Mill issue 4 | March/April 2019

MILL Culture and lifestyle for Paisley and Renfrewshire Lochwinnoch Arts Festival Spring fashion revealed The Limmy interview

004

Saturday 18 May

St James Playing Fields, Paisley 10am-6pm

British Pipe Band Championships PIPE BANDS / HIGHLAND GAMES /

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT / FOOD VILLAGE FREE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE

WWW.PAISLEY.IS

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

04 HELLO! A few words from our editor 06 WHAT’S ON Our jam-packed events guide

12

FEATURES

16 COUNTER CULTURE Community cafe, Comicrazy 36 OPEN MINDS Exploring mental health and disability 40 JOHNSTONE A guide to the town’s many treasures 46 RENFREW TOWN HALL A beautiful and historic landmark 56 PACE The renowned youth-oriented theatre company 60 PAISLEY FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL Scotland’s largest food and drink festival is back 66 PEOPLE Jazz musician Evelyn Laurie

LIFESTYLE

24 FASHION Our first curated fashion shoot 32 BEAUTY More tips and advice 42 INTERIORS Breathe easy with plants 58 CAFFEINE BUZZ Know your cappuccinos from your lattes 62 FOOD & DRINK Lunch at The Farm at No. 12 and dinner at Japan Street Food

24

CULTURE

12 INTERVIEW Scotland’s favourite son, Limmy 18 LOCHWINNOCH ARTS FESTIVAL The friendly festival 38 SAMA’s Kathryn Joseph and C Duncan 48 INTERVIEW Singer-songwriter Joseph Malik 50 MUSIC The hottest Spring gigs and more 52 ENTERTAINMENT A round-up of the best new TV shows, films and DVDs

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INTRODUCTION

Hello!

Welcome, one and all, to the fourth issue of Mill. In a packed programme tonight, Ronnie, we proudly present an all-star line-up including the brilliant Scottish comedian Limmy, plus music from Kathryn Joseph, C Duncan and Joseph Malik.

We also pay a visit to the annual Lochwinnoch Arts Festival, sample what’s on offer at this year’s Paisley Food and Drink Festival, tread the boards at the marvellous PACE Youth Theatre Company – whose alumni include James McAvoy and Richard Madden – and brace ourselves for the latest Paisley takeover from the Scottish Alternative Music Awards.

Other highlights include a local guide to the picturesque town of Johnstone, an article on mental health awareness, and our usual extensive guides to the best new film, TV and DVD releases as well as all the major gigs, shows and events taking place in and around Renfrewshire soon.

On the lifestyle front, we hope you enjoy the very first Mill-curated fashion shoot, which literally wouldn’t exist without the sterling work of photography students from West College Scotland. A thousand thanks to them.

What’s more, our hand-selected team of incomparable beauty and interiors experts are also on hand to show you the way (should you wish to be shown).

Published by Mill Magazine Ltd. 115 Abercorn Street Paisley PA3 4AT Editor: Paul Whitelaw Director: Paul Dickson Beauty Editor: Susie Cormack Bruce Travel Editor: David Walsh Interiors Editor: Carine Seitz Sub Editor: Alistair Forrest Contributors: Alan K. Gray, Graeme Hewitson, Rebecca Johnstone, Michael McEwan, Brian McGuire, Kevin Moulds, Lauren Mullaney, James Stevenson, Katie Sutherland Cover image taken from our fashion feature, see p24 for credits

We want to hear from you, get in touch via email: info�millmagazine.co.uk

So enjoy yourselves, it’s later than you think.

Paul Whitelaw Paul Whitelaw, Editor

You can keep in touch with Paul and the Mill team via social media or email editor@millmagazine.co.uk

To advertise in Mill, please call 0773 998 9969 or email paul�millmagazine.co.uk 4 MILL

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Come Paisley

Easter

Running from FRIDAY 29TH MARCH until MONDAY 22ND APRIL – Paisley

town centre is the place to be this Easter!

WHAT'S ON FRI 8 MAR 7.30PM

Our guide to some of the big events taking place near you in March and April.

THE ELECTRIFYING MR JOHNSTON

Labour politician Tom Johnston is one of Scotland’s most unfairly unsung heroes.

His greatest professional achievement was the creation of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, which brought ‘power to the glens’ for the first time. This play pays tribute to the great man.

Paisley Arts Centre, from £6.

TUE 12 MAR 7.30PM

BEN FOGLE: TALES FROM THE WILDERNESS

The terribly nice adventurer shares his stories of surviving in the wild in this convivial evening of anecdotal derring-do. He’ll talk about climbing Everest, swimming with crocodiles, rowing across the Atlantic, contracting a nasty flesh-eating disease, messing around with ferrets, saving elephants and so much more besides. Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, £25.

SUN 17 MAR 1PM

SAT 16 MAR NOON

LADIES LUNCH ON THE CLYDE

Kidney Research UK are your hosts for this fun fund-raising afternoon of food, drink and entertainment. You’ll also get the chance to win a grand prize by taking part in the table and golden ticket draws. Ingliston Country Club and Equestrian Centre, £40.

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KILBARCHAN GIFT AND CRAFT FAIR

Stock up on goodies for Mother’s Day and Easter (and your pets) at this friendly stall-packed affair. You’ll feel like spring has truly sprung. Kilbarchan Guide Centre, £2.

WHAT’S ON

FRI 22 MAR 7.30PM

JERRY SADOWITZ: MAKE COMEDY GRATE AGAIN

Not – repeat NOT – for the easily offended, this fearless Glasgow comic is a frighteningly funny tsunami of foul-mouthed bile and tastelessness. Does he really believe the terrible things he says? That uncomfortable ambiguity is all part of the relentless fun and fury of a Sadowitz show. King’s Theatre, Glasgow, £26.90.

SAT 23 MAR 7PM

19-23 MAR

As featured in issue three of Mill, ReMode are a non-profit, environmentally friendly organisation devoted to textile sustainability and the upcycling of clothing. Their annual fashion show features clothes made by participants and volunteers from Renfrewshire and Glasgow. It also incorporates live music, a specially commissioned soundtrack, six short awareness-raising animations and a clothes swap event. UWS Students Union Building, Paisley, from £2.50.

THE WEDDING SINGER

This crowd-pleasing musical is based on the charming romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, and follows a sad-sack wedding singer in mid-1980s New Jersey as he attempts to woo the girl of his dreams from the oily clutches of an obnoxious banker. 2.30pm/7.30pm, Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock, from £15.

THU 21 MAR 6.30PM

BLUE PLANET II LIVE IN CONCERT

David Attenborough’s BAFTA-winning nature programme enjoys a new lease of awe-inspiring life in this audio-visual spectacular, during which the world-renowned City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra provide live accompaniment to footage from the series projected via a ginormous state-of-the-art screen.

SSE Hydro, Glasgow, from £34.05.

VOX BY REMODE

SUN 24 MAR 7.30PM

FRANCIS ROSSI: I TALK TOO MUCH

One of rock’s most affable raconteurs, the Status Quo frontman will be in conversation with veteran music journalist Mick Wall to discuss his colourful life and lengthy career. Expect a cheeky barrage of lively and sometimes hair-raising anecdotes. Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock, from £25.

