Made in Irvine
Est in 2013
WHO WE ARE…
Willie Freckleton was Irvine’s very own ‘Mr Entertainment’. Part of the very fabric of our wee town, he was the man who for many a year brought so much entertainment and good music to the people of Irvine. He knew a hot ticket when he saw one, and crucially, he knew what the folks of Irvine wanted, whether they realised it or not.
Willie gave breaks to many acts that would go on to proper, global success. Billy Connolly. Oasis. Alan Cumming. All diverse, yet all owing a small part of their success to Willie, who saw fit to put them on the bill when precious few would give them the platform for success.
Willie also booked the big acts of the day, regardless of their ‘hip appeal’ or otherwise. “They get bums on seats,” was a well-voiced Willie phrase. Whether he was booking Runrig for yet another sell-out show, or making sure The Jam, The Smiths, Madness and many other bona fide chart acts included a stop-off in Irvine as part of their nationwide tours, Willie did indeed get Irvine bums on seats.
If he wasn’t looking after the needs of the Singing Kettle, Willie was bringing The Clash to town and setting aside part of the dressing room as a makeshift barbers so that Strummer and Jones could give Mohawk haircuts to the fans. If Willie wasn’t organizing haircuts for Thin Lizzy from George the Barber at Irvine Cross, he was handing over a brown paper bag stuffed with US dollars to his idol Chuck Berry – the agreed fee for the gig before he took to the stage. Everyone has a story about Willie. And all are complimentary. Ask around. Before long, you’ll bump into someone who knew Willie. And they’ll tell you the same. Willie was a true gent.
Freckfest was born after Willie passed.
It’s no coincidence that the big touring acts of the day stopped coming to Irvine in the time after his death. Growing up in Irvine, we almost took it for granted that a big name band would pull up in our town for a show. Pub chat led to action, and in August 2013, a group of highly-motivated music fans promoted a weekend festival – Freckfest – held in Willie’s name and honour at the Magnum.
A huge success, it enabled the Freckfest team to book and host monthly nights at the Harbour Arts Centre. All manner of acts have graced the HAC’s intimate ‘stage’; Nik Kershaw, Glasvegas, James Grant, Glenn Tilbrook… Heritage acts, brand-new acts and everyone in-between.
These shows afforded local acts the opportunity to share the billing with a big name.
The shows grew in popularity to the extent that monthly shows became weekly shows.
The shows grew in popularity to the extent that bigger acts started approaching us when they were putting together national tours.
Suddenly we were promoting Johnny Marr in the Grand Hall in Kilmarnock, Gun in Ayr Town Hall, an annual Seaside Ska event in Troon Concert Hall.
When the organisers of Butesong asked for some help, the Freckfest team got on board and helped to promote a boutique festival on the isle of Bute.
And now, almost a decade later, we’re still going strong, bringing the best in live music to the best venues in Ayrshire.
GIGOGRAPHY
2013 TO PRESENT
2013
1: 16th to 18th August: Magnum Leisure Centre (Ice Rink)
The Magic Numbers, JJ Gilmour, Them Beatles, Definitely Mightbe/Adored, The Underground Jam, Sean Kennedy, Colin Kennedy Band, Sonic Templars, What the Blood Revealed, Culann, Soldier On, The Train Wreckers, Less Than Sober, Jemma Kate, Proud Honey, The Chaplins, Mechanical Smile, Dear Stars & Bitter Sweet Blasphemy.
