We sat down for a quick chat with Euan Alexander, producer of the live music programme at Stranraer Oyster Festival. As well as drumming with his own band, Astoria, Euan has supported us for several years to select a live music line up that entertains and showcases local talent.
What we can expect from this year's live music programme?
"We're going to have a wide variety covering all different genres of music, whether it be from ska to country to traditional, to high end cover acts and some original artists also. So hopefully we'll cater to all tastes.
"When we first took on organising acts for the festival, it was always in my head that we have to bear in mind it’s a food festival with a bit of music, not a music festival a bit of food. But over the years the entertainment marquee, where the acts play, it's grown to be its own kind of thing, people will just stay there all weekend.
"With the popularity of the festival growing it allows you to bring in better quality acts. Some of the bands from outside of the area will bring their own following, and then once they come and see the festival and see what it’s all about, they’ll return and it just benefits everybody."
Tell us about this year’s headliners?
"For Friday night, we've got Pork Pie who have been here before. They are a ska band based in Edinburgh, and every time they've played here, they've had the tent absolutely bouncing, to the point where they've actually gathered a following from people from locally now, so that should be a good way to kick the weekend off.
"On Saturday it's going to be myself in Astoria, doing good covers, covering all genres. Going by last year, it was an absolutely fantastic night, so hopefully we’ll have the tent bouncing again.
"Then on Sunday, we'll have The Dangleberries. They’re well known and play all over the country at various festivals, playing popular music, but incorporating bagpipes, so I'm looking forward to that."
Tell us about some new acts that are playing the festival for the first time?
"We've got a couple of new acts, one being Stacey Joy, who is an original artist, and also a band called DopeSickFly. There's also Kissing the Flint on Sunday, who are a well known covers band in the area. I think they may have one or two original tunes as well. And we've got The Suspects on Friday, who will be on just before Pork Pie, so hopefully they'll be able to liven up the crowd up before the headliner to kick it off."
What would you say to people thinking about visiting the festival for the live music?
"I think just come along and enjoy it. I would say this year the production levels, even the size of the marquee, everything is moving up a gear to a higher standard. So I'm really looking forward to seeing how it all goes this year.
"You're looking at a music program lasting over three days, which is not something that really has happened before. We've had festivals before that maybe lasted a day, but over three days, full of music, this is probably going to be one of the best programs we've had, from the start of the festival right to the end. You know, it's going to be music all the way."
If you could invite anybody at all to play it tomorrow oyster festival, who would it be and why?
"You would want something that would cater to everybody, like the Red Hot Chili Pipers, you know, somebody well known but you don't want it to be too big, sometimes less is more. If it stays at the size it is now, I think it works perfectly and it also means we can showcase local talent.
"This year we’ve a great line up of local acts, so like Stranraer Brass Band, for example, and the Lighthouse Musicians, younger people that are getting involved with music. I think it's important to give them an experience and performing in front of crowds. We’ve also got Chopperhead, who are well known, they play all over locally, a good kind of rugged covers band, and Paragon of course who are playing on the Saturday."
Live Music Schedule
Friday
- 6.30-7.15pm Stranraer Brass Band
- 7.30-8.30pm The Suspects
- 9-11pm Porkpie
Saturday
- 11-11.40am Paragon Music Ensemble
- 11.40-12.20pm Loch Ryan Highland Dance Events Group
- 2.15-3pm Stacey Joy
- 3.20-4.20pm Jimmy Mac
- 4.40-5.40pm Chopperhead
- 6.50-7.50pm Dopesickfly
- 8.10-9.10pm Missionary Men
- 9.30-11.45pm Astoria
Sunday
- 11-11.30am Lighthouse Musicians
- 11.45-12.30pm George Payling (Formerly Texas Gun)
- 12.45-1.30pm Kissing The Flint
- 1.45-2.30pm Way Out West
- 2.45-3.15pm Wild Thyme
- 4-4.45pm Jimmy Tennant
- 4.45-6.30pm The Dangleberries