MILL 7

WHAT’S ON

SUN 24 MAR 3PM

ANTON AND ERIN DANCE THOSE MAGICAL MUSICALS

Rhythm pals Anton du Beke and Erin Boag from Strictly Come Dancing trip the light fantastic during this tribute to beloved musicals such as Mary Poppins, 42nd Street, Cabaret and Top Hat. They’ll also be accompanied by a live orchestra and a West End dance ensemble.

Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, from £29.50.

THU 28 MAR 7PM

28 MAR TO 22 APR

This fiesta of fun for all the family involves a hunt for incongruous items hidden in businesses throughout Paisley town centre.

Once you’ve collected your free trail leaflet, you’re good to go. Children who can show a completed form will receive a chocolate egg prize, and don’t forget to slot said form into the designated post box for a chance to win the grand draw. Various venues, Paisley, free.

MARK DALLAS

This light-hearted one-man show from the Insane Championship Wrestling founder promises to reveal all (and more) about its outlandish past and present. Strictly for over 18’s only, the performance will be recorded for commercial release by Amazon Prime. The Bungalow, Paisley, £8.99.

SAT 30 MAR 7.30PM

FRI 29 MAR 1PM

A KIND OF ALASKA

Written in 1982 by Harold Pinter, this one-act play is based on Dr Oliver Sacks’ memoir, Awakenings, which was later turned into a film starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. It follows a woman struggling to adjust to the world for the first time in 20 years after waking up from a rare form of sleeping sickness. Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock, £9.

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CUCKOO IN THE NEST TRAIL

THE GREATEST SHOW

This high-kicking extravaganza features all your favourite showstoppers from hit musicals such as The Greatest Showman, Moulin Rouge and Mamma Mia!. It’s followed by a live DJ set packed with hot hits from the ‘70s and ’80s.

The Normandy Hotel, Renfrew, £25.

What’s the first thing that people notice about you...?

MILL 9

WHAT’S ON

SAT 6 APR 2PM

THE LITTLE PRINCE

This special screening of the hugely popular animated feature film is an ideal family outing. Featuring the voices of Jeff Bridges and Marion Cotillard, and with a score by Hans Zimmer, it tells the touching story of a little girl whose life is changed by tales of a young aviator who crash-lands in the Sahara Desert.

Paisley Arts Centre, £2.

THU 4 APR

TWIRLYWOOS LIVE!

That exclamation mark is warranted, as those delightful birdlike stars of the hit CBeebies series are guaranteed to put a big, excitable smile on the face of your kids. It’s a cheery theatrical adventure in which the Woos (as we proper fans know them) share their delight of discovery.

1pm/3.30pm, Johnstone Town Hall, from £12.

6-7 APR

ORFEO & EURIDICE

The Scottish Opera Youth Company present a brand new staging of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s 18th century adaptation of the myth of Orpheus. It tells the torrid tale of a man defying the Gods to rescue his lover from Hades. Can he resist temptation long enough to save her? 2pm/7pm, Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock, £9.

26-27 APR

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24-25 APR 7PM

SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE SIGN OF FOUR

This inventive staging of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s second Holmes saga is packed with adventure, suspense, comedy and romance.

And fiendishly clever deductions, of course. Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock, from £15.50.

PAISLEY FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL Now in its fifth year, this ever-popular event gives you a chance to sample and buy some of the very best street food from across Scotland. See our feature on page 60 for more details. Times vary, County Square, free.

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FEATURES

INTERVIEW

Limmy We sat down with Scotland’s favourite son to discuss mental health, self-destruction and the dreary challenges of everyday life. This is what happened.

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FEATURES

B

rian ‘Limmy’ Limond is one of the funniest, darkest and most original comedians of his generation.

The 44-year-old from Glasgow has achieved cult fame – and notoriety – with the brilliant BBC Scotland sketch comedies Limmy’s Show! and Limmy’s Homemade Show, two successful volumes of short story fiction, Daft Wee Stories and That’s Your Lot, occasional appearances on Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, and a relentlessly creative and provocative presence on social media.

He’s also been open about his problems with depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and alcoholism (he stopped drinking in 2004), all of which is covered in his hair-raisingly frank new memoir, Surprisingly Down to Earth, and Very Funny (a title based on his Twitter parody tributes to recently deceased celebrities, some of which have, hilariously, been reported as genuine by the media).

death. For some reason a normal life just isn’t quite enough for a lot of people, they need something on the side.

Even as a young child, you realised you were different, you didn’t quite fit in. You knew your brain wasn’t ‘normal’? I don’t like to say things like “the way my mind works”, because it makes you sound like you think you’re so interesting compared to the next person, but I did notice a difference when I was wee. I always wondered about certain things, but nobody around me seemed to be asking the same stupid questions.

Everybody seemed to be all grown up, even fellow seven-year-olds, nobody had any time for that nonsense. I’ve always thought about these mad, stupid things, and without all that maybe I wouldn’t be able to do what I do.

It seems that throughout your life you’ve been driven by a desire for something – anything – to happen, You’re brutally honest about yourself just to relieve the tedium. Aye, THERE’S A KIND OF in the book, so much so that you only even if it’s a bad thing. When I was on WEE ITCH IN ME, half-jokingly write that it may ruin antidepressants they really worked well your life and career. You’ve always for me - they don’t work for everyone I DON’T KNOW IF had those self-destructive impulses?

- and I remember thinking at the time, IT’S BOREDOM OR Oh aye. There’s a kind of wee itch in “How many people are in the jail because WHATEVER, BUT me, I don’t know if it’s boredom or they weren’t feeling how I feel, happy, whatever, but it’s an impulse to mess right now?” I’d had all these negative IT’S AN IMPULSE TO everything up for the hell of it, just for a thoughts and this impulse to do bad MESS EVERYTHING buzz. In the book I talk about feeling a things, wind people up on Twitter, but UP FOR THE bit like a freak, having to almost perform I didn’t have those feelings when I was HELL OF IT, JUST being normal. I’ve been thinking about on these pills. I didn’t have this fidgety, drinking recently, not in a really serious bored, bitter feeling. So how many people FOR A BUZZ way, but I have thought I could really do are in jail because they did something with a drink. How good would it be to get impulsive because they weren’t on absolutely wrecked and just sit and watch medication? I’m not saying everyone in ’80s concerts of B-list pop stars on the jail should be on antidepressants, but I telly? Sometimes I tend to feel the need to did notice the difference in me between relapse into teenage behaviour, because being on them and when I wasn’t. Is this the whole adulthood thing is difficult. what a normal person feels like? I still came up with ideas and things, I wasn’t You find life overwhelming sitting in a trance, funny thoughts still sometimes? It’s not like I go about my life pretending to be popped into my mind for my comedy stuff, but I didn’t have that something I’m not, but you have to be normal and pretend side of me that got me into trouble. everything around you is exciting and fulfilling enough.

It’s probably why people get into gambling, drugs, even if Strangely, your medication had an overnight positive effect they’ve got tonnes of perceived success. You wake up one day on your mental health. People said it was psychosomatic, but I and they’re on the news because they’ve drank themselves to did wake up with this feeling. It wasn’t a

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FEATURES

Limmy thinks... feeling of optimism, like this is the first day of me really making an effort to sort myself out, it was something else. Before I’d wake up every morning with this big sigh, but I woke up feeling like I’d suddenly got really fit, like a ray of sunshine coming through the window onto my face. They say it takes about a month and you actually feel worse before you feel better, but that’s how I felt.

I don’t know why I don’t go back on them, because it was a magic time of my life.

