Performers take to Glasgow for Merchant City Festival
From energetic street theatre and live music to art installations and family fun, the festival brings together a rich tapestry of performances and experiences.
(Image: Robert Perry) (Image: Robert Perry)
READ MORE: Why this 'breathtaking' and 'otherworldly' beach is named the best in Scotland
Merchant Square plays host to a variety of activities including market stalls, speciality food tastings, and interactive events perfect for families.
Adding a theatrical flair to the streets, Surge Festival's street theatre features surprising and immersive performances that are sure to delight passers-by.
Family-friendly programming, developed in partnership with Imaginate, takes place within Merchant Square, while the Social Hub Stage will showcase a curated music line-up by Surge and 432 Presents.
(Image: Robert Perry) (Image: Robert Perry)
READ MORE: Boost for holidaymakers as Glasgow Airport strikes set for next week 'suspended'
(Image: Robert Perry) (Image: Robert Perry) Foodies can indulge in street food delights served by Dockyard Social, while the festival market offers a treasure trove of artisan stalls to explore.
For those in search of a calmer pace, the Ambient Arcade and Quiet Space at Impact Arts on the Boardwalk provide a soothing sanctuary amid the bustle.
Whether you're dancing in the streets, sampling gourmet bites, or enjoying a moment of tranquillity, the Merchant City Festival offers something for everyone.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
12 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Ho Lee Fook & Fook Mei :'It isn't your bog-standard kind of food'
Try it, and you'll understand the urge to share the experience with friends, or why queues now form outside McFarlane Street come rain or shine on the weekends. Pictured: Ho Lee Fook serves some of Glasgow's best street food (Image: Robert Perry) 'The East End attracts people from all walks of life,' Lee Chung says of their location in the shadow of the historic Barrowland Ballroom. 'You've got hipster types, proper old school Glaswegians and a younger student crowd. 'Every single person who comes to eat with us is different.' Long before Ho Lee Fook came to be in 2023, the duo grew up as 'takeaway kids', learning skills from family members which would ultimately go on to shape their future in ways they had never imagined. 'My mum and dad are from Hong Kong, as are Johnny's, and both of us basically grew up in takeaways. 'Although I wasn't working in them at first, from a young age, I was used to being in these sorts of fast-paced and chaotic environments. 'I never thought I would actually do it for myself, but I suppose no matter how hard you try, we all slowly end up turning into our mothers.' Chung laughs. Pictured: Ho Lee Fook can be found directly over the road from The Barras (Image: Robert Perry) While their peers might have been eating sandwiches, Lee and Johnny spent their adolescence munching on dim sum, noodles, and dishes that 'felt like home to them' while surrounded by the rich, aromatic flavours of traditional Asian cooking. Four months of travelling Southeast Asia together after they met later planted the seed for a fusion street food spot of their own, but first, they would spend close to 10 years at the helm of popular Airdrie Chippy, Off the Hook. 'We had great relationships with our team and customers, so it was really sad to leave,' Chung says of their decision to move on. 'During our time there, we got married, three days before opening the chippy, and then had our honeymoon in the chippy, popped out two kids, got some awards and worked through the pandemic. "It really was our first baby. 'But we were paying such high rents and rates that we decided to look into doing our own thing. 'That's when we happened across a little unit at The Barras.' Due to the tiny footprint of this space, Lee and Johnny had the chance to test out their new concept for Asian street food dishes without worrying about excessive overheads or recruiting other staff members. 'The plan was just to give it a go and see how we got on,' she explains. 'It's crazy how it's all taken off.' Following in the footsteps of neighbouring businesses like The Gate, Scran, Smokey Trotters, Ho Lee Fook brought a whole new energy to the area, strengthening the food offerings available around The Barras and ultimately attracting more visitors to the market on weekends. 'Because our place is so small, when the queues start, there can sometimes be a wait. 'But with The Barras so close by, people don't mind going for a rummage around the market until their order is ready. 