Annual Paisley festival gets ready for digital debut!
This weekend marks the digital debut of Paisley's annual Sma' Shot Day celebrations as a series of virtual events and workshops will take place to mark this important date in the town's calendar.
Article Source: Renfrewshire Council
First Published: 29 June 2020 17:17
Updated: 29 June 2020 18:53
The online event will take place on Saturday 4 July – the time when the weavers and their families would traditionally always take their holidays.
The move to take the event online for 2020 is in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure celebrations can still take place in adherence with national guidance.
The traditional Sma’ Shot holiday in Paisley takes its name from a famous dispute between the local shawl weavers and manufacturers in the 19th century. In 1856, following a long dispute, the manufacturers backed down and an agreement was reached to pay for the Sma’ Shot, the invisible stitch which bound the Paisley shawls, with a new table of prices published on 1 July 1856.
This year’s event will not only mark this important date in the town’s history but will also celebrate our fantastic key workers.
The event always offers plenty of opportunities for people to get involved and have fun and this year is no exception.
The day will kick-off in style at 12pm as The Charleston Drummer himself, Tony Lawler, will lead a mass online drum-off where the public are being encouraged to make as much noise as they can and share their celebrations on social media.
Aerial dance theatre company, All or Nothing, will be performing dance and music project - Connecting Threads - inspired by the background and history of Sma’ Shot. Everyone is invited to join in and dance along to the new Sma’ Shot inspired music track by Dave Boyd.
In the run-up to Connecting Threads local groups and individuals have been participating in online classes and creative tasks with the group and have submitted videos that will feature in a short film that can be viewed online on the day.
Local theatre company PACE will be hosting live drama workshop sessions created especially for the day – an interactive storytelling workshop suitable for 3-7 year olds and an activity-based session aimed at children aged 7 and above.
Sma’ Shot Day favourite - The Tea Dance - will also take place this year, albeit it from the comfort of your own home, as Renfrewshire Leisure and Paisley FM bring a special Sma’ Shot Day radio broadcast of this popular event.
For those who want to be fully immersed in the day’s events, local upcycled fashion innovators ReMode have put together some online video tutorials to show how people can get crafty and make their own costumes or window decorations to celebrate the day.
It would not be Sma’ Shot Day without the popular Poetry Slam. This year the spoken-word event will be known as the ‘Dooslan Staying Hame’ where people can enjoy some poetry written during lockdown and performed by some of Renfrewshire’s finest contemporary poets and spoken-word artists.
In addition, Renfrewshire Leisure and The Bungalow are partnering up for the Sma’sh Hits Sma’ Shot Special music event, showcasing a selection of local musicians.
For those looking to start Sma’ Shot weekend off early join CREATE Paisley and host Jordan Stewart for an unplugged Live Open Mic night on Friday 3 July featuring young singer/songwriters from across Renfrewshire.
This will be followed on Saturday 4 July by ‘Paisley in Song’ where people can enjoy five songs from young Renfrewshire songwriters in this exclusive online showcase. The youngsters worked alongside Paisley-songwriter Michael Cassidy to develop a set including two new collaborative songs celebrating our key workers and NHS, and three songs exploring Paisley's incredible history of song writing and poetic legacy, written in 2019 as part of Renfrewshire Council’s THCARS2 project.
Renfrewshire’s Provost, Lorraine Cameron, said: “Sma’ Shot Day is such a popular date in the town’s calendar and it’s excellent that we can still celebrate it this year through a series of fantastic online events.
“The digital programme is packed full of fun, interactive and creative activities that the whole family can participate in and enjoy – helping to create the amazing sense of community that is always so present at this event.
“I can’t wait to welcome you all to Saturday’s event and I look forward to logging on and enjoying some of the great activities planned.”
For all the information on what’s taking place as part of this year’s digital Sma’ Shot Day and how you can get involved, please visit www.paisley.is/featured_event/sma-shot-day/.
Latest Glasgow News
Historic Environment Recovery Fund Grants Awarded
Over £1.9 million has been distributed to help support the recovery of Scotland’s historic environment sector from the impacts of COVID-19.
Scottish Ballet brings the health benefits of dance to your home
Scottish Ballet launches an expanded programme of ballet classes, community engagement programmes and health resources to bring the benefits and joy of dance to everyone!
Woodside Library consultation gets underway
Woodside Library consultation gets underway ahead of £1.9 million improvement works.
The Last Dance will premier on Sky Arts this month
Runrig's sell-out farewell concerts, filmed live in front of 50,000 fans by BAFTA-winning Glasgow-based digital entertainment company, Blazing Griffin, receives its UK TV premiere on Sky Arts!
