellis Bextor and Mark Almond.
Party at the Palace started in 2014 and markets itself as a festival for music fans and families alike.
One of the organisers of Party at the Palace, John Richardson, said: “We’re feeling a lot more confident that we’ll be able to go ahead this year and we’re all really looking forward to it.
“I like to think we have a little something to offer everyone – a lot of great artists and a great environment for music fans and families alike. I’d say Saturday’s more of a party day and Sunday’s more of a one for folk that love their music.
“Alongside all the acts, we have things like circus skills, storytelling, arts and crafts, balloon animals, face painting, and even kids yoga.”
The festival hasn’t run since 2019 due to restrictions surrounding large outdoor events in the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the past acts like The Proclaimers, Kaiser Chiefs, Nile Rogers, Deacon Blue, Simple Minds, Texas and James have all headlined the main stage at the Linlithgow festival.
The festival sets up across the loch from the palace in Lochside Field, near Bonnytoun Farm.
Over half the tickets have sold six months before the festival is set to take place, with many people having carried their ticket purchase over from either 2020 or 2021.
A thousand tickets were also given to NHS staff for each day of the festival.
John continued: “We’re really excited for the headliners this year. We’ve been trying to book The Human League for years and Ocean Colour Scene are another band that are amazing to see live.
“Of course we’re supporting local acts as well. Loads of acts have started out on the Purple Orange stage and risen up the stages year after year.
“We’re proud to say we were The Snuts’ first festival back in 2017, and they have gone on to massive success. It’s great to see they’re playing festivals like TRNSMT now.”
The festival is well known for supporting the local music scene – with acts from towns and villages across West Lothian.
Luke La Volpe, Mark Sharp & the Bicycle Thieves, Echo Machine, Kerry and The Malting Boys, Fraser Mclean, and Marc McCartney are all local acts playing on the main or second stage.
Bathgate venue and record label, Purple Orange, also host their own stage exclusively for up and coming acts from West Lothian.
Mark Sharp, the front-man from the eponymous Mark Sharp & the Bicycle Thieves, spoke about his booking at Party at the Palace, he said:
“This’ll be the third time we’ve played Party at the Palace, and we’re buzzing to get back to it.
“Last time we headlined the second stage and now we’re on the main stage, which has always been a goal for us.
“Personally I’m really excited to see Ocean Colour Scene. They’re meant to be absolutely quality live. Hopefully we get to meet them backstage.
“It’s a class line-up in general so we’re all looking forward to it.
“We’re all from nearby, but our boy on the keys is from Linlithgow so he’s particularly excited for it.”
Tickets are available to buy online now, priced at £50 for a single day, and £85 for the weekend ticket.