What happened when you came off them? I felt like I’d been on holiday and now it was back to work, and all these useless or negative thoughts started to pop back into my mind. I also found myself trying to work silly things out. I remember having a shower and thinking, “I wonder if there’s a better way to make showers? How are showers made anyway? What’s the difference between an electric one and a normal one?”

I had lots of questions.

Without those questions, your work wouldn’t be so unique. Is that why BBC Scotland allowed you complete creative control over your sketch shows?

I always got feedback and suggestions, but in general I got to do what I wanted. It was more of a personal thing rather than maybe other sketch shows, which are almost a focus-grouped, mainstream thing. I tried to make people laugh, to entertain folk, but I also like wee strange ideas that might not necessarily be funny. They’re unusual.

That’s the sort of thing I liked watching when I was a teenager, stuff on the telly that was strange. I was lucky to be able to make things that were just interesting thoughts.

If I did a sketch show that was screened in front of people for a laughter track, I’d be really worried about that because some of my stuff isn’t meant to be funny, it’s thoughtful or weird. And some people don’t think any of it’s funny!

Surprisingly Down to Earth, and Very Funny by Limmy is available now from amazon.co.uk.

Follow him on Twitter via @DaftLimmy.

14 MILL

FAVOURITE FILM? The Texas Chainsaw Massacre FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Breaking Bad FAVOURITE SONG? Off the top of my head, Turn It Into Love by Kylie Minogue.

FAVOURITE COMPUTER GAME? Overwatch LEAST FAVOURITE FILM? Any modern horror films.

LEAST FAVOURITE TV SHOW? I stuck on You last night and couldn’t make it past two minutes.

LEAST FAVOURITE SONG? Any “stripped back” version.

LEAST FAVOURITE COMPUTER GAME? God of War

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John Gilbert behind the counter of Comicrazy

COUNTER CULTURE W

hen John Gilbert was studying at UWS in Paisley, he stumbled across an ill-served gap in the non-mainstream market. “I noticed that, outside of uni, most students went to Glasgow for something to do. What was the reason for that?”

His eureka moment came while compiling a thesis on whether or not record shops could survive in the digital age. “What I got from that was they could,” he recalls, “but it had to be more than just a record store. There had to be a community involved, it had to sell

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food and drink as well as merchandise.

That’s the same ethos and process I’ve used with Comicrazy. There are comics, board games and card games, but there’s also the community all around that. Without the community it wouldn’t work.”

John’s brainchild first flung open its doors in 2015. Since then it’s become a busy one-stop shop for geek culture enthusiasts. So what does it offer?

“The biggest trading card game in the world is Magic: The Gathering,” says John, “then you’ve got Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon. People can come in and take

part in tournaments, they can take part in pre-release events where we get the products a week or two before they come out. We also do a Dungeons and Dragons roleplay evening on a Monday that’s absolutely massive.”

And the comic side of things?

“The stock we hold is predominantly new releases, we put them on the shelves every Wednesday. Whatever we don’t sell we put in the back issue boxes.”

The popularity of Comicrazy is hardly surprising. Any local business that provides regular events such as Pokemon training parties for parents

Photos by James Stevenson, insta: jablesphotography

A convivial oasis for comic book, trading card and board game fans, Comicrazy is one of Paisley’s most distinctive community cafes.

FEATURES

Weekly events: MONDAY 6.30pm - Dungeons and Dragons TUESDAY 4.30pm - Pokemon 6.30pm - Dragonball 6.30pm - Magic the Gathering Standard WEDNESDAY 4.30pm - Yu-Gi-Oh! 6.30pm - Yu-Gi-Oh! THURSDAY 6.30pm - Final Fantasy FRIDAY 4.30pm - Magic the Gathering 6.30pm - Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon SUNDAY All day - Wargames

and children is destined for success.

John is understandably delighted by the feedback he and his team have received.

“We recently asked customers to describe Comicrazy. We got words like ‘fun’, ‘friendly’, ‘casual’, ‘warm’, ‘spacious’. It’s just a place they wanted to be. Someone even described it as enlightening, which I was really pleased about.”

We do indeed live in an enlightened age where ‘geek’ is no longer a pejorative term. It’s a (sometimes DIY) badge of pride. Just look at your local multiplex listings where superhero and fantasy blockbusters reign supreme.

Doctor Who and Game of Thrones are among the biggest shows on television.

They’ve been part of the mainstream for over a decade.

Great, but John has noticed a curious kink in this seismic cultural development.

“People nowadays tend not to fall in love with the stories,” he says, “they love the characters, characters they’ve generally seen portrayed on film: your Harley Quinn, your Batman, your Captain America, all those guys.

Their perception of those characters is based on what they’ve seen in movies; so often when people come in we’re actually introducing them to comics for the first time.”

A double-edged sword? “Yes, as they might just buy merchandise. They’ll buy Harley Quinn t-shirts and mugs, but they might not necessarily buy the source material. That’s where we come in, to introduce them to that.”

A super-heroic public service.

Comicrazy is located at 45 Old Sneddon Street, Paisley, PA3 2AN. 0141 237 9180. comicrazy.co.uk.

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FEATURES

LOCHWINNOCH TAKES IT ALL A small village in Renfrewshire is home to one of Scotland’s best and brightest arts festivals.

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FEATURES

W

hen the Lochwinnoch Arts Festival was established at the turn of the 21st century, it was a modest single afternoon affair devoted to local authors. Over the years it’s gradually grown into an eighteen day event encompassing literature, music, comedy, drama, design, crafts and the visual arts. Its ongoing success is rather heart-warming.

“We’re not a big organisation,” says cofounder Dr Morag Thow, “we’re just a bunch of volunteers who enjoy doing it.”

What inspired you to start the festival back in 2001? It was a chance for people to meet authors, buy their books and have a bit of a chat. We just took over the village hall and it all came together.

It went so well, the following year was a wee bit bigger. Bernard MacLaverty was our invited, recognised, well-published Scottish author.

Then it just seemed to get bigger every year, we added music, the local drama group wanted to be involved. We realised that this was something people really liked and looked forward to.

How has it changed since then? We’ve got better at running it, we’ve got a bit of funding and we’ve tried to get as much art into the village as we can. We’re not trying to put anybody else down,

What’s the best thing about living in Lochwinnoch? Having the lochs beside us, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Castle Semple. We’re just really lucky. We’ve also got route 7 that comes right through the village, so you can just jump on your bike and before you know it you’re out in the country.

It’s great having these nature facilities right on our doorstep.

Best place for coffee? The Junction Café and La Dolce Vita.

Best place for dinner? The Three Churches, The Brown Bull, The Loch House and the Bowfield Hotel. La Dolce Vita is also a proper Italian ice cream and chip shop; a lot of villages don’t have that.

but we pride ourselves on being the only arts festival in Renfrewshire that covers everything.

We’ve had film, photography, visual arts, music, writing, creativity, you name it we try to do it.

There’s classical music, rock and roll, something for everybody we hope. We also try to showcase a lot of local talent; there’s a real buzz about the arts in the village.

Lochwinnoch is fairly remote. Has that caused problems for you? It’s lovely to be out in the country away from the hubbub, but there is a downside. The problem for rural areas is we really have terribly little public transport. We only have one wee tiny bus that takes us to Johnstone, so it’s a bit of a bind trying to get into Glasgow.

That’s why one of our things is trying to get the entertainment to come to the village. It lets OAPs, single parents, students and the unemployed to at least get the chance to have a bit of an experience.