2014
2: 7th February: HAC
Colin Kennedy Band & Sean C Kennedy Band
3: 14th February: HAC
Common Ground, The Aboriginals & Accolades
4: 7th March: HAC
JJ Gilmour plus Sean C Kennedy with band
5: 21st March: HAC
The Tripps, Closer & Polar Bears in Purgatory
6: 11th April: HAC
Daniel Wylie plus Mojo Cams
7: 1st May: Clubhouse, Irvine
Colin Kennedy Band
8: 9th May: HAC
Medals plus This Secret Forest
9: 23rd May: HAC
Soldier On plus Dogtooth
10: 18th July: HAC
Culann, Sonic Templars & The Outlawed
11: 8th August: HAC
The Chaplins plus Tortuga
12: 13th August: HAC
Glenn Tilbrook plus support from Leon Tilbrook
13: 15th August: HAC
Andy Kershaw
14: 12th September: HAC
Model Aeroplanes plus Common Ground
15: 11th October: HAC
Nik Kershaw
16: 12th October: HAC
Nik Kershaw
17: 14th Nov: HAC
Jon Gomm plus Kenneth Bowman
18. 28th Nov: Magnum Theatre
Hotel California
19: 5th Dec: HAC
JJ Gilmour plus support
2015
20: 6th Feb: Troon Concert Hall
Seaside Ska: Esperanza, The Amphetameanies & Big Fat Panda
21: 7th Mar: HAC
Gun
22: 15th Mar: Magnum Theatre
MacFloyd
23: 3rd Apr: Magnum Theatre
Them Beatles
24: 10th Apr: HAC
JJ Gilmour plus Francis Lopez
25: 8th May: HAC
Grahame Skinner plus Marie Collins
26: 25th May: HAC
Neon Waltz plus The Tripps
27: 4th June: Magnum Theatre
Howard Jones plus Apache Darling
28: 3rd July: HAC
Soldier On plus Seaside Sons
29: 7th Aug: HAC
Twin Heart, The Belafonte & The Kastellos
30: 14th Aug: Magnum Theatre
Sean C Kennedy plus King of Birds & Josh Fraser
31: 2nd Oct: Magnum Theatre
Hotel California
32: 9th Oct: HAC
Losing Ground, Proud Honey & The Outlawed
33: 15th Oct: Grand Hall Kilmarnock
Johnny Marr plus Man Made
34. 6th Nov: HAC
James Grant plus Sean C Kennedy
35: 20th Nov: Magnum Theatre
Billy Kirkwood
36: 1stt Dec: HAC
Neon Waltz plus Saints & Lional
2016
37: 29th Jan: HAC
James Yorkston, Pictish Trail & Withered Hand
38: 20th Feb: Troon Concert Hall
Seaside Ska 2: Esperanza, Amphetameanies, Capone & The Bullets & Big Fat Panda
39: 4th Mar: HAC
Kevin McDermott plus James Michael Rogers
40: 11th Mar: Magnum Theatre
Soldier On, The Outlawed & Saints
41: 1st Apr: HAC
Colin Kennedy Band plus Jamie Angus
42: 8th Apr: HAC
Roddy Hart and the Lonesome Fire plus Josh Fraser
43: 22nd Apr: Magnum Theatre
Ultimate Bowie
44: 26th Apr: HAC
Man Made plus Sonic Templars
45: 29th Apr: Magnum Theatre
AC/DC UK
46: 6th May: HAC
Martin Metcalfe plus Colin Hunter
47: 14th June: HAC
Chesney Hawkes and Little Fire
48: 5th August: HAC
JJ Gilmour plus Sean C Kennedy plus Josh Fraser
49: 9th Sept: Magnum Theatre
MacFloyd
50: 16th Sept: Magnum Theatre
Billy Kirkwood
51. 17th Sept: HAC
Nine Below Zero plus Charlie Austen
52: 7th Oct: HAC
Horse plus AK Garfunkel
53: 17th Nov: HAC
Eleanor McEvoy
54: 25th Nov: HAC
James Grant plus King of Birds
55: 3rd Dec: HAC
Blue Rose Code plus Bella and the Bear
2017
56: 27th Jan: HAC
Dogtooth plus Table for One
57: 11th Feb: Troon Concert Hall
Seaside Ska 3: Esperanza, Bombskare, The Amphetameanies & Big Fat Panda
58: 18th Feb: HAC
Neon Waltz plus The Cairds
59: 18th Mar: HAC
BMX Bandits plus Joe Kane’s Radiophonic Tuck Shop
60: 12th May: HAC
Martin Metcalfe and the Fornicators plus Jamie Angus
61: 16th Jun: HAC
JJ Gilmour plus King of Birds
62: 15th Jul: HAC
Counselled Out
63: 4th Aug: HAC
Into the Ark plus Jemma-Kate
