Full programme for all nine days of the Merchant City Festival 2016 unveiled

The full programme for the Merchant City Festival, featuring all world premieres, dazzling performances and wonderful entertainment has been unveiled.

Article Source: Merchant City Festival
Last Updated: 6 July 2016 15:33

Among the highlights are the return of Surge and Vintage to the Merchant City Festival, a dedicated strand celebrating Scotland's Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, dance, comedy, music, performance, food and drink and much, much more. The Merchant City Festival starts on 30 July and runs until 7 August 2016.

The Merchant City Festival, which has been utilising animating the streets and venues of the Merchant City since 2002, will get underway on Saturday 30 July when Surge, the festival within a festival run by Conflux returns with an outstanding programme of performance and street art. Among the highlights are Block, a collaboration between Motionhouse and No Fit State Circus. Surge also features a beautiful sculptural performance from Dudendance, a riotous musical performance with Punk-it and dozens of outdoors street theatre shows throughout the opening weekend. For full information about Surge and details of where to see performances and where to buy tickets please visit www.merchantcityfestival.com

Vintage, the celebration of classic design curated by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway, returns across the final weekend of the Merchant City Festival bringing a Vintage Car Boot Sale, a Tea Dance, Charleston Brunch and a celebration of the music of David Bowie and Roxy Music called Oh! You Pretty Things! Tickets and full information can be found at www.merchantcityfestival.com

Scotland's Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is celebrated across the nine days of the Merchant City Festival with a series of events that includes a two day signwriting masterclass from Mike Meyer, a peek behind the scenes of the design and build of the new V&A Museum in Dundee, the launch of fashion accessories brand NU BLVCK's first autumn / winter collection, walking tours and workshops, films and a discussion around Scotland's design talent and the contribution they make to the economy.

Councillor Philip Braat, Chair of the Merchant City Festival Committee said: "The Merchant City Festival programme is packed full of top quality performances, workshops and events as well as a huge programme of live music, comedy, street theatre and much more. The festival has become firmly established in Glasgow and Scotland's cultural calendar and with a high quality programme and top class acts and performers coming in 2016, its reputation will be enhanced still further. There is something for everyone at the Merchant City Festival and we look forward to welcoming you."

The very top floor of a car park in Duke Street is the venue for a performance of new dance work Of Riders and Running Horses while Aerial Edge return to the Merchant City Festival with a new circus show called Dreams. Acclaimed choreographer Janis Claxton brings world premiere and MCF commission Pop Up Duets which will appear in bars and cafes across the Merchant City. LEAP Sports brings an acrobatic performance with a twist with Strong Lady Productions, Seattle's Moisture Festival comes to the Britannia Panopticon, and The Briggait will present A Variety Circus Bash as a conclusion to the Merchant City Festival.

The full programme including dates and times of performances, details of the opening weekend Carnival, ticket prices where applicable and where to buy them can be found at www.merchantcityfestival.com

VisitScotland Regional Partnerships Director Liz Buchanan said: "The Merchant City Festival epitomises the diversity, colourful vibrancy, fun and excitement of Glasgow and its thriving cultural scene. This year's nine-day event looks set to be even bigger and better than ever, featuring a packed programme of superb and diverse entertainment encompassing fashion, visual arts and music to food and drink and family activities.

"Fabulous Scottish creativity and originality underpin this year's festival and we were delighted to provide support through our Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 events fund to ensure there are lots of opportunities to celebrate Glasgow's love of style and design, as well as the city's importance as a cultural hub which inspires and nurtures talent across so many areas. I hope that as many people as possible will come along to experience this unmissable highlight of Glasgow's annual events calendar."

Also coming to the Merchant City Festival this year are a Brazillian/Caribbean carnival, bringing together artists and groups from across the city and across the world, the hugely popular family zone in Merchant Square,thanks to support from Merchant Square/Clydebuilt, a site specific opera in Sloans Bar, Edinburgh Fringe comedy previews and the return of the hugely popular Brunswick Street Party and Blackfriars stage and the food and craft markets.

Music performances include appearances by X-factor winner Matt Cardle, The Penman Jazzmen, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, four nights celebrating Glasgow's Unesco City of Music status in Merchant Square, and there is a chance to play a Steinway piano on the stage of the City Halls for Lids Open Day.

As always, the Merchant City festival promises fun for the whole family throughout. For 2016 there is Family Storytelling at the Tron Theatre, building Balloon Powered Classic Cars, Open Days at Greyfriars Garden and Artcamp from Catalonia.

Throughout the Merchant City Festival, local bars and restaurants will also be offering specially created food and drink. Brewdog will be bringing their beer truck, called Truck Norris, to the festival. Ad Lib in Ingram Street will host a Chilli Con Carne festival and on Saturday 6 August enjoy the Virginia Courtyard Festival.

Gaelic projects are also coming to the Merchant City Festival including the return of Airc, the Gaelic Hub at The Briggait which involves impromptu performances and workshops, a curated programme for 12 to 18 year old called Staing and an exhibition called Le Muirn.

The Merchant City Festival is supported by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, EventScotland as part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design and Creative Scotland.