We really push a lot to keep the prices as low as we can so that people can maybe go to five or six different events. Let’s allow people to have a right blast of music and arts of all kinds on their doorstep.

On a local level, what are the benefits of organising an annual arts festival?

We’ve realised that this event brings people out from the village itself, but a lot of people come in. Last year maybe two to three thousand people came to the village for events and a lot of them are using local businesses and shops, particularly the food and coffee outlets. There’s a kind of payback for the village so we’re helping to sustain our own economic community.

What, for you, has been the highlight of the festival so far? Dougie MacLean was an iconic moment for me and a lot of people. He’s an awfully nice guy and he loves playing in small venues. It was quite hilarious as he’d just come back from Australia and his last gig was Sydney Opera House, and here he is in Lochwinnoch village hall! He loved it, he stayed overnight in this ginormous motorhome and joined in with the pub sessions. It was delightful.

Photos by Kevin Moulds

The Lochwinnoch Arts Festival takes place in various venues around the village between 8 and 24 March. Details can be found at lochwinnochartsfestival.co.uk. See overleaf for some highlights from this year’s event.

MILL 19

FEATURES

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS Our choices from the extensive line up

music

Ou ti

Sm it

h

Winner of the 2017 Spirit of the Fringe Award, Glasgow-based jazz chanteuse Christine Bovill (pictured) arrives in Lochwinnoch with her highly acclaimed tribute to the legendary Edith Piaf (8 March). Other notable guests include Johnny Cash tribute act Jericho Hill (9 March), Capercaillie’s Karen Matheson (16 March), Spanish choir Coro Aretiena Aracena (17 March) and local jazz singer Outi Smith, who will be performing live (8 March) and hosting a singing tuition workshop (17 March).

literature & spoken word

Kirstin Innes

Bernard MacLaverty, photo by Robert Burns

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Former Head of Radio at BBC Scotland, Jeff Zycinski, will be in conversation with Professor Rowena Murray about his colourful memoir, The Red Light Zone: An Insider’s Laugh ‘n’ Tell of BBC Radio (16 March). Meanwhile, Lochwinnoch-based author, playwright and journalist Kirstin Innes (18 March) reads from her debut novel, Fishnet, which won the Guardian’s Not the Booker Prize in 2015, local optician and Mill #3 star Diarmid MacArthur (18 March) reveals all about his secondary career as the author of a series of sci-fi detective novels, and celebrated author Bernard MacLaverty (23 March) discusses his remarkable career.

FEATURES

kids

Badger the Mystical Mutt (19 March) is the loveable canine star of a bestselling series of children’s books. The toast-chomping, time-travelling pooch himself will be in attendance to delight your little uns. Not to be outdone, The Whirlybird (20 March) is a funny and touching new show, involving movement, music and puppetry, about a little brown bird that yearns to fly. There’s also a chance for children to explore their creativity at the Krafty Kids event (23 March).

Pottery workshop

Pete Seeger

workshops

The late, great folk musician and activist Pete Seeger would’ve celebrated his 100th birthday this year. The Life and Times of Pete Seeger (10 March) is a ukulele-based workshop allowing players of all abilities to improve their skills and learn songs from his estimable canon. It’s followed by a concert in which the players are encouraged to participate at certain points.

Seeger would’ve approved of the ethos behind ReMode (see Mill #3), the Renfrewshire-based community project devoted to upcycling clothes and reducing textile waste. They’ll be hosting a hands-on and awarenessraising workshop (24 March). Finally, if you’ve ever fancied getting behind the potter’s wheel, then internationally successful ceramics artist Wendy Kershaw will be your guide during a special workshop on 24 March.

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FEATURES

spring break Mill proudly presents our very first curated fashion shoot, exquisitely snapped by HND Photography students from West College Scotland and dressed by local independent retailers.

Photographers: Antonia Dickie, Alastair Hendrie, Linda Millar and Sarah Stuart Photographer’s Assistants: Levi Black and Abby Louise Tombs Stylists: Bekka Costello and Carly McGurn Model: Thelma at All Talent Agency Location: West College Scotland, Paisley Campus Huge thanks to Scott Cadenhead, Robert Tabor and all the students involved in this project for making this possible.

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FEATURES

Jumper, £32, Lixie. Photo by Sarah Stuart.

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Leather jacket, £319, Ducati Glasgow. Bodysuit, £24, and leggings, £26, both at Lixie. Photo by Alastair Hendrie

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FASHION

Jumper dress, £40, and boots, £36, both at Lixie. Photo by Linda Millar.

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FEATURES

Oversized jumper, £36, Lixie. Photo by Linda Millar.

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FEATURES

Blazer, £36, bodysuit, £24, jeans, £32, and heels, £28, all at Lixie. Watch, see next page.

Photo by Linda Millar.

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Shirt, £26, and skirt, £29, both at Lixie. Chrono watch, £200, and back pack £80, both at The Sourcery. Photo by Antonia Dickie.

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FASHION

WHERE TO BUY LIXIE 14 New St, Paisley PA1 1XY, 0141 840 2173, lixie.co.uk DUCATI GLASGOW 6 Mossland Drive, Hillington Park, Glasgow G52 4FA, 0141 333 4998, ducatiglasgow.co.uk THE SOURCERY Faith Ave, Quarrier’s Village, Bridge of Weir PA11 3TF, 01505 227117

Jumpsuit, £34, Lixie.

Photo by Alastair Hendrie

MILL 31

BEAUTY

Here’s Our Tip WEIRD BUT WORKS Perfume not lasting as long as you’d like? Rub a little Vaseline or beauty oil on and then spray. The fragrance will cling to the barrier (Vaseline or oil) and hang about much longer.

CUT AND DRIED If you’ve ever confused your dry shampoo for deodorant or vice versa, never run that risk again by opting for Redken’s new Dry Shampoo Paste (£20).

The charcoal formula absorbs oil, freshens hair and works as a non-sticky shaping paste.

Once you get your head around it – couldn’t resist – it’s a bit of a game-changer, but use a light hand as a little goes a long way.

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Abandon the classic white tipped French manicure and go for something more akin to the nail art created by Essie at the Kith runway show. Long or short, this look elevates your nails to supermodel status. No, don’t thank us. Essie is available at larger Boots stores.

BEAUTY

Make-up maven Susie Cormack Bruce has some more friendly advice for you.

EYE, RIGHT Big time beauty brands have accepted that we want more bang for our buck? It’s hard to believe, but this month Estee Lauder launches Double Wear Instant Fix 24HR Concealer Hydra Prep (£25), which delivers skincare and cosmetic cover. The double-ended tube has a state-of-the-art concealer at one end and a skin-loving hyaluronic acid hydrator/primer at the other. The ultimate two for one. Available at all Estée Lauder counters.

FOR FAKE’S SAKE If you’ve been marvelling at the tans rather than the skating on ITV’s Dancing on Ice, we can reveal those bronzed bodies are courtesy of the show’s official tanning partner, Fake Bake. The totally clear (meaning no messy sheets) Tanning Water, (£24.95) is the latest innovation from the brand. The ultra-hydrating, no need to rinse formula delivers a natural, golden brown glow and comes with a smoothing mitt. Who needs a holiday when you have this?

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If you have big pores, acne, acne scarring, fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture or tone, then Dermapen is for you!