64: 11th Aug: Grand Hall Kilmarnock
Hipsway plus Apache Darling
65: 25th August: HAC
Sean C Kennedy plus Riley
66: 8th Sept: HAC
Miles Hunt / Erica Knockells & Tom Hunt
67: 7th Oct: HAC
James Yorkston, Kris Drever & Withered Hand
68: 21st Oct: Troon Concert Hall
AC/DC UK
69: 10th Nov: HAC
Peter Bruntnell Trio plus Alan Frew
70: 24th Nov: HAC
Blue Rose Code plus Louise Connell
71: 25th Nov: HAC
Blue Rose Code plus Louise Connell
72: 1st Dec: Ayr Town Hall
Gun plus The Belafonte
73: 8th Dec: HAC
Spleen plus Bosphorus plus Colin Hunter
2018
74: 26th Jan: HAC
The Kinks Experience plus Kenneth Bowman
75: 17th Feb: Troon Concert Hall
Seaside Ska 4: Esperanza, Big Fat Panda, Capone and the Bullets & Aye n Aye
76: 10th Mar: HAC
Horse plus Marina Rolink
77: 16th Mar: HAC
Roddy Woomble plus Colin Hunter
78: 6th Apr: HAC
Dead Hope plus Mary White Aryans
79: 6th Jul: HAC
Richard Jobson with Martin Metcalfe
80: 24th Aug: HAC
Nick Harper plus Lisa Kowalski
81: 15th Sept: HAC
Louise Connell plus Emma Sarginson
82: 19th Oct: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway
Rab Noakes with Jill Jackson
83: 3rd Nov: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway
Spirit Of Slim Chance
84: 10th Nov: HAC
James Grant plus Mackenzie Fox
85: 17th Nov: HAC
The Van Ts plus The Ranzas
86: 24th Nov: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway
JJ Gilmour plus Jamie Clarke
87: 30th Nov: HAC
Miles Hunt plus Erika Nockalls
89: 14th Dec: Grand Hall Kilmarnock
Counselled Out
2019
90: 1st Feb: HAC
Dogtooth plus Black Dove
91: 16th Feb: HAC
F32 Records Showcase with Mackenzie Fox plus Katie Palmer
92: 22nd Feb: Glenburn Hotel, Rothesay
Butesong: Adriana Spina, JJ Gimour, Boo Hewerdine & Chris Difford
93: 23rd Feb: Glenburn Hotel, Rothesay
Butesong: Roddy Woomble, Jill Jackson, Nerina Pallot & JJ Gilmour
94: 1st Mar: HAC
Preston Reed
95: 15th Mar: Troon Concert Hall
AC/DC UK
96: 16th Mar: Troon Concert Hall
Seaside Ska 5: Neville Staple, Esperanza, Bombskare &, Aye & Aye
97: 5th Apr: HAC
Jill Jackson plus Katie Palmer
98: 6th Apr: HAC
Alan McGee with Gerry Love DJ set
99: 26th Apr: HAC
The Shores plus The Cairds
100: 3rd May: HAC
JJ Gilmour plus Colin Kennedy
101: 17th May: HAC
James Grant plus Toy Tin Soldier
102: 18th May: HAC
James Grant plus Adrian Spina
103: 23rd May: HAC
James Yorkston plus Junkman’s Choir
104: 14th Jun: HAC
Glenn Tilbrook plus Charlie Austen
105: 22nd Jun: HAC
The Colin Kennedy Band plus Katee Kross
106: 5th Jul: HAC
Brownbear plus Katie Palmer
107: 16th Aug: HAC
Blue Rose Code plus Anna Sweeney
108: 17th Aug: HAC
Blue Rose Code plus King Of Birds
109: 6th Sept: HAC
Jools & Dante (Gun) acoustic plus Jamie Clark
110: 5th Oct: HAC
Jill Jackson
111: 12th Oct: HAC
Nick Harper: 58 Fordwych Road
112: 15th Nov: HAC
Boo Hewerdine plus The Girl Who Cried Wolf
113: 23rd Nov: HAC
The Pearlfishers plus Stranded Astronaut
114: 12th Dec: HAC
Glasvegas (Acoustic Show) plus Jonny Skinner
115: 28th Dec: HAC
Sean C Kennedy plus Alan Frew
116: 29th Dec: HAC
Sean C Kennedy plus Marina Rolink
117: 30th Dec: HAC
Kyle Falconer plus Matthew Hickman (Brownbear)
2020
118: 19th Jan: HAC
The Armory Show plus Dogtooth
119: 21st Feb: Troon Concert Hall
Simple Minded & Deacon Blues
120: 22nd Feb: Troon Concert Hall
Seaside Ska 6: Esperanza, Bombskare, The Skapones & Big Fat Panda
