VERTEX Festival in West Kilbride runs from Friday, October 26 to Sunday, November 4.

This is the second year of this new multi-disciplinary festival of music, theatre, dance, film, visual arts, talks and comedy.

The opening night sets the tone with two contrasting events: New Focus Quartet (part of Music in West Kilbride’s annual programme), in the village hall from 7.30pm, the quartet comprises Konrad Wiszniewski (saxes), Euan Stevenson (piano), Mario Caribe (bass) and Alyn Cosker (drums).

Margaret McCrorie of MiWK said of them: "Collectively they are wonderful, individually they are great musicians who love working together. The quartet is described as ‘the perfect festival fare; rich arrangements, memorable themes, fine playing and a unique mix of jazz, classical and folk'." 

Rocky Horror Picture Show, a high octane immersion into the ultimate audience participation film (cue sheets will be provided), and a chance to dress up as one of the film’s many characters. The Barony’s doors for this will open at 7pm with the screening from 8pm.

Over the following nine days Vertex presents: Hoodoo Voodoo and a further opportunity to dance into the small hours on Saturday 27, also in the Barony. This event begins at 7pm and will end at midnight. In between you can dance to Artistic Licence and be entertained by the elegant chanteuse, Sophie Cotton.

Sunday, October 28 (8pm) Vertex welcomes to the village hall the Coast of Arran Seabed Trust, known as Coast. Their achievements in rolling back the effects of years of over fishing of the seabed in Lamlash Bay and the southern area of Arran are a magnificent tribute to what local people can achieve when they put their minds to it. http:// www.arrancoast.com. 

Monday 29 (8pm) Jessica Danz is a new resident of the village, from Australia where she received her musical training. Her musical odyssey has included a year on Lewis and several commissions by Scottish groups, and writing for the Brodick Quartet. Her performance, on vocals, piano and violin, will introduce you to someone who whilst relatively unknown in North Ayrshire has a global profile.

Tuesday 30 (from 7pm) Steve Le Mash and Rip It Up. No one who has a passing connection with Scottish culture will be unaware of the rich history of Scottish music.

In two sessions, back to back in the village hall, Vertex first shines a light at 7pm on the Art of the DJ in the company of Steve Le Mash who regularly performs to 1000s at festivals, and who is a ‘goto’ character in the business to learn about what makes a good DJ. His will be an illustrated talk i.e. he will have some kit with him, with which he will reveal his approach to constructing and delivering a good DJ set.

Vic Galloway and Pete Stanton are best known as a BBC Radio Scotland presenter and a film maker respectively but for Vertex (from 8.30pm) they will reprise their work on the popular exhibition, book, and TV programmes Rip It Up – which this summer has attracted large numbers to the National Museum of Scotland (closing on November 25) in Edinburgh.

This is your chance therefore to test your own knowledge of the history of Scottish Popular music (roughly from 1950-present day) in the company of two men who have not only documented it brilliantly but who are also major figures in the music industry, in their own right. But as we are all experts you may not agree with their views.

Drew Kirkland, another of the Vertex team, said: “Surrounding these are a range of other events and activities including several free events hosted by Twa Dugs, the Kings Arms, and the Barony.

“We hope that there will be one or two events in the programme that will tempt people out to enjoy the positive feelings that Vertex will generate in the village, as it did in 2017.”

The whole programme is now available for download at www.vertexfestival. co.uk.