Glasgow's Merchant City Festival adopts 'vintage' theme

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-23476318

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Glasgow's cultural quarter is stepping back in time this weekend as part of the Merchant City Festival.

The festival, which is being held for the 12th time, includes a series of events celebrating vintage British music, fashion, film, art, dance, food and design from the 1920s to the 1980s.

The festival is also taking on a Commonwealth theme to mark a year until the start of the Glasgow 2014 Games.

Organisers hope to attract a record 100,000 people to this year's event.

Festival highlights include fashion shows, street dancers and singers.

Displays include an interactive installation called The South Brunswick Street Rope Factory, which features 71 coloured ropes representing the states of the Commonwealth. The ropes are woven together as a map which visitors can walk through.

'Timeless style'

Creator Wayne Hemingway said the vintage events were centred on "timeless style".

He explained: "There's an amazing history of film, fashion and design in the UK from the 1920s and it's still relevant.

"People who lived in the 70s and 80s first time round loved it, and still enjoy it, and then there is the new generations who are just finding out about it."

He added: "You can't reinvent everything, some things can be updated and upgraded, but over the weekend we're going to celebrate everything from classic cars to proper disco, and there is something for everything with a roller disco and Bugsy Malone screenings for kids."

The festival is funded by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, Creative Scotland and Glasgow Arts.