ORGANISERS of one of Renfrewshire’s best-loved festivals have unveiled this year’s line-up.

The 19th annual Lochwinnoch Arts Festival kicks off on Friday, March 6, and will feature music, comedy, drama, crafts, photo exhibitions and various workshops.

Dubbed ‘the Friendly Festival,’ headline acts include Scottish Jazz Awards finalists Rose Room and ‘Queen of Scottish comedy’ Janey Godley.

There will also be the return of the ‘World Scone-noisseur’ competition, which sees food fans from Lochwinnoch and beyond serving up scones in a bid to prove they are Renfrewshire’s best baker.

Morag Thow, who began the festival in 2001 as a one-day event, said it is an opportunity to boost local businesses and support up-and-coming artists, writers and performers.

She told The Gazette: “Our main aim is to bring a quality arts experience to rural communities, so that people can literally walk down the road to get involved.

“It nurtures people and gets people doing a bit more. There’s a lot of collaboration between different types of art. 

“There’s an artistic hub in the village and a fair amount of cross fertilisation.”

For the first time in its 19-year history, the festival will stretch over three weeks.

Gypsy-jazz favourites Rose Room will take centre stage at the McKillop Institute on Saturday, March 21, starting at 7.30pm.

Comedy fans can see Godley perform at 7.30pm on Sunday, March 29, also at the McKillop Institute.

Other festival highlights include an event hosted by author Melanie Reid, as well as a ‘world music weekend’ on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14.

Alan Bissett will perform ‘the Moira Monologues’ on Friday, March 20, and a craft fair being held the next day will include ‘heart-start’ CPR drop-in sessions, as part of the festival’s association with the British Heart Foundation.

The last day of the festival, on March 29, includes events such as ceramicists Wendy Kershaw and Alan Aitchison running a come-and-try pottery session.

For a full programme of events or to book tickets, visit the website.

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