Number One star to headline festival in Borders

Ally McGilvray • Published 28 Sep 2010 14:41 0 Comments

Share this

ONE of the country's biggest music producers, a former chart-topper and a television funnyman are among the headliners at this year's Borders Music and Comedy Festival, it has been announced.

Tinchy Stryder, who is currently in the chats with single 'In My System', James Walsh, the former frontman of chart-toppers Starsailor, and Scottish comedian Fred MacAulay will all perform during a week-long series of events to be staged across the region from November 1 to 7.

The Festival, which is organised by DF Concerts, the promoters of T in the Park, and Edinburgh Fringe comedy legends Gilded Balloon, traditionally fronts a mix of music and laughter, with established acts and up and coming stars.

It is hosted across intimate venues in the Borders including the Corn Exchange in Melrose, Hawick Town Hall, and the Victoria Halls in Selkirk.

More acts are to be announced in the coming weeks. But tickets went on sale this week.

The first two music acts to be announced already cater to a mix of music tastes and are regulars on the gigging circuit.

Tinchy Stryder, who holds two number one hits from popular album Catch 22, is currently in the charts with a single from new album 'Third Strike' due to be released in November.

In this chart busting album Tinchy collaborated with N-Dubz, Taio Cruz and Amelle from the Sugababes all reaching positions within the top three of the UK charts. He will play Hawick Town Hall on Tuesday, November 2.

James Walsh is former front man of Starsailor who are best known for hits 'Silence is Easy', 'This Time' and 'Four to the Floor'. Since 2009 James has embarked on a solo career releasing his first album and also writing music for the film 'Powder'.

He has co-written with various people including Dutch singer Ilse De Lange and worked with American songwriter Suzanne Venga. James is due to release his new solo album in 2011 and will play Melrose Corn Exchange on Saturday, November 6.

On Thursday, November 4, the Corn Exchange in Melrose is treated to a trio of funnymen - James Kirk, Parrot and Bruce Morton. James Kirk, who won the Gilded Balloon 'So You Think You're Funny?' competition this year, has only been performing stand up since December 2009 but has already established himself as one of the best up and coming acts on the Scottish circuit. James describes his style as nervous, awkward and self depreciating.

The founding member of Scotland's ground breaking comedy collective, The Funny Farm, Parrot will also be joining James in Melrose. Parrot has performed highly acclaimed solo shows at five Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, headlined at some of the biggest comedy clubs across the UK, including The Stand, Jongleurs and the Comedy Store in London.

Finally, Glaswegian Bruce Morton will be part of the laughter on November 4. Bruce has been in the comedy scene since 1988 and is now an acclaimed comic, storyteller and social commentator. He was the founder of the Funny Farm and has numerous appearances on TV, theatre and radio.

He won the first ever 'So you think you're funny?' competition, a Perrier nomination at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, two UK tours and a critically acclaimed one man show 'Blood Below the Window'.

Another night of comedy takes place with well known Scot Fred MacAulay at Victoria Halls in Selkirk on Saturday, November 6. Fred has been presenting the funny and eventful Fred MacAulay Show on BBC Radio Scotland since June 1997.

Fred who is a major force on the comedy circuit, has also appeared in some of the UK's top TV programmes including 'Have I Got News For You', 'They Think It's All Over' and Bring Me The Head Of Light Entertainment'.

Borders Music and Comedy Festival Line Up so far: Tinchy Stryder, Tuesday 2nd November, Hawick Town Hall; Bruce Morton, Parrot and James Kirk, Thursday 4th November, Melrose Corn Exchange; James Walsh, Saturday 6th November, Melrose Corn Exchange; Fred MacAulay, Saturday 6th November, Victoria Halls Selkirk.

Tickets for each individual gig are on sale now and can be purchased from www.gigsinscotland.com or by calling 08444 999 990.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our What's On archives.

Border Telegraph Poll

Should Galashiels welcome a return of the game Handba' after 300 years?

No responses yet

Yes (%)

No (%)

Follow @bordertelegraph