Arts festival will play to the tune of live music

Wire and Wool, a seven-piece band drawing on their diverse cultures to bring to life full-on bluegrass punk and roots revival heaven. They have wowed Celtic Connections, the Southern Fried Festival in Perth and the Glasgow Merchant City Festival to name but a few. They will play in Cupar on June 24 as part of the free music programme at Cupar Arts Festival.

The free gigs, from an array of Scottish musicians and bands, will take place during the week-long visual arts festival, which runs from June 18-25, and will run alongside the main programme of art from 20 established contemporary artists.

The festival kicks off with a free launch party on Saturday, June 18 at noon, with music at 4pm from electronic duo Stephen Lee and Mark Small.

The launch party also includes street food prepared by Fife’s food ambassador Christopher Trotter, who will cook with ingredients selected from Cupar farmers market that morning.

A giant pinhole camera, The Caravan Obscura can also be found elsewhere in the town. Visitors will be able to see things from another perspective as they step inside a specially transformed caravan.

Live music continues throughout the week with free concerts from David Webster and Stevie Anderson of Sinderins on Sunday, June 19, the eclectic Onion Club (featuring Pauline M. Hynd) on Tuesday, June 21 and the upbeat bluegrass Wire and Wool on Friday, June 24.

Gayle Nelson, festival director, said: “Having such a wonderful collection of live music this year adds an alternative element to this established arts festival.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s director of events, said: “The addition of live music from a variety of home-grown performers will provide art enthusiasts with another reason to visit one of Scotland’s most unique small towns for this year’s Cupar Arts Festival. We’re delighted to support the festival in Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design and welcome this extension of the festival programme, which is set to entice more people to experience visual art and performance in the town’s public spaces and local venues.”