Latest news with #AndyAlston
Glasgow Times
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Del Amitri star to perform intimate Glasgow anniversary gig
Accordion and keyboard player Andy Alston, in the band best known for the tune Nothing Ever Happens, will take to the stage. He'll perform at Woodside Hall on May 2 to celebrate its 100th anniversary and raise money for their community fridge. Andy hadn't set foot in the hall until just over a month ago, but quickly fell in love with it. He said: 'I've lived in Glasgow for years and years, since around 1991, and toured the world. 'But a month ago, I was taken into the hall, and it's beautiful, like it's preserved in aspic. 'I'd always seen the red brick exterior when I'd been at the Lidl nearby, but when you get inside the place, it opens up like a Christmas present, it's such a great space. 'It's special, it's got that same kind of magic like the Barrowlands has that you only get with a place steeped in history.' Andy Alston, Mark Ferrari, and David Archibald (Image: Newsquest/Colin Mearns)The Woodside Hall has been a space for the local community for the past century, and regularly offers a venue for groups and events. Jenny Garcia Bree, spokesperson for Maryhill Community Central Halls, who manage the venue, said: 'The hall has been at the heart of the community and has been a public space for all of its 100 years. 'We thought what better way to celebrate this milestone than to welcome people into the space and put on an event that shows off the rich and diverse culture of the city. 'It's nice to celebrate this alongside Glasgow's 850th anniversary too, it feels like a really special time.' Andy became the creative director of the event through his passion for the hall and for raising money for the project. (Image: Newsquest/Colin Mearns) It'll see his band, Andy Alston and The Earthly Delights, joined by The Tenementals, an eight-piece band who aim to use their songs to tell the "radical history" of Glasgow. There'll also be performances by the Abhinaya Glasgow Dance Academy, poet Bob McInally and the Glasgow Reggae Club, who will perform a special celebration for what would've been Bob Marley's 80th birthday. There'll also be photography exhibitions and other art to create a 'celebration of Glasgow'. Andy joined Del Ametri before recording their second album, Waking Hours, which was released in 1990. They have released seven studio albums, five of which have reached the UK top 10 and sold over six million albums worldwide. Doors open at 6.30pm and £10 tickets are available via Skiddle.
The National
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Del Amitri member among musicians to celebrate Glasgow hall
Keyboard player Andy Alston, who has also played in a host of other bands, including pop band Orange Juice, has organised a day of celebration for the Woodside Halls in Maryhill, Glasgow. The community hall will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a day of live music, dance, theatre, a reggae disco, and even a raffle, all under the building's historic roof on Friday, May 2. The night is curated by Alston to not only honour the rich heritage of one of Glasgow's most notable community buildings, but also reignite local pride and connection around it. READ MORE: 'Amazing' historic 300-year-old silver coin found by amateur historian Alston, who has lived in the West End of the city since 1990, said he had never been in the hall despite having walked past it many times. However, when he was invited into the hall by the local community ahead of the event, Alston said he was taken aback at how amazing it was. He said: 'A lot of these places are maybe redeveloped with student flats or discos or something like that, but it's an amazing space, that's original and really well preserved.' (Image: Google) He added: 'It's almost like a Christmas present or something you've never seen the inside of before, and then you're like 'wow'. 'Then you think oh, we could use it for other events, as spaces like this are important.' Funds from the event will go towards the Woodside Community Fridge Project, which helps provide food for those in need. Alongside Alston, there will be live performances from the Garden of Earthly Delights along with the Glasgow-based rock band The Tenementals, who are a group of academics, artists, and musicians who tell the city's radical history and untold stories through song. Singer and founder of The Tenementals, David Archibald, hailed community halls' impact on Scottish communities across the country as he said they provide a vital space for cultural activities. He said: 'The Tenementals are more than happy to play at Woodside Hall's 100th birthday bash. 'Community halls play a vital role in providing spaces for cultural and critical activity, whether that be children's playgroups, community organising, discussion and debate, or musical events of all sorts – the recent Conterflows festival was hosted by the venue and by all accounts was a great success. 'Community halls are spaces of possibility which open doors to different futures. In working-class areas, they are vital.' The chief executive of the Community Central Hall, a community trust which is responsible for the operation of the building, said: 'As a community organisation we managed to re-open this historic venue after the pandemic and are working hard to give this lovely space the care and love it deserves after 100 years of service not only to our community, but also the wider city of Glasgow. 'We have an ambitious plan for the future, and this event marks a great occasion.' Tickets are available for £10 and £7 for concessions, and doors will open at 6:30pm with live performances starting at 7:00pm.
