Article Source: The Spree Festival
Last Updated: 4 October 2019 15:30
Glasvegas, Hue and Cry, The Snuts, Gruff Rhys, Karine Polwart, Jerry Sadowitz, PP Arnold and Hayseed Dixie are just some of the top acts coming to town for the fast-growing festival, which is now into its eighth year.
The bulk of the action at The Spree 2019 will take place in the specially-erected Salon Perdu Spiegeltent in Paisley’s County Square – with a bigger tent than in previous years allowing for more people to enjoy the performances.
The opening night (Friday 11 October) sees a tribute to one of Paisley’s favourite musical sons – A Gerry Rafferty Songbook, featuring Roddy Hart, Emma Pollock and Rab Noakes.
On Sunday 13 October, hotly-tipped Scots rockers The Snuts will play to a sold out Spiegeltent before Hue and Cry entertain a sell-out crowd on Monday 14 October.
Platinum-selling indie-rockers Glasvegas come to Paisley for their only full-band Scottish date of the year on Tuesday 15 October and Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys brings his solo show to the Spiegeltent on Wednesday 16 October.
London’s First Lady of Soul, PP Arnold, will perform songs from her six-decade career, including the classics ‘The First Cut is the Deepest’ and ‘Angel of the Morning’ alongside Ocean Colour Scene guitarist Steve Cradock on Thursday 17 October.
Singer-songwriter Karine Polwart is celebrating her first UK Top 40 album and will bring her Scottish Songbook of fantastic covers - including songs by Frightened Rabbit, Biffy Clyro, Chvrches, Gerry Rafferty, Deacon Blue and more to the Spiegeltent on Friday 18 October.
The festival closes on Saturday 19 October with two fantastic shows. First, a sold-out performance from comedy headliner Jerry Sadowitz in the Spiegeltent, then a second late-night closing party of classic rock hits from US ‘rockgrass’ outfit Hayseed Dixie.
Comedy lovers can enjoy two late-night stand-up shows featuring Fred MacAulay, Susan Riddell, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd and Mark Nelson (Friday 11 October) and Scott Gibson, Rosco McCelleland, Jay Lafferty and Gary Little (Friday 18 October).
The Spiegeltent will also host an all-day festival within-a-festival on Saturday 12 October, with LNP Promotions ever-popular ModStuff celebration of all things Mod, including the spectacle of the annual scooter rideout.
The popular Paisley Arts Centre will host a series of gigs, including Lost Map’s Lost Weekend Sunday Social featuring the Pictish Trail, Fell, Molly Linen and Callum Easter (Sunday 13 October), Paisley in Song featuring Michael Cassidy and Andy Monahan (Frightened Rabbit) on Thursday 17 October, and an appearance from ex-Arab Strap musician Malcolm Middleton plus support from Megan Airlie (Saturday 19 October).
The Arts Centre will also show a number of film screenings, including Loki’s History of Scottish Hip-Hop and Stretch & Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives (Tuesday 15 October) and Rudeboy: The Story of Trojan Records, which includes an after party where you can dance away to the label’s hits of 60’s and 70’s (Friday 18 October).
The Wee Spree popular programme of kids activities will take place as part of the main Spree festival with thousands set to be entertained during the school holiday period.
Highlights include the Bricks 4 Kidz Camps on Tuesday 15 October, Dance Along Moana and Mary Poppins film screenings on Thursday 17 October, Comedy 4 Kids Show on Friday 18 October and a bumper afternoon with Scotland’s top traditional musicians and young up-and-coming talent at Fèis Phàislig’s Stramash in the Spiegeltent on Friday 19 October.
This year will also see the return of the popular Spree for All fringe festival with gigs and events taking place in towns and villages across Renfrewshire.
The Spree festival is one of the centrepieces of Renfrewshire Council’s major events programme which has made Paisley one of Scotland’s key cultural destinations in recent years.
This year’s festival is programmed by Regular Music and sponsored by Tennent’s Lager.
Some shows have already sold out, so move quickly to secure your tickets by visiting the full listings page at www.thespree.co.uk.
