Thousands are expected to celebrate the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games at venues including Glasgow Green and the newly refurbished Kelvingrove Bandstand.
The special celebratory events will include live music, special guests and will allow revellers to watch all the action from the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at Celtic Park and Hampden live on big screens.
Lulu will lead the line-up at Glasgow Green for the Opening Ceremony, with a host of Scotland’s finest musicians, including Eddi Reader, James Grant, Rab Noakes, Sarah Hayes, Roddy Hart & the Lonesome Fire, Emma Pollock and RM Hubbert. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the very best Scottish food and drink at Glasgow Green with Scotland’s finest ingredients being showcased at a food village.
Lulu, who is headlining the Opening Ceremony Celebration at Glasgow Green said:
“The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are going to be amazing. Glasgow has much to shout about this year – and I look forward to cheering our sporting heroes on to success at the Games.
I am delighted to join thousands of Glaswegians and those from across the Commonwealth on Glasgow Green to celebrate the opening of such a momentous event. My home city has an incredible, worldwide reputation for friendliness and enjoying a good-old get together. The Opening Ceremony Celebration on Glasgow Green is the perfect occasion to invite everyone to join the party.”
To reflect the Commonwealth Games’ partnership with UNICEF, the leading children’s organisation, for every ticket bought for the Opening Ceremony celebration at Glasgow Green, £1 will be donated to the charity to support its work with children in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth.
The Closing Ceremony celebration will give everyone a chance to relive the highlights of the Games in an enormous, outdoor occasion with Treacherous Orchestra leading a rousing party on Glasgow Green, along with surprise and special guests to see out the Games in style.
The recently reopened Kelvingrove Bandstand will be the focus of celebrations in the west of the city, with an Opening Ceremony party featuring Belle and Sebastian. The band was instrumental in calling for the £2.1 million refurbishment of the historic bandstand.
The Closing Ceremony at the bandstand opens with a new commission from Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, performing with Tam Dean Burn and multi-instrumentalist, Corey Mwamba. There will also be rousing classical music from Scottish Opera and others before the screening of the Closing Ceremony.
Belle and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch, said:
“The bandstand at Kelvingrove Park is like a dream within a dream. We are very pleased to be playing there.”
The Opening Ceremony celebrations at Glasgow Green and Kelvingrove Bandstand will mark the start of 12 days of live entertainment at both venues with hundreds of performers appearing throughout the duration of the Games. Outwith the Opening and Closing Ceremony events at these venues, access will be free. For the latest information about performances, locations and times, please go to www.glasgow2014.com/culture
Eileen Gallagher, Independent Board Member for Glasgow 2014, said:
“This is Glasgow’s time to shine and we want as many people as possible to celebrate this amazing time in the city’s life, with thousands gathered together on Glasgow Green and at Kelvingrove Bandstand. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will bring city, nation and Commonwealth together and we want everyone to be a part of that.”
Councillor Archie Graham, the Executive Member for the Commonwealth Games, said:
“Glasgow will burst into life during Games times and I have no doubt that everyone will want to celebrate and where better than in some of our most iconic locations. The eyes of the world will be on us and everyone will see that Glasgow really does know how to put on a party.”
James Withers, Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink said:
“We’re thrilled to be involved in the celebrations at Glasgow Green. A phenomenal selection of Scottish food and drink producers are set to showcase a diverse array of indigenous produce throughout Festival 2014 giving visitors a true taste of the best of Scotland. 2014 is a tremendous opportunity for Scotland’s food and drink industry to really promote the best of Scotland’s natural larder to both to the home crowds and a global audience. We are building a lasting legacy from the sporting and other major events taking place to ensure that by 2015 Scotland is truly recognised as a Land of Food and Drink.”
The Festival 2014 Opening Ceremony Parties will come just days after the Queen’s Baton Relay travels around every part of the city on a three-day journey. At the end of each day, there will be Finish Line Community Celebrations, the first of which will be in Springburn Park on 20th July, followed by Victoria Park (21 July) and finally Queen’s Park Recreational Ground (22 July). Each night, up to 8,000 people will be able to enjoy free events.
Tickets are on sale from 10 am on Wednesday June 4 and are available via www.glasgowlife.org.uk or by calling 0844 844 0444.
Tickets for the Festival 2014 Opening and Closing Ceremony Parties start at £5, with concession and family ticket packages available. Adult tickets for the Opening Ceremony on Glasgow Green are £20, £10 (conc), family tickets from £40. The Kelvingrove Bandstand Opening Ceremony Party, with Belle and Sebastian are £25 (adult), £12.50 (conc), family tickets from £55.
Glasgow Green Closing Ceremony Celebration tickets are priced at £10 (adult), £5 (conc), family tickets from £20. Kelvingrove Bandstand Closing Ceremony Celebration tickets are priced at £10 (adult), £5 (conc), with family tickets from £20.