This treatment essentially creates a controlled trauma to the skin which stimulates collagen production. We recommend starting with a course of 3 treatments to maximise initial results but often a difference will be seen after just one! Different serums are used depending on what we are trying to target. This treatment will see maximum results when paired with other treatments such as chemical peels and LED therapy.

Only £49 per treatment when you quote ‘Mill’, normal price £99

Upper Floor, 12 New St, Paisley PA1 1XY, 0141 889 8623 Facebook.com/elixirloungepaisley Instagram.com/elixir.lounge www.elixir-lounge.co.uk

MILL 33

BEAUTY

BEAUTY

expert Lauren Mullaney is the senior therapist at Eve Spa and an HND-qualified beauty therapist specialising in Caudalie face and body treatments, CACI non-surgical facelifts, waxing, manicure, pedicure and tanning.

How did you start? I trained as a beauty therapist when I was 18 at Ayrshire College in Kilwinning. After completing my HND I successfully applied for a position as a junior therapist at Eve Spa, and over the last three years I’ve progressed to become the senior therapist.

What’s the best thing about working in the industry?

It’s constantly changing and evolving with new treatments or brands.

Your favourite treatment? CACI Orbital Microdermabrasion.

It deeply cleanses and exfoliates, removes dead skin cells from the outermost layer and helps to reduce the appearance of pigmentation and fine lines. A soothing hydro mask is then applied leaving your skin soft-hydrated and radiant. For the ultimate glow I use Caudalie Vinoperfect serum.

Which spa trends do you recommend? I’m really passionate about ethically manufactured products, which is popular with our clientele. We use organic skincare brand Ishga which has a high seaweed content that helps to protect the skin.

Are more men utilising the spa facilities? Yes, we have many male clients, some of whom visit our Thermal Experience on a daily basis. This includes use of our sauna, steam rooms, Chinese salt room, heated loungers, ice fountain, monsoon showers and jacuzzi foot baths.

What’s the most popular treatment at Eve Spa? Our 55 minute deep tissue massage. It helps to relieve aching muscles, easing tension and relaxing body and mind.

And your top tip for achieving relaxation at home? Have a digital detox. Take time away from TV and social media and let your brain switch off from the negativity we can be faced with daily. Light some candles to create a tranquil ambience, run a relaxing bubble bath with your favourite products and let the stresses of everyday life fade away.

Eve Spa is located within the Lagoon Leisure Centre, 11 Christie Street, Paisley, PA1 1NB. 0300 300 0266. eve-spa.co.uk.

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CLEAN UP

YOUR ACT Think it’s only your home that needs spring cleaning?

Think again because, believe it or not, your make-up has the potential to breed as many nasties as that overripe cheese in the fridge or that long forgotten custard cream under the sofa. Below we’ve listed the three biggest beauty bad guys.

LIPSTICK

You know that gorgeous red lippy that helped to put a smile on your face when you had a bout of flu? Bin it, as chances are it will still be harbouring those germs. The lips are one of the main gateways to your respiratory tract, so you could be infecting yourself time and time again.

BRUSHES

How many times in the last six months have you cleaned your brushes? Can’t remember? Well, bacteria-laden brushes are one of the best ways to carry and spread serious infections such as paralysing staphylococcus, streptococcus, fungus and e-coli, and should be cleaned after every use. Yes, every use.

No excuses.

MASCARA

Dirty mascara can cause eye infections such as conjunctivitis, styes and even blindness. Never, ever, ever share mascara and, even if your tube is half full, bin it after two to three months as germs love sticking to that wand, getting all cosy in that dark, oily product and forming new, seriously icky bacteria.

Special offer for Mill Readers 30% OFF with code MILLMAR30

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Visit www.fakebake.co.uk to browse the full range and grab your exclusive discount today!

Discount code: MILLMAR30 Live from 05/03/19 until 30/04/19

FEATURES

OPEN

MINDS

Slowly but surely, the stigma surrounding mental health and disability is becoming a thing of the past. Michael McEwan explains why.

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See Me Scotland's main aim, and that of many other mental health support organisations, is to engender a society that sees the person and not their disability.

The taboo of mental health has been tackled with support from the media, with many prominent people in the public eye opening up about their conditions. These include football manager Neil Lennon, boxer Frank Bruno, musician Robbie Williams and the writer, actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry. In a recent episode of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are?, comedian and prominent mental health advocate Ruby Wax discovered three generations of women in her family tree who were institutionalised due to mental health conditions.

Media coverage such as this has increased public awareness and helped to decrease stigma and isolation

for those living with long-term, life-limiting conditions.

However, we still need to raise awareness about disability. In recent years we’ve seen more disability coverage across the media, with prominent examples including the Invictus and Paralympics Games. These progressive platforms provide a knowledge base for different categories of disability in a way that's easy for viewers to understand.

Speaking as a viewer, advocate and someone with a disability, my first thoughts aren't about mental health conditions and disabilities, but increased focus on positive role models who champion ability.

Find out more about the issues raised in this article at mhfestival.com, mentalhealth. org.uk/scotland and seemescotland. org. Michael can be contacted via michaelmcewanmedia.webs.com.

Photo by Tammy Gann, unsplash

S

ociety has opened up about mental health issues in the last decade..

We find more positive messages in the media stating that's it's okay to talk about our thoughts, fears and feelings. There are also more platforms highlighting and promoting the many support structures in place for a wide spectrum of mental health conditions.

One of those platforms is the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, which covers everything from music, film and visual arts, to theatre, dance and literature. The festival aims to challenge perceptions, make connections and encourage participation.

The festival, which is led by the Mental Health Foundation, is also supported by See Me Scotland, a programme dedicated to ending mental health stigma in Scotland.

A 2015 YouGov poll, conducted within a number of Scottish business sectors, found the following: • 31% of Scottish workers had personally experienced a mental health issue.

• 45% of people felt that someone in their workplace with a mental health issue would be unlikely to disclose this for fear of being discriminated against by colleagues.

• 48% of people felt that someone in their workplace with a mental health issue would be unlikely to disclose it for fear of losing their job.

The Paisley Community Website

Paisley Takeover THE

Scotland’s thriving independent music scene is in the safe hands of a proactive gang of labour-of-love enthusiasts.

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hired a venue. It continued to grow annually, so we moved from a smaller room in the Classic Grand club in Glasgow to a larger room upstairs, then we moved to The Garage and then Saint Luke’s.”

Muirhead is particularly excited about this year’s Paisley Takeover line-up. “It was important to make the festival as dynamic as possible,” he says, “for the audience first of all, but also for ourselves. We want to reflect what’s available on our website and the kinds of artists who win at the awards. So you have Sweaty Palms and Pleasure Heads and Crystal playing, who are all upcoming guitar bands, quite loud, quite punky, then over the road it’s really intimate, you can hear a penny drop when, for example, Kathryn Joseph is playing.”

Muirhead hopes that the latest Takeover will “bring a bit of energy” to Paisley. “We want to excite the music industry and music fans across Scotland. That’s really the goal I’m trying to create, and I think by having such an eclectic bill it should do that. You’re not going to hear this stuff on Capital FM.”

There’s an interesting electronica band called Drift from Paisley who have some momentum behind them at the moment.

There’s also a band called Sway who played our festival last year, and The Vegan Leather too.

Photo of Tim J. Grey by Tartan Zone Photography

T

he Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMAs) were established in 2009 to raise awareness of the vast wealth of non-mainstream talent in this great nation of ours.

