
Paisley's Sma' Shot Day returning with packed programme
This year's event promises a packed programme of entertainment, beginning with the return of the vibrant parade and the dramatic Burning of the Cork.
Read more: 'Gruesome' chapter of Paisley's history to be examined during free event
Pauline Allan, events manager at Renfrewshire Council, said: "Sma' Shot Day is an important day for Renfrewshire where we come together and celebrate our town's history.
"There's so much for people to enjoy this year and we can't wait to welcome the community to Paisley town centre for another fantastic Sma' Shot Day."
The parade will set off from Brodie Park at 12pm, winding through the town before concluding at Abbey Close.
Co-ordinated by Bridgeman Arts, the parade will feature giant puppets inspired by traditional musicians and poets of the era and will include contributions from community groups, performers, and musicians.
A highlight of the day will be the Burning of the Cork, which takes place once the parade arrives at Abbey Close and Bridge Street.
The main stage will host performances from PACE Youth Theatre, who will dramatise the struggles and triumphs of the Paisley weavers, as well as other local acts.
Family-friendly entertainment will be available throughout the day, including free children's activities such as face painting, inflatables, arts and crafts, and a funfair.
OneRen's Skoobmobile will also be on-site, offering games and summer reading activities.
Food traders will be present to keep visitors fuelled throughout the festivities.
Beyond Abbey Close and Bridge Street, visitors can explore the Brown Lane Makers' Market, hosted by Restoration and Creation from 10am.
The market will feature live music and children's workshops throughout the day.
Read more: Renfrewshire residents urged to help feed hungry children with summer walk
The historic Sma' Shot Cottages will also open their doors for tours, giving visitors a glimpse into Paisley's textile heritage and the lives of weavers in the 18th and 19th centuries.
For those who fancy a dance, the Tea Dance at the Methodist Central Hall will offer an afternoon of music and movement.
Sma' Shot Day is organised by Renfrewshire Council as part of its major events programme, which brings thousands of visitors to the area each year.
The full programme of events can be found on the paisley.is website.
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Glasgow Times
08-07-2025
- Glasgow Times
Thousands celebrate Paisley's annual Sma Shot Day event
The event, organised by Renfrewshire Council, took place on Saturday, July 5. One of the world's oldest workers' festivals, the event commemorates the Paisley weavers' victory in a 19th-century industrial dispute. Supported by UNISON Renfrewshire branch, the festivities kicked off with the much-loved Sma' Shot parade, organised by Bridgeman Arts alongside local community groups, performers, and musicians. This year's parade also featured two brand-new giant puppets, inspired by traditional poets and musicians, and showcased vibrant costumes and performers. Read more: Urgent warning ahead of TRNSMT 2025 in Glasgow (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) After 33 years of carrying the Charleston Drum in the Sma' Shot Day parade, Tony Lawler passed the drumsticks to Tommy McGrory of Paisley music school Loud 'n' Proud. The handover was marked by a brief ceremony at Brodie Park before the parade proceeded to the town centre. Once at the main event site at Abbey Close and Bridge Street, attendees enjoyed the traditional Burning of the Cork, a Sma' Shot Day highlight, introduced by spoken word artist and Tannahill Makar Shaun Moore. Abbey Close became a hub of entertainment for the afternoon, with performances on the live stage from PACE Youth Theatre, who re-enacted the weavers' struggle for Sma' Shot payment, Evelyn Laurie and Neil Thomson, Howlin' Radio, and the Byres Road Big Band. The afternoon also included pop-up performances outside Paisley Abbey and at Restoration and Creation, a local upcycling business. Read more: 'Kickstarting the summer': Free giant ball pit returns to Braehead shopping centre (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) The business also hosted an artisan makers market and a selection of children's workshops. A range of free family activities was available, including face painting, inflatables, arts and crafts, and a funfair. The historic Sma' Shot Cottages also opened their doors to offer visitors a glimpse into Paisley's rich weaving history. Sma' Shot Day is a key part of Renfrewshire's major events programme. More information about upcoming events in Paisley and Renfrewshire can be found on the website.


