GALASHIELS music promoter Bill Jeffrey has unveiled exciting and ambitious plans to bring 100 bands to the town over a single weekend.

But September 4th, 5th and 6th is no ordinary weekend.

For the “100 Bands on the Border” extravaganza will coincide with the first trains running to and from the town for 46 years.

“After what seems endless construction work, the opening of the Borders Railway has got to be cause for celebration and great civic pride,” said Bill who runs Jeffrey Music Promotions (JMP) and counts his singer/songwriter son – and new dad – Craig Jeffrey among his clients.

“The eyes of the world will be on Galashiels that weekend and we need to show the world what we’ve got to offer.” Bill has been planning an annual urban festival showcasing all musical genres – from rock to classical, jazz to traditional – for over a year.

But his vision has been crystalised by the railway’s impending return and the consensus – as expressed at the recent public meeting in the Volunteer Hall – that Galashiels must get its act together to exploit maximum economic and social benefits from its renewed connectivity.

That meeting spawned the action group Energise Galashiels which has welcomed Bill’s initiative.

“I’ve had an extremely positive response with venues signing up and bands and solo acts, both local and from all over the UK, keen to participate,” he told the Border Telegraph this week.

According to Bill, the Reivers, the Abbotsford, the Salmon Inn, the Ladhope and the Auld Mill have already agreed to host live music over the weekend.

Bill also hopes to use the town centre’s newly improved amenity areas – in Market Square and at the top of Channel Street – as outdoor performance areas and, to that end, is in talks with Scottish Borders Council.

Later this week he will meet the trust which runs the new Mac-Arts centre (the former St Andrew’s Church in Bridge Place) to find out how that 400-capacity venue can be used for headline concert performances during the festival.

And next month he is meeting Ian Smith, the musical supremo of Creative Scotland, the national development body for the arts and creative industries, to discuss a range of issues, including the possibility of partnership funding to help market the event.

“The festival itself is basically self-funding. I will supply the musicians and the venues will be expected to provide basic PA systems for the performers,” said Bill who is keen to stress the wider economic benefits of a festival he hopes will become an annual highlight of the region’s cultural calendar.

“Bringing 100 bands automatically brings anywhere between 400 and 500 people who probably wouldn’t come for any other reason and if they bring girl/boyfriends, wives/husbands and their families that figure could grow to over 1,000,” he told us.

“In the best case scenario if each band brings 10 fans, the number grows to 2,000 people in Galashiels and if just 500 of them book in with local accommodation providers, that would put over £50,000 into their coffers.

“On top of that, if the visitors spend just £100 each over the weekend on camping, food and drink, taxis, shops and other local services, that’s another £200,000 coming into the town.

“And that’s before we look at ticket sales or the spending of Borderers who come to Galashiels for the festival.” Before his meeting with Creative Scotland, Bill wants to hear from any other venues in the town which would be willing to get involved and from local musicians who want to perform.

Contact him on william.jeffrey1@btopenworld.com and keep up to date with developments on Bill’s JMP3 Facebook page.