To celebrate their tenth anniversary, the team behind the SAMAs are hosting the second annual Paisley Takeover, an exciting two-day event involving live performances from the likes of Kathryn Joseph and C Duncan (both of whom are interviewed on the next page), plus various workshops, panels and a live Q&A with Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai and Rock Action Records renown.

SAMAs founder Richy Muirhead originally came up with the idea of an alternative music showcase when, as a student, he had a “crazy, once in a lifetime trip” to the MTV Europe Awards in Berlin.

“When I came back to Glasgow I realised that music awards are amazing,” he enthuses, “they can bring together so many people from different backgrounds. So I put some plans together and

CAN YOU RECOMMEND SOME NEW ALTERNATIVE ACTS FROM RENFREWSHIRE?

FEATURES

Kathryn Joseph

C Duncan Winner of the 2015 Scottish Album of the Year Award for her debut release, Bones You Have Thrown Me and Blood I Have Spilled, singer-songwriter Kathryn Joseph is an extraordinary, bedazzling talent.

Your music is very intimate and introspective.

Does it provide emotional support? Yes, definitely.

It’s the thing I use to make myself feel better. It seems to be the only thing that makes sense if things aren’t great. There have definitely been points in my life when songs or bands have cured me of a lot of different things.

You don’t particularly enjoy making records. Why? I’m not a fan of playing the same things over and over again, but I get away with it and tend to get things down quite fast. That’s why I love playing live because that’s it forever, you’ve just got that one chance to do something. I feel very comforted playing live. I feel quite paranoid the rest of the time, but when I play live I feel like I make sense. It’s a very addictive thing for me, and people are always really kind, they listen.

I feel lucky.

How do you cope with the acclaim you’ve received?

I still find it quite weird, but it doesn’t really affect me in any way. It’s a lovely thing, though, as before I used to think that people were looking at me in the street because they thought I was ugly, but now I think maybe they just recognise me from a gig.

Find out more about Kathryn at kathrynjoseph.co.uk.

C Duncan was nominated for the 2015 Mercury Music Prize for Architect, his first album of home-produced dream pop.

His third album, Health, is released in March.

You recorded Health in a professional recording studio with an outside producer. Why did you decide to move away from the DIY model? I love recording in my own studio, but I’m limited to what I can do. I really wanted to expand this record, I wanted to make it more lush.

The album was produced by Craig Potter from Elbow.

What was that experience like? Fantastic. Seeing as it was my first time in a studio I was a bit apprehensive, I thought it would involve hours and hours of hundreds of takes. That’s obviously not something I was used to at home, but because Craig is so skilled we did things very quickly. It wasn’t rushed in any way, but he’s so used to the studio way of life he made the whole thing easier.

What’s the significance of the album’s title? The artwork suggests that kind of Los Angeles health, lots of vitamins and sunshine, and the music on the surface has that breeziness to it.

But I’d been through a lot of stuff when I was writing the album, and basically everything you do affects your health, and your mental health, in some way. I found this album quite a cathartic, therapeutic process, it was the first time I used making music to reflect on things that have happened to me.

Keep abreast of C’s activities at c-duncan.co.uk.

Full details about the SAMAs and The Paisley Takeover are available at officialsama.squarespace.com.

MILL 39

Johnstone Castle, photo by Graeme Hewitson, monumentphotos.co.uk

" A Love Letter to

JOHNSTONE

Local artist and designer Rebecca Johnstone actually lives in her namesake.

Follow her guide to the town’s many treasures.

I

’ve been a Johnstone resident for over eight years now. It’s a bustling little town in the heart of Renfrewshire, offering the ideal commute to Glasgow or down towards the coast.

Planned in a grid system in 1782 by George Houston, the fourth Laird of Johnstone, the town has so much to offer for the discerning resident. I wonder if George would recognise it now?

JOHNSTONE BANDSTAND Johnstone is one of only a handful of towns in Scotland to feature a bandstand. This ornate relic is still a central focus of Houstoun Square (no prizes for guessing how that got its name). The bandstand is put to good use for community events throughout the year, but comes to life at Christmas when it’s the focus of the festive lights and tree. My version on the next page features thistles in the sky.

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THOMAS SHANKS PARK I may be biased as my house looks out onto the park, but it’s a glorious green space flanked by mature trees on the Quarrelton Road side, offering up the most beautiful blossoms in the spring. At one of the entrances there is a fountain, which denotes the gift of the park to the town by Mrs J Polson. She was the daughter of local industrialist Thomas Shanks, who gave the park its name. It also houses a small play park ripe for pre-school adventures, and don’t forget the ‘caterpillar’!

RENFREWSHIRE BOXING If your goal is to get fit in 2019, then boxing is an exhilarating way to do it. Pre-pregnancy, I’d been boxing for around 18 months and loved the buzz and discipline of it. Boxfit offers a mix of boxing and circuit training which provides a

FEATURES

Thomas Shanks Park

THE CASTLE BOASTS A SPECIAL CLAIM TO FAME: POLISH COMPOSER FREDERICK CHOPIN FAMOUSLY VISITED IN 1848

real boot-camp style workout (pay as you go). As a member, you can use the equipment at your own pace or with a personal trainer. Just seeing the pro boxing ring is enough to break into a sweat these days. Must. Try. Harder. Saltire Boxing Gym, 26 Macdowall Street, PA5 8QL. renfrewshireboxing.com.

JOHNSTONE HISTORY MUSEUM Yes, Johnstone has its own museum. Situated within Morrisons supermarket (quirky and characterful in itself ), it documents the beginnings of the town and how it grew around the mills.

Its detailed maps in olde-worlde script are fascinating, and I was surprised to learn about the strong engineering heritage of Johnstone: parts machined locally were used on the Titanic and her sister ships the TSS Brittanic and TSS Olympic.

Meanwhile, Paton’s Mill (originally the first cotton spinning mill in Johnstone) produced shoe laces for Dr Martens, among many others, as well as stranded threads – ideal for the new sewing machines that were suddenly all the rage. Glass display cabinets show vintage packaging and materials from the mills, with reference books and other artefacts in abundance. You can also strike up a lovely conversation with the volunteers who run the museum. I’ll definitely be popping back for more. 30 Napier Street (inside Morrisons), PA5 8SF. johnstonehistory.org.

JOHNSTONE CASTLE Now a residential property, the castle boasts a special claim to fame: Polish composer Frederick Chopin famously visited

Johnstone Bootlaces at Johnstone History Museum

in 1848. He was a guest of the fifth Laird of Johnstone, whose wife, Anne, he had tutored in Paris. In a letter home, Chopin described it as “very handsome, opulent, one leads life on a grand scale." Having visited his grave site a few years ago within Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow, I find this a quaint synchronicity with my home town.

These places offer a tiny snapshot of Johnstone and its heritage, but there’s so much more, such as the local cycle track network which doubles up as walking routes, particularly in the summer (though don’t tell the cyclists), and Papa Macs the deli plus a host of independent retailers. The trains are frequent and the station serves snacks. Also, if you need a cosy and welcoming bolthole on your visit, try the 20:10 bar and eatery on the High Street – it comes highly recommended.

Find out more about Rebecca’s work at daintydora.co.uk and follow her on Twitter at @Dainty_Dora.

MILL 41

HOT

s t n a pl TOP 3

W

hen spring is springing, there is no better way to celebrate than with plants. Bringing nature into your home can’t fail to energise you. Not only do they look striking and full of life, they actually improve your health: a 1989 NASA study found that houseplants improve air quality by reducing contaminants such as formaldehyde.