121: 28th Feb: Glenburn Hotel, Rothesay
Butesong: Rachel Sermanni, The Dunwells, Romeo Stodart, JJ Gilmour & Phil Kane
122: 29th Feb: Glenburn Hotel, Rothesay
Butesong: King of Birds, Emma Pollock, Martin Metcalfe, Richard Jobson & JJ Gilmour (full band)
123: 7th Mar: HAC
Carol Laula plus Lorna Brooks
2022
124: 9th Mar: HAC
Peggy Seeger & Calum MacColl
125: 9th Apr: HAC
Seaside Ska 7: Esperanza, Bombskare, Rudebeard & Big Fat Panda
126: 24th Apr: HAC
Skids (acoustic)
127: 13th May: HAC
Broken Chanter (full band) plus Jo
128: 20th May: HAC
Roddy Woomble plus Hector Shaw
129: 28th May: HAC
Boo Hewerdine plus Alan Frew
130: 3rd Jun: HAC
Soldier On
131: 4th Jun: HAC
Soldier On
132: 18th Jun: HAC
Ian McNabb
133: 9th Jul: HAC
Horse
134: 23rd Jul: Irvine Beach Park
Making Waves Festival: Del Amitri, Twin Atlantic, Fatherson, JJ Gilmour, Blue Rose Code, Nerina Pallot & Anna Sweeney
135: 24th Jul: Irvine Beach Park
Making Waves Festival: Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Abbamania, Big Vern & The Shootahs, XSM (Ex Simple Minds) & Junkman’s Choir
136: 12th Aug: HAC
Jools & Dante: Acoustic Gun
137: 27th Aug: HAC
JJ Gilmour performs Sunnyside P.A.L. in full
138: 27th Aug: HAC
JJ Gilmour performs This Time Will Pass in full
139: 30th Sept: Troon Concert Hall
Goodbye Mr Mackenzie plus Lola In Slacks
140: 2nd Oct: Troon Concert Hall
Hayseed Dixie plus Junkman’s Choir
141: 7th Oct: HAC
Benny Gallagher
142: 8th Oct: HAC
Benny Gallagher
143: 14th Oct: HAC
James Grant
144: 5th Nov: HAC
Jill Jackson plus John Douglas
145: 18th Nov: HAC
Alan J Frew EP Launch plus Jamie Clark
146: 19th Nov: HAC
The Eves plus Eve Davidson
147: 3rd Dec: HAC
Gerry Love plus John Douglas
2023
148: 24th Jan: HAC
The Bug Club plus Mr Anyway & Holey Spirits
149: 30th Jan: HAC
Colin Hay
150: 31st Jan: HAC
Colin Hay
151: 18th Feb: HAC
Chris Helme (The Seahorses) plus John Rush
152: 19th Feb: HAC
Chris Helme (The Seahorses) plus Concrete Kid
153: 31st Mar: Glenburn Hotel, Rothesay
Butesong: The Adventures JJ Gilmour Matt McGinn & Kirsten Adamson
154: 1st Apr: Glenburn Hotel, Rothesay
Butesong: Eddi Reader & John Douglas, JJ Gilmour, Monica Queen & Johnny Smillie & Jake Morley
155: 7th Apr: HAC
The Filthy Tongues plus Last Boy
156: 21st Apr: HAC
Romeo Stodart plus Jack Henderson
157: 28th Apr: HAC
Horse plus Katelyn Baxter
158: 6th May: HAC
Brownbear plus Jamie Coleman
159: 26th May: Troon Concert Hall
AC/DC UK
160: 27th May: Troon Concert Hall
Seaside Ska 8: Rhoda Dakar, Esperanza, Zen Baseball Bat & The Dughoose Ska Band
161: 28th Jul: HAC
Martin McAloon (Prefab Sprout)
162: 8th Sept: HAC
Brian Molley Quartet
163: 10th Nov: HAC
Nigel Clark (Dodgy) plus Evan Keen
164: 11th Nov: Troon Concert Hall
Tide Lines
165: 11th Nov: HAC
Ian McNabb
166: 18th Nov: HAC
Billy Sloan: One Love, One Life
167: 24th Nov: HAC
The Pearlfishers plus Harley Walsh
168: 25th Nov: HAC
The Supernaturals plus John Rush
169: 1st Dec: HAC
Blue Rose Code plus John Douglas
170: 2nd Dec: HAC
Blue Rose Code plus John Douglas
171: 9th Dec: HAC
James Grant
172: 9th Dec: HAC
James Grant plus Eve Davidson
173: 16th Dec: HAC
JJ Gilmour
174: 16th Dec: HAC
JJ Gilmour plus Abbie Gordon
2024
175: 1st Mar: Troon Concert Hall
Jerry Sadowitz
176: 8th Mar: HAC
The Countess Of Fife plus The Westway Allstars
177: 23rd Mar: HAC