'I love seeing what they come back with. It could be a couple of coffees or a kitchen chair or something, you just never know.' In the two short years since they served their first portions of hand-stretched Biang Biang Taiwanese Noodles in chilli oil and tonkatsu sandos, the team at Ho Lee Fook has celebrated the arrival of many talented new street food vendors at The Barras. 'Even since we opened, there have been so many cool food places that have joined the market," Chung muses. 'If we weren't so busy, I would have been out to try every single one of them by now. 'There's the Crumbleologist, Bolt Burgers or Gyros from Greek Street Yeeros. 'And of course, there are the ones who were here before us, like the guy who does fish balls or rice noodles and stuff. 'It isn't just your bog-standard kind of food. You can taste everything and everything at The Barras– it's mad.' There's now an exciting new chapter on the horizon for Ho Lee Fook, following the announcement that they will soon open a second location nearby on London Road. 'The shop is not big enough for us now, and we need a prep kitchen,' she says 'So we're opening up a noodle and sando bar in the unit that used to belong to Scran before they relocated." The name of their new venture, Fook Mei (translating to 'Luck, taste') is in keeping with the tongue-in-cheek and lighthearted approach to their work that has helped Lee and Johnny Chung establish themselves as one of Glasgow's most celebrated street food spots. 'I think the name Ho Lee Fook [which translates as good, wealth, luck] has a lot to do with people finding out about us at The Barras," Chung says. 'It obviously means something in Chinese, but it's also a bit cheeky, gets people talking and feels really suited to where we are in the East End. "But, there's nothing gimmicky about our food. "We pour our heart and soul into our cooking, and we're really lucky that people have enjoyed it." Ho Lee Fook is located at 1 McFarlane Street in Glasgow. Find them on social media @holeefook
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Woman behind viral Coldplay ‘kiss cam' moment speaks out
The woman who filmed the infamous Coldplay 'kiss cam' incident does not regret uploading the clip to social media. Grace Springer posted video of married tech company CEO Andy Byron being caught on a stadium screen embracing a work colleague to TikTok on Friday (18 July), where it went on amass over 122 million views. Appearing on ITV 's This Morning, Springer admitted she felt bad for Byron's wife, but suggested footage of the incident was always likely to surface online. ' I definitely feel for Andy's wife, Megan, his family, and everyone else who's been hurt in the process,' she said. '[But] there were over 50,000 people and I'm not the only one that caught it on camera. ' So if it wasn't me who uploaded it, I'm sure someone else would've.'
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Vote for photos of Glasgow taken by homeless artists
The images are the result of the 'My Glasgow' project by Simon Community Scotland, which provides support to people who are homeless. Participants were given disposable cameras and asked to capture the city as they see it within one week. (Image: Supplied) They had the rare sunny week in Glasgow to take their photos. Lorraine McGrath, chief executive officer of Simon Community Scotland, said: "People we support continue to amaze us every day. "They have done it again, the images the public have to choose from showcase talent and love for Glasgow and all its quirks." Read more: Ex-Rangers star John Lundstram could be on the move again - with one caveat The charity is now inviting the public to help choose 12 final images to feature in the first 'My Glasgow Calendar', which will go on sale in October. All finalists have received a cash prize, and the final 12 will receive a further prize for being part of the calendar. (Image: Supplied) Funds raised from the sale of the calendars will go directly to helping people experiencing homelessness. To view the My Glasgow finalists and vote, go to Emma McBride, project co-ordinator for My Glasgow, said: "I've been blown away by the creativity of everyone involved. "These photos capture the raw vibrancy and beauty of Glasgow from a truly unique perspective. "I'd encourage everyone to come down to The Merchant City Festival, visit The Metropolitan Bar, and cast their vote – either by QR code or online. "It would mean the world to our finalists." The final 24 photographs were on [[pub]]lic display in the windows of the Metropolitan Bar as part of the Merchant City Festival last weekend. The images are also available to view on Simon Community Scotland's website and social media channels.