Glasgow Times
12-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
Paisley's Sma' Shot Day returning with packed programme
The town will come alive on July 6 for Sma' Shot Day, one of the world's oldest workers' festivals, which honours the historic 19th-century victory of Paisley's weavers in an industrial dispute. This year's event promises a packed programme of entertainment, beginning with the return of the vibrant parade and the dramatic Burning of the Cork. Read more: 'Gruesome' chapter of Paisley's history to be examined during free event Pauline Allan, events manager at Renfrewshire Council, said: "Sma' Shot Day is an important day for Renfrewshire where we come together and celebrate our town's history. "There's so much for people to enjoy this year and we can't wait to welcome the community to Paisley town centre for another fantastic Sma' Shot Day." The parade will set off from Brodie Park at 12pm, winding through the town before concluding at Abbey Close. Co-ordinated by Bridgeman Arts, the parade will feature giant puppets inspired by traditional musicians and poets of the era and will include contributions from community groups, performers, and musicians. A highlight of the day will be the Burning of the Cork, which takes place once the parade arrives at Abbey Close and Bridge Street. The main stage will host performances from PACE Youth Theatre, who will dramatise the struggles and triumphs of the Paisley weavers, as well as other local acts. Family-friendly entertainment will be available throughout the day, including free children's activities such as face painting, inflatables, arts and crafts, and a funfair. OneRen's Skoobmobile will also be on-site, offering games and summer reading activities. Food traders will be present to keep visitors fuelled throughout the festivities. Beyond Abbey Close and Bridge Street, visitors can explore the Brown Lane Makers' Market, hosted by Restoration and Creation from 10am. The market will feature live music and children's workshops throughout the day. Read more: Renfrewshire residents urged to help feed hungry children with summer walk The historic Sma' Shot Cottages will also open their doors for tours, giving visitors a glimpse into Paisley's textile heritage and the lives of weavers in the 18th and 19th centuries. For those who fancy a dance, the Tea Dance at the Methodist Central Hall will offer an afternoon of music and movement. Sma' Shot Day is organised by Renfrewshire Council as part of its major events programme, which brings thousands of visitors to the area each year. The full programme of events can be found on the website.


BBC News
29-05-2025
- BBC News
The singer who's swapped burlesque nights for tea dances
A Glasgow singer more used to burlesque nights and rock gigs in Los Angeles is ready for a new challenge - a show at a tea Hickey was one half of indie duo Codeine Velvet Club around 15 years ago, a pairing with Fratellis singer Jon Lawler that shone brightly but only also released solo material and been a regular performer at legendary nightlife fixture Club Noir before taking several years away to focus on her family. However she's making a comeback in an unlikely setting - performing big band standards and vintage pop classics on Friday morning at a Glasgow hotel. The show is part of the three day long Clyde Chorus series of concerts to mark Glasgow's 850th anniversary. Organisers wanted to ensure there were gigs suitable for different ages, with performers including singer Nina Nesbitt and a selection of acts from the Glasgow that's where Lou - now a mum of two who teaches music - comes in..."They were looking for something for the older generation", she told BBC Scotland News. "They were thinking things like war tunes and things like that, but a lot of people in this category probably liked Buddy Holly, Elvis and the Everly Brothers, so the remit expanded."It's the kind of stuff I grew up singing at family parties. I was kind of a weird kid, because I listened to the charts and was a big East 17 fan. "But I was also word perfect on Buddy Holly songs by the time I was five just because my dad always played them and there would be family sing-songs. So it's a good fit for me." That means Lou, who has rarely gigged since the coronavirus pandemic put the music industry on hold, will now be getting back onstage is a far cry from the likes of the Hollywood Palladium, where she played years ago as Codeine Velvet Club shot onto the scene - all glamour and sashaying, orchestral pop duo released a self-titled album in December 2009 through major label Island Records and toured at both home and the group, which started because Lou knew Fratellis singer Jon Lawler through being friends with his wife, was over as quickly as it went off to focus on other projects and return to his day job, while Lou settled into solo work."It seems like another life now," she recalls. "I'll be watching something on TV and see the Hollywood Palladium and I'm like 'oh yeah, I played there!' It seems like it happened to someone else, and to be honest I miss those songs."It was a huge learning curve, a big opportunity but I was always conscious these things don't last forever. I don't know if I'd have wanted them to either." Those mixed feelings are because Lou found a tougher side to success than she expected, being the only woman in the band as they toured."As much as there was excitement it was a really lonely stage of my life too. I felt out of my depth a little bit. There were all these exciting things but I'm a homebody too, and that was hard for me."However she continued making music, until gigs were all stopped during the covid pandemic - which led to her re-examining her priorities."All the admin stuff was exhausting. When covid happened I really didn't miss that side, of having to coordinate booking, sorting out money, things like that - it sucks the creativity out."When you have a family as well to support it's a lot. You hear that as a woman you have it all but you can't, you need to make compromises, and I was trying to find the balance in amongst all of that." She admits there are nerves about performing again after years away, even though Friday's location - the Hilton Garden Inn - isn't the most intimidating location she'll have played in."I always thought the right opportunity would come up for a gig to get me back doing it again, but I'm nervous, having been away from it for a while. "I do feel anxious but it sounds lovely, so if I was going to put myself back out there then this was the perfect opportunity to do it."And if the nerves do get to her, she'll have support in the form of her family, who will be there cheering her on."My mum's coming – she's in her 80s and I feel it's the sort of show she would love. I wish my dad was still here for it. And my kids seem very keen on getting time off school to come along..."