If your fingers are more lethal than green, then try cacti (they practically never need watering), asparagus fern (beautiful plants which are happy in dark corners and just need their soil kept moist), or yucca plants (stick them in a sunny corner and they’ll take care of themselves). Air plants are another option, they look great in a miniature hanging terrarium or round bauble and all they need is a fortnightly bath in tepid tap water for five to 10 minutes. A couple of clipped monster (cheese plant) stems in a big vase of water is another way to display foliage without committing to the full plant.

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PLANTS TO HELP YOU BREATHE EASY Rubber plant: An expert in removing formaldehyde from the air. Needs: bright indirect light, misting in dry weather.

Peace Lily: Especially good at removing benzene, a toxin found in cigarette smoke.

Needs: not much sunlight, regular watering.

Mother-in-law’s tongue: Removes carbon dioxide from the air at night, making it ideal for bedrooms. Needs: not much! Almost impossible to kill.

nest.co.uk

Flex your green fingers and bring the outdoors inside with some expert advice from Carine Seitz.

If you’re still not convinced, try fake plants.

Surely the easiest in terms of maintenance, you literally need to do nothing to them at all (aside from some occasional dusting!).

Granted, you won’t get the direct health benefits, but they look great. That in turn makes you happy, which is good for you! Fake plants are a million times more convincing than they used to be, and they’re perfect for windowless rooms or high-up spots which would be a pain to water. Display them in hanging baskets and on floating wall shelves.

Also, use small plants to add interest to bookcases and mantels, interspersing them with other objects, candles and books.

You should also look for plant prints.

Textiles such as bedding and cushions with leaf prints will add a stylish and Californian chic feel to your home. Plant prints lend a cool, modern touch, and you can make like the Beverly Hills Hotel by going for some banana leaf wallpaper to really make a statement.

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MILL 45

FEATURES

RENFREW TOWN HALL The rich and varied history of Renfrew is brought to life inside one of its oldest buildings.

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FEATURES

Renfrew Town Hall, 1910

W

hen Renfrew Town Hall was fully refurbished in 2012, the idea was to preserve the building as an historic landmark while opening up its facilities for local residents and visitors. That plan was a success, as these days it thrives as a busy hub of activity at the heart of the community.

Although it hasn’t been used as a base for local government since 1975, the Town Hall is constantly in demand as a venue for meetings, conferences and wedding receptions. It’s also home to a small yet perfectly formed and four-star-rewarded museum co-curated by John Pressly.

As he explains: “When the town hall complex was being done up, there was a realisation that the existing Renfrew museum based at the institute just down the road was not too suitable for purpose. It was an opportunity to tell the story of Renfrew’s heritage a little bit better.”

The museum provides a fascinating interactive experience tracing the story of the former Royal Burgh of Renfrew from medieval times to the present day. Prize exhibits include a Merlin engine from a WWII Spitfire fighter built at nearby Hillington.

For such a small town, Renfrew has, in Pressly’s words, “a really good and unexpected history”, hence the need for a fact-packed museum. “It’s not a huge space, but we’ve crammed quite a lot in,” he says. “That was a challenge in itself. During our planning discussions the idea of basing the museum around the four elements came up. Air obviously represents the history of the airport and the 602 Squadron, Fire is looking at the steel industry, Water is shipbuilding and Earth is just a general social history and overview of the place.”

When Renfrew’s original Town Hall was built in 1670, it was primarily used as a jail and later a court of law. When that building eventually fell into decay, the present Town Hall was built in 1872. With its distinctive 105-foot spire, it’s been a cherished part of Renfrew’s skyline ever since.

Access to Renfrew Museum is through Renfrew Town Hall, Renfrew Cross, PAF 8PF. 0300 300 1210. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 4:45pm and Saturday from 10am and 2pm. Free entry.

MILL 47

FEATURES

J O

S

K I LA E

P

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al M h ep os ast.

J r l ce his u d e ro ld b p nd ou Ja mw ,D er lbu rit st a . gw te im on is la ed h s er t h sav ng ugh d it i S o a th ste In

48 MILL

ik

K

MUSIC

M

usic is therapy, an expression of the soul. Joseph Malik knows that. A veteran of the Edinburgh underground music scene, he released his first solo album, Diverse, in 2002. That was followed two years later by Aquarius Songs. His third, the ecstatically received Diverse Part 2, didn’t appear until 2018. During that lengthy absence from recording, he struggled with various severe personal problems. Life wasn’t kind.

Thankfully, he survived. Having immersed himself in music again, he’s currently working on a swift follow-up to Diverse Part 2 featuring collaborations with the likes of Steven Christie (The Proclaimers), Roseanne Erskine (Coco and the Bean), Davey Henderson (The Fire Engines), Davie Miller (Finitribe), Malcolm Ross (Orange Juice), Irvine Welsh and hip-hop DJ Nasty P. That eclectic line-up is testament to Malik’s genre-blurring approach to making music. He appears at first glance to be a retro soul/jazz stylist, but there’s so much more to him than that.

“People ask what kind of music do I play and I say ‘good music’. I’d never be stereotyped.”

Why did you decide to present your third album as a sequel to your debut? The first one was an autobiography. As soon as I started making Diverse Part 2 I knew I wanted to call it that, because part one was written back then and this is part two fifteen or sixteen years later.

A recollection of my life in music.

What was your state of mind at the time?

I had a nervous and physical breakdown. I had to regroup and I thought it was the last record I was ever going to make. It was that bad. I gathered my family and friends, they all helped me record this album.

Considering those difficult circumstances, what was the recording process like?

It was very balanced and organised in the studio, but outside of the studio I didn’t know whether I was going to stay sometimes. I was deeply ill, but I didn’t want to open up to the guys in the studio about that because I wanted to be strong, I was in charge. I had to be very focused when I was doing the job, but outside the mask dropped, there’d be tears. Eventually the guys kind of sussed what was going on, and I stayed with them sometimes because I was sleeping rough during the last couple of months of making the album.

Diverse Part 2 is available on vinyl at Comicrazy, 45 Old Sneddon Street, Paisley PA3 2AN

Q&A FIRST SINGLE YOU BOUGHT? Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick by Ian Dury & The Blockheads FIRST ALBUM YOU BOUGHT? The Big Payback

by James Brown.

I spent my whole entire paper round money on it, and I’ve still got it to this day WHAT SONG DO YOU WISH YOU’D WRITTEN? A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke

How did you escape from that situation?

Ashley Beedle and Jo Wallace from Ramrock Records came in and rescued me. I wasn’t joining a record label, I was joining a family. There was security. Jo really cared about my wellbeing outside of me just producing and delivering music, she cared about if I was eating that day or if I was getting sleep or had I been drinking.

She kind of adopted me, and I’m very glad of that.

Where are you now in life? I’m in a very, very good place. The charity, MIND, helped get me back on my feet by finding me a flat and using that stability, my producer’s mojo has come back - I’ve got the bug again. Music is my main focus and I’m getting ‘Stranger Things’, my next album, out to help others. If you’d have asked me 20 years ago if I’d still be doing this at 50 years old, I’d have laughed - but I am.

Your approach to music, to writing and recording, is commendably broadminded yet disciplined. Where does that come from?

I used to be a chef and if I just knew how to make Italian food I would be stuck for work. You have to learn Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, all sorts, so when I came back to music I thought, okay, I’m going to use my chef ’s training to switch it round.

