Burnsfest – South Ayrshire Council's headline live music festival – takes place at Rozelle Park on Saturday 5 May 2018 and offers a packed programme of free live music and attractions for all the family.
80s icons Hipsway will headline the event, which runs from 1-10pm, and are sure to get the crowd going with their intoxicating blend of pop/rock and soul as they perform their well-known hits including Broken Years, Ask the Lord, Long White Car, and their breakthrough hit Honeythief.
Performing at Burnsfest for the first time, the band are sure to enjoy a warm Ayrshire welcome when they take to the stage.
Joining Hipsway on the line-up is the one and only(!) Chesney Hawkes whose 1991 number one hit – 'The One and Only' – stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks and also made the top ten in the USA. Since then, Chesney has continued to delight crowds on the festival and performance circuit as well as progress writing and producing collaborations with the likes of Jake Gosling, best known for his work with Ed Sheeran, Adele and Lady Gaga, and Stuart Copeland from The Police.
Scottish singer/songwriter Carol Laula, who has become a household name over the past 18 years, will also wow the crowds with her musical talents and style, which is said to flit between the sweet clear delicacy of Joni Mitchell and the tougher edges of Joan Armatrading. With eight albums under her belt and a renowned Burns repertoire, she's certain to be a hit with the crowds.
Popular band Apache Darling are set to add Burnsfest to their impressive list of live sets with their very own brand of what has been described as "the new pop" thanks to their blend of fuzzy synths, solid backbeats and soaring vocals.
Opening this year's Burnsfest will be Katee Kross & The Amberjax. Katee is a Scottish singer songwriter working towards her third self-penned album, which is due out later this year. She has previously supported Sandi Thom, Dougie McLean, Barbara Dickson, James Grant and Karine Polwart as well as playing with Seasick Steve at Wembley Arena, and performing at the Country to Country Festival in Glasgow.
Indie rock band Brownbear – a previous hit at T in the Park – will be performing tracks from their new album, 'What is Home, while energetic folk/pop band, The Hur, will bring together the traditional sounds of Scotland and Ireland with their own unique blend of folk pop.
Ayrshire's own Anna Sweeney will also be performing tracks from her new album, 'Game Face', after a year that's seen her make her debut in Nashville and take to the stage for Celtic Connections.
As well as all these fantastic acts on the main stage, there's lots of fun and entertainment elsewhere on the Burnfest site:
A-Coo-stick stage – Michael Crawford & Emily Rutter, Rubicon, Cameron J Smith, Becca Sloan, Flew the Arrow, Chris Andreucci, Rigid Soul, Gian-Luca Grant, Sophie Rogers and Andy Kerr.
Haverin' Hoolie – Carolyn O'Hara, Ian White, George Cameron, Rosie Mapplebeck, Jolyn Dewson, Cathy Costello, Jen Hughes, Chris Barron, Jean Hillhouse, Derek McClukie, Adam Greig, Ian Downie, Robert Neil, Joan Elliot, Tracy Harvey and Lorna Wallace. Plus – come along and try out our open mic session and show us what you've got!
Bairns Bunnet – Bookbugs, Wild Planet Explorers and South Ayrshire Youth Forum takeover. Plus Little Fawn Puppets, Haggis Hunt, Archery Tag, The Games Nook and more!
Burns Street Food & Drink Village includes everything from Mexican and Indian delicacies to homemade brownies and Prosecco Afternoon Tea (always remember to drink responsibly).
Burns Fairground, Openair Burns, The Lifeboat, Haggis Hunt and more!
There will be free shuttle bus runs 12:30pm-10:30pm from Ayr rail station to the Burnsfest site, so getting to and from the event couldn't be easier, so come and join us.
Burnsfest 2018 is organised by South Ayrshire Council and sponsored by Burns Pet Nutrition and Owen Kerr Signs.
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