Glasgow West End Festival 2007
Friday 8th to Sunday 24th June
Kibble - A History of the Kibble Palace by David Anderson and David Maclennan - Review by Pat Byrne.
Bard in the Botanics - Discount Ticket Offer
Glasgow West End Website Festival Awards
The West End Festival is Glasgow's major festival with three weeks of fun and festivity. The Mardi Gras Parade and Street Parties draw vast crowds to this part of the city and there really is something for everyone. The festival programme includes every style of music - folk, soul, salsa and concertos and there also includes: dance, theatre, film, comedy, walks and talks.
Mardi Gras Parade and Opening Street Party Sunday 10th June
The Opening Parade and Street Party will take place on Sunday 10th June, kicking off at 2.00 p.m. with Byres Road and surrounding areas (watch out for Sub City Radio Stage - Lilybank Gardens) coming alive with music and activities. The Parade starts at 3.00 p.m. at the Botanics and will wend its way down Byres Road to Dumbarton Road and on to Kelvingrove Park.
Local pubs, restaurants, shops, schools, libraries, residents and projects unite with the festival organisers to present a wonderful programme, which is bigger and better than ever before. To add to the pleasure of this year's festival some of the very best possible venues are available once more including: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Kibble Palace in the Botanic Gardens and The Hunterian. (all three have re-opened after refurbishment).
Gibson Street Gala - Sunday 17th June
Following on from two successful years The Gibson Street Gala (Sunday 17th June - 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. offers a fun filled day with family activities including street theatre, stalls, music, food and drink. A great place to be at the best of times with some great restaurants including The Left Bank, Louis' Grill and the fabulous Stravaigin. You can also relax at the nearby Tchaiovna Tearooms and Bolshie in Bank Street have entered into the spirit of the festival in their own unique way with Bolshie Catwalk on the Sidewalk - 3.00 p.m. on the day of the Gala they will present a cool and ethical fashion show.
I definitely plan to go along to the party on Gibson Street and at some point will cut into Kelvingrove Park where the Glasgow Mela, multi-cultural festival takes place on the same day. Organised by the Scottish Academy of Asian Arts this is a fantastically lively and colourful event. (12 noon to 9 p.m.)
The Corona Kelvingrove Street Party Sunday 24th June
This year a third Street Party will be introduced on Sunday 24th June, with The Corona Kelvingrove Street Party at Yorkhill, with food, drink and stalls and The Goat and Firebird presenting live music and dj's on outdoor stages. (2 p.m. - 10 p.m.)
Programme Highlights
I have been perusing the programme and apart from the Parade and Street Parties there are some events I aim to get along to:
Kibble
First on my list is Kibble devised by David MacLennan and his sidekick Dave Anderson, this is a new show with the history of the Kibble Palace set to music and dance. It will even feature the original Kibble Palace walz dating back to 1886. It will be performed in the Kibble Palace, Botanic Gardens.
Tickets £10 from Tickets Scotland 08702201116.
Chorus at the Kibble
Tuesday 19th June - 7.30 p.m. - This should also provide some enjoyable light-hearted entertainment with Closeshave winners of Glasgow Music Festival, 2006, and their barbershop repertoire.
£6 - proceeds to chartiy.
Tickets from ticketscotland 0870 221 1116 or at the door.
Aren't Glasgow's Birds Fun
A fabulous project will be launched at Kelvingrove Art Gallery on Saturday 9th June with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 'Aren't Galsgow's birds brilliant?' - sounds great 'a fun-filled, feathery day of activities.
Free.
Allotments open Day
I'll definitely be at the Allotments Open Day and we will be at Kirklee Allotments and are working to get our own plot into shape for the event on Saturday 9th June - from 12 noon. More information: 0141 339 6986.
Free.
The Sunday Afternoon Philosophy Club
Sunday 24th June - 12.45 - 2.30 p.m. I am intrigued by this event, where you are invited to debate and philosophise and enjoy light refreshments.
The West End banter should be worth a listen -
The Tryst, Hillhead Baptsist Church, Cresswll Street. Free.
Puppet Show
There are also lots of events for the children and I hope to take our gang along to one of the Puppet Shows run by Glasgow Libraries.The Witch Who Stole Happy Endings in Mryhill Library (946 2348) Friday 22nd june at 3.30p.m.
Hillhead Library,(339 7223) Saturday 23rd June, 1 p.m. and Anniesland Library, (954 5687)also 23rd June at 3 p.m.
The Hunterian
I am looking forward to going along to The Hunterian Art gallery and Museum, just reopened and celebrating its bicentenary with a brilliant programme of events.
Music
Whether you fancy some choral music, jazz, salsa or cello you are in for a treat at the festival this year. The range of venues is also impresssive: French National Music Day (Thursday 21st June, 3 p.m.)will be celebrated at Kelvingrove with a choir from Marseille (twin city of Glasgow). < Talented young guitarists will entrain at the Annexe, partick with Guitar Galore - Friday 22nd June, 7.30 p.m.. The programme ranges from Renaissance to the Beatles. Open air live folk and Celtic music down in this lively Partick Pub (corner Dumbarton Road and Mansefield Park) This brilliant West End venue has put together a great West End Festival programme including Hue and Cry on Saturday 9th June. Great start to the Festival. Sunday 10th June -4 p.m. - 7 p.m. An attractive option for after the Opening Street Party with colourful ales served to the sound of Muldoon's Ragtime Band - sounds like a great carnival option. Will entertain at the Kibble on Friday 15th june - 7 p.m. Fundraising event for Yorkhill Hospital Youth Development Fund. Tickets from Brel or Tickets Scotland 0870 220 1116 www.tickets-scotland.com You can also catch Concerts from Bowsart A fundraising event for ex-service men and women with a 'Market Place' in Gather in Glasgow, Ruthven Lane, off Byres Road, on Saturday 16th June at 10am until 4pm. Sounds like fun with various stalls,
showcasing the finest food, drink, jewellery and crafts that the West End has to offer. Enjoy some hubbly bubbly at Cafe Asiza, corner of Park Road/ Great Western Road, 1.00 p.m. - 9.00 p.m. Last year Brel was the winner of the West End Festival's most Enticing Pub - this year there will be three award: Roy Beers, Glasgow West End Drinking and Dining Editor explains more about the awards You can add your own comments at the bottom of the page.
You can listen to intrnationally acclaimed cellist Robert Irvine on Friday 15th june at 7.30 p.m. in St Bride's Church, Hyndland Road.
Tickets £10 - including glass of wine)
Free eventThe Lismore Sessions
Music sessions eash week-end of the festival. Saturdays and Sundays 2 p.m. OranMor
I also really fancy catching The Poozies Sunday 24th June - 8 p.m. - this could round off the festival on a high note with some accordian and fiddle playing. (this will be their only Scottish date of their 2007 tour).The Three Judges - Colourfest and Jazz
The Three Judges, 141 Dumbarton Road, partick. 337 3055. Free.Jo Mango and Friends
£8.Erskine Market Place
FREEShisha Party - Sunday 17th June
Tables outside - £4.99 a smoke Glasgow West End Website Festival Awards 2007