Ahead of its programme launch on 2 July, EIFF venues will include Filmhouse, Cameo Cinema, Vue Omni and a new pop-up screen at National Galleries Scotland: National.
READ MOREOne of Edinburgh’s most popular city centre restaurants has started a new dining chapter at its famous Castle Street venue.
READ MOREIHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) today announces the opening of Garner Hotel Edinburgh - Haymarket, a 195-room flagship hotel bringing a fresh energy to the city’s West End.
READ MOREPupils from local Edinburgh primary schools swapped the classroom for beekeeping as they had the chance to visit Fort Kinnaird’s thriving beehives for a day buzzing with educational fun.
READ MOREEdinburgh started to unwrap its annual Christmas present, with the announcement of this year’s festive celebration dates and a first hint of what to expect this year.
READ MOREEdinburgh International Festival Director and Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti performed alongside guitarist Plínio Fernandes as part of a series of NHS Festival Sessions.
READ MORECineworld has today announced £1 Family Films, running every week from July 25, so that families can be more childish together all summer long.
READ MOREThis summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MOREFamily favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MOREThe Bothy Boutique in central Edinburgh is the retail arm of The Breakfast Bothy, a small grassroots charity supporting people in the community who are experiencing homelessness.
READ MOREDrummohr Camping and Glamping Site at Musselburgh was named Camping Site of the Year in the 2025 Scottish Hospitality Awards.
READ MOREWith the Fringe Festival right on the doorstep, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is once again hosting a fantastic array of shows and activities!
READ MOREPupils at Newtongrange Primary School have even more reason to celebrate the end of a successful academic year, having just been awarded the UNICEF UK Gold Award.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s landmark cinema Filmhouse has today revealed images of its new screens and spaces ahead of its public reopening tomorrow Friday 27 June.
READ MORESummerfest, the FREE family festival at Loch Lomond Shores, is back on the 5th and 6th of July with lots of things to see and do!
READ MOREDrawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Titian will be among 45 Italian Renaissance drawings going on display in Scotland for the first time this October.
READ MOREEdinburgh Climate Festival returns on 28th June. A free festival that aims to celebrate & inspirate climate action in our local communities.
READ MOREThe biggest show of its kind in Scotland returns with Earlybird tickets and a give-away with headline sponsor Border Caravans!
READ MOREThis weekend, in celebration of Edinburgh Pride, Pret A Manger is turning up the sparkle with an in-shop glow-up station!
READ MORECheck out July at Dobbies with it's Little Seedlings Club on rainforests and Grow How on pest control and healthy gardens!
READ MORECafe Calton, located at the top of Calton Hill and offering panoramic views of Edinburgh, has opened in Edinburgh.
READ MOREMichael Harrison, in association with Cameron Mackintosh, is delighted to announce the full casting for a major UK and Ireland tour of MISS SAIGON, including a run at Edinburgh Playhouse.
READ MOREA lineup of world-class musicians at the forefront of their fields are today added to the Edinburgh International Festival programme.
READ MOREA community-owned woodland in East Lothian is undergoing a remarkable transformation thanks to a grassroots replanting project supported by Loganair’s GreenSkies Community Fund.
READ MOREDuck & Waffle Edinburgh is proud to announce its vibrant celebration of Edinburgh Pride, honouring the city's LGBTQIA+ community.
READ MORELost Shore Surf Resort, Scotland’s most exciting new holiday destination, is making waves for families this summer - with free surf lessons and sessions for kids throughout July.
READ MOREEdinburgh International Film Festival has announced that the six short films created as part of the inaugural NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab will have their World Premieres this year.
READ MOREHistoric Environment Scotland is calling for people across the country to connect with heritage to boost their wellbeing as a part of a national campaign, Historic Places, Breathing Spaces.
READ MOREToday, the producers of the 2025/26 UK and Ireland tour of FRIENDS! The Musical Parody are delighted to announce casting for the side-splitting musical comedy.
READ MOREScotland's hospitality industry and customers have spoken, and the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 has listened!
READ MORE