BMX Bandits plus Alice Faye
178 & 179: 5th & 6th Apr: Glenburn Hotel, Rothesay
Butesong: The Bluebells*, China Crisis, JJ Gilmour, Ren Harvieu*, Abbie Gordon. Little Sparrow, Josienne Clark & Michael McGovern* (* ferries cancelled due to weather)
180: 20th Apr: HAC
Kirsten Adamson & The Tanagers plus Marina Rolink
181: 10th May: HAC
Constant Follower plus Eve Davidson
182: 11th May: HAC
John Douglas plus Sulidae
183: 25th May: HAC
The Langan Band plus Junkman’s Choir
184: 1st Jun: HAC
Caezar plus Jack Henderson
185: 12th Jul: HAC
The Cords plus Cassiopeia
186: 13th Jul: HAC
The Notions plus Jamie Angus
187: 13th Sept: HAC
Sean C Kennedy
188: 11th Oct: Troon Concert Hall
Glasvegas plus Tijuana Bibles
189: 11th Oct: HAC
Norman Blake plus Joe Gallagher
190: 8th Nov: HAC
The Pearlfishers plus Lorna Brooks
191: 9th Nov: HAC
JJ Gilmour plus Niamh Morris
192: 16th Nov: HAC
Xan Tyler & Little Sparrow double header
193: 23rd Nov: HAC
Eleanor McEvoy
194: 29th Nov: HAC
Jill Jackson
195: 28th Dec: Troon Concert Hall
Abbamania
196: 29th Dec: Troon Concert Hall
AC/DC UK
2025
197: 18th Jan: HAC
Juniper Three
198: 28th Feb: HAC
Wojtek The Bear plus the Muldoons
199: 7th Mar: HAC
Horse plus Emma Dunlop
200: 8th Mar: HAC
Nerina Pallot plus Brownbear
201: 29th Apr: HAC
The Tenementals plus the Cords
202: 4th April: HAC
Broken Chanter plus Jill Lorean
203: 12th Apr: HAC
Briana Corrigan plus Harley Walsh
204: 4th May: HAC
Roddy Woomble plus Soreen MacLean
205: 9th May: HAC
James Grant
206: 10th May: HAC
James Grant
207: 11th May: HAC
Gun
208: 11th May: HAC
Gun plus Pistol Daisies
209: 16th May: HAC
Brownbear plus The Claes
210: 6th Jun: HAC
Chris Helme plus The Claes
211: 19th Jul: HAC Blue Rose Code plus David Luximon-Herbert
212: 9th Aug: HAC
Things Found In Books with Yvonne Lyon & Boo Hewerdine
213: 12th Sept: HAC
The Wee Scottish Big Band
214: 19th Sept: HAC
Colin Kennedy: 50 Years in Music
215: 20th Sept: HAC
Ed Tudor-Pole
216: 10th Oct: HAC
Kirsten Adamson & The Tanagers plus Silver Arrow Collective
217: 24th Oct: HAC
The Filthy Tongues plus Colin Hunter
218: 31st Oct: HAC
The Cowboy Mouth
219: 2nd Nov: HAC
Nick Heyward plus Isabella Coulstock
220: 3rd Nov: HAC
Nerina Pallot
221: 14th Nov: Troon Concert Hall
Simon & Oscar (OCS) plus Steve Pilgrim
222: 21st Nov: HAC
Jill Jackson
223: 28th Nov: HAC
Kris Drever plus Polly Paulusma
224: 5th Dec: HAC
The Bluebells plus John & Eddi
225: 28th Dec: Troon Concert Hall
AC/DC UK
2026
226: 21st Feb: HAC
Pistol Daisys plus Too Red
227: 7th Mar: HAC
Kick Up The Arts: Nicola Meighan with Jill Jackson & Carol Laula
228: 13th Mar: HAC
Wreckless Eric plus Basil Pieroni
229: 21st Mar: HAC
Ross Leighton plus Colin Hunter
230: 28th Mar: HAC
The Countess of Fife
231: 24th Apr: HAC
Pictish Trail
232: 2nd May: HAC
Wojtek The Bear
233: 8th May: HAC
James Grant
234: 9th May: HAC
James Grant
235: 15th May: HAC
Sulidae plus support
236: 1st Sept: Troon Concert Hall
Tam Cowan ‘On The Road’
237: 11th Sep: HAC
John Bramwell
238: 2nd Oct: HAC
Cole Stacey
239: 20th Nov: HAC
Eleanor McEvoy
240: 21st Nov: HAC
Chris Helme
MEET THE TEAM
Dave
Treasurer
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Davina
Front Of House
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Davida
Booker
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