Learn at home whilst exploring Scotland virtually
With schools closed to most pupils, some of Scotland's most popular visitor attractions are offering homeschooling help to parents across the country!
Celebrate Burns Night with Invisible Cities
Invisible Cities, the social enterprise that trains people who have previously experienced homelessness, will be hosting an online quiz to celebrate Burns Night.
Stroke Association calling for local residents to put in the strides for stroke
The Stroke Association in Scotland is encouraging local residents to get involved in its 'Stride for Stroke' challenge, to walk 10,000 steps a day for 120 days.
Shop local with Bonnie Bairn as the premier pregnancy & family fair in Scotland goes digital
Bonnie Bairn, Scotland's Premier Pregnancy & Family Fair is set to take place online for the first time ever, encouraging a nation of parents to #ShopLocal from the comfort of their own home.
COP26 volunteer programme launches ahead of global event
Glasgow City Council is looking for a team of around 1000 volunteers to support the staging of this globally significant event.
QTS Group lends its support to Glasgow charity
Leading rail contractor QTS Group has announced its charities of the year, including Glasgow-based Samuel's Smile, a children's charity supporting those who suffer from rare diseases.
Organisations urged to share innovation success at Datafest21
The Data Lab is calling on organisations contributing towards Scotland’s reputation of being at the cutting edge of innovative technology to share their successes to mark Datafest21.
Dobbies release podcast to mark first Stroke Prevention Day
The UK’s leading garden centre retailer, Dobbies Garden Centres, teamed up with the Stroke Association to mark Stroke Prevention Day.
Glasgow Canal Co op will launch their Getting North Glasgow Canal Active project in February
New signage, vibrant panels and cycling trips planned for the canal as part of new project.
Come and have a go if you think you are Bard enough!
Still Game star Gavin Mitchell is showing his support for the Beatson Cancer Charity's upcoming Burns event with a fun call to action to find Rabbie Burns lookalikes!
Glasgow reveals studio plans for Kelvin Hall
A major new television and film studio is set to be created in the centre of Glasgow!
The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show goes online
Scotland's biggest staycation event, The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show, is going online for 2021 in a free virtual event!
The World Tunes in to Celtic Connections 2021!
With over 10,000 festival passes already sold, 44 countries from around the world will be tuning in to tonight's Celtic Connections Opening Concert!
Wedgwood the Restaurant has created a five course lockdown feast to celebrate Burns Night
Edinburgh’s award-winning Wedgwood the Restaurant is the first restaurant in the UK to launch a ‘Burns Box’, available nationwide, to celebrate Burns Night (25th January) in lockdown.
Charity single released to help give young performers opportunities
Glasgow Philharmonia are well known for their big performances up and down the country... but for the first time ever, they have released a charity single!
Scottish charity set to host the Biggest Online Burns Supper
Specialist charity SBH Scotland is joining forces with international superstar Fran Healy, as well as Scottish comedians Janey Godley & Fred MacAulay to host the world's biggest virtual Burns supper!
Celtic Connections marks one week to go with programme announcement
The Celtic Connections online festival will begin one week today. Across 19 days, the festival will present over 30 online performances between 15th January and 2nd February!
New home for major sculpture feared missing for 26 years
A sculpture by internationally renowned artist George Rickey has found a new home in Glasgow's Queen's Park after being feared missing for 26 years.
Sighthill time capsules buried
Wednesday 16th December 2020 saw the marking of a piece of Sighthill's history with the burial of two time capsules at the Sighthill Circle, the stone circle in the area.
Funding boost for Scottish heritage projects
Brisbane Observatory, Govanhill Baths and The Ridge Foundations CIC are among the latest round of Historic Environment Support Fund recipients!
Santa Claus is coming to town... oh yes he is!
Gather the family around the TV this Christmas and join in the usual fun and frolics of a Pavilion Panto!
St. Enoch Centre supports local charities
Tis' the season to be generous, according to St. Enoch Centre which is giving away a total of £5,000 to a range of charities this month.
Hard Rock Cafe brings festive cheer back to Glasgow
Eat, rock and be merry at Hard Rock Cafe Glasgow as they reopen their doors to guests this December!
Brakes put on Scottish drive in events until 2021
In light of the new Tier restrictions, the Scottish company behind one of the UK's largest drive-in tours, The Parking Lot Social, has been forced to cancel all dates in Scotland for the rest of 2020.
LUX Scotland announce dates and new format for the AMIF
LUX Scotland are pleased to announce the dates and format for the forthcoming Artists’ Moving Image Festival (AMIF).
Rapunzel by the National Theatre of Scotland is set for festive release in selected Scottish cinemas
Rapunzel, the innovative new festive film from the National Theatre of Scotland, created in a first-time partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, is set to hit screens this month!
Sponsored Links