Also, it’s good for making the studio organised like a kitchen. We’ll have one session here and on the same day in another studio there will be another session happening for the same record.

So that’s two different units producing music, both on the same path.

Despite being born in Glasgow, you’ve spent much of your life in Edinburgh. Why is that?

In Glasgow I faced some horrendous racism, abuse and violent attacks. I’d had enough, so I defected to Edinburgh. The only reasons I ever go back are to see my granny and watch the odd Celtic game. I gave my heart to Edinburgh when I moved through here in 1993, and I’ve dedicated my life to music within this city. Not just the music I make, but to others, to bring recognition to that scene.

You can find out more about Joseph Malik at ramrock.bandcamp.com. He’s performing live with support from DJ Femi Fem and The Young Disciples at the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh on 19 April.

Tickets are available from tickets-scotland.com/jose.

MILL 49

MUSIC

A guide to some of the best gigs taking place near you in March and April.

10cc These arch art-pop boffins scored a string of inventive hits during their ‘70s heyday. Only a fool would argue with the immortal likes of Rubber Bullets and I’m Not in Love (we’ll draw a discreet veil over the, ah, “of its time” racial insensitivity of Dreadlock Holiday). Founding members Godley and Crème jumped ship years ago, but at least the current line-up includes fellow founder Graham Gouldman. Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 15 March

NICKI MINAJ Hang on to your wigs and keys, folks, one of planet Earth’s biggest hip-hop, pop and R&B supernovas is coming to town. Her current 22-date world tour, during which she’s accompanied by up-and-coming rapper Juice WRLD, is riding on the platinum-embossed coattails of last year’s smash hit Queen LP. Her royal highness doesn’t do things by halves, so this will be an epic hootenanny.

SSE Hydro, Glasgow, 17 March

BOB LOG III The world’s leading cannonball-suited, crash helmet-wearing, slide guitar-based one man band, this entertaining oddball from Tucson, Arizona is a blues-punk riot. He drums with his feet, plays with his hands and sings through a telephone receiver attached to his distinctive headgear. He also encourages wild audience participation: you have been warned. Broadcast, Glasgow, 29 March

KRISTIN HERSH The former Throwing Muses lynchpin is one of the finest songwriters of her generation. Released last year, her tenth solo album, Possible Dust Clouds, is one of her best, an arresting fusion of dissonance, melody and oblique poetry which leaves no doubt that she’s still a vital force. She’s also an infrequent visitor to these shores, so you know what to do. Mono, Glasgow, 19 March

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MUSIC

COMING

UP GIORGIO MORODER The godfather of disco and electronic music, this moustachioed German genius is one of the most significant figures in popular music. As well as writing and producing ground-breaking hits for the likes of Donna Summer, he’s collaborated with major artists such as David Bowie, Daft Punk and Lady Gaga. This show is part of his very first European tour: an electric dream come true. Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, 4 April

The Lines are a raucous teenage guitar band from Houston.

We spoke to their drummer Michael Macgee.

Who else is in the band with you? We have Harry Gallacher on lead vocals and guitar, Marc Sermanni on lead guitar and Matthew Kennedy on bass.

Where and when did you form? We formed at Gryffe High School in November 2017.

Have you played many gigs since then?

We played four or five times in 2018 at Callum’s Cavern in Paisley, which is a fantastic place to play.

You released your first E.P., Don’t Fret, last year.

Where was that recorded? At Strait Up Studios in Dundee. That was so much fun, we loved it.

What’s the feedback been like? Really good so far. We’ve had over a thousand listens on Bandcamp and Spotify, so we’re doing pretty well.

And your plans for 2019? Hopefully a lot more gigs and coming up with more music.

Listen to the Don’t Fret E.P. online at the-lines. bandcamp.com/releases and catch the band live at The Cave in Paisley on 9 March.

CHRYSTA BELL This striking chanteuse is best known for her collaborations with filmmaker and musician David Lynch. They’re a match made in dream pop heaven: Bell’s ethereal, blue velvet croon captures the very essence of Lynch’s signature aesthetic.

This hip basement jazz club is the ideal environment for her intimate atmospherics - you’ll probably feel like you’ve been transported to the Black Lodge itself.

The Blue Arrow, Glasgow, 9 April

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS Now that’s a band name.

Farmyard favourites of BBC 6Music DJ Marc Riley, this pulverising quintet from Newcastle splay their legs across the hitherto unconnected divide between none-more-heavy ‘70s metal and eccentric art rock. They sound like a furious long distance lorry driver knocking back a mug of molten sludge in a greasy motorway café. A deadly serious joke. King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, 16 April

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ENTERTAINMENT

Our editor Paul Whitelaw is your guide to the best new television, film and DVD releases.

TELEVISION TURN UP CHARLIE

©Netflix

Idris Elba swaps the gory Grand Guignol of Luther for something altogether lighter in this new comedy series about a perpetual bachelor and struggling club DJ. When a celebrity friend offers him the job of becoming a male nanny to his wayward daughter, Charlie sees it as a last chance to escape from his rut. Will hilarity ensue? Let’s hope so. Elba, who in real life enjoys a DJ side-career, co-created this eight-part series, which is directed

by Tristram Shapeero, a television comedy veteran whose extensive credits include I’m Alan Partridge, Peep Show, Parks and Recreation and French & Saunders. Netflix, 15 March

TELEVISION YEARS AND YEARS

©BBC

One of TV drama’s sharpest minds, writer Russell T. Davies broke new ground with Queer as Folk, revitalised Saturday night family viewing with Doctor Who and captivated the nation with A Very English Scandal. His new six-part project sounds typically ambitious. A politicised piece of speculative fiction, it follows an ordinary Manchester family from the present day to 15 years in the future. Their lives are affected by a duplicitous Trump-esque MP (Emma Thompson) who attempts to exploit public disenfranchisement as Britain leaves the EU. Meanwhile, America goes rogue and China asserts itself.

This could potentially be a major work. BBC One, April/May

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TELEVISION INSIDE NO. 9 Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith have so far conjured up 25 episodes of this exceptional anthology series, every one of which is available for consumption on iPlayer. Like all the best anthologies – e.g. The Twilight Zone and Tales of the Unexpected – one never knows what to, well, expect from each episode.

While the tone is generally blackly comic, it can sometimes veer into purely dramatic, horrific or farcical territory: an ideally flexible platform for Pemberton and Shearsmith’s endlessly fertile imaginations. Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s one of the best television programmes of recent years. BBC iPlayer

!

G N I Y F TRI

C E L E

An action-packed day out for all the family just minutes from Braehead!

SEARCH ONLINE FOR ‘THE EXPERIENCE, HILLINGTON’

Part of the Kibble Group, www.kibble.org Registered Office: Abercorn House, 79 Renfrew Road, Paisley PA3 4DA The Experience, a division of Kibbleworks, Scottish Charity No. SC035861 - Registered in Scotland No. 269349

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www.paisley.is � ��

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ENTERTAINMENT

Stephen Merchant seems like an unlikely choice of director for this biographical comedy-drama about WWE Divas champ Saraya “Paige” Bevis, who grew up in a household full of pro wrestlers, but you can’t blame him for spreading his wings after escaping from the clutches of Ricky Gervais. The cast includes Nick Frost, Vince Vaughn, Lena Headey and none other than Duane “The Rock” Johnson as himself. The film, which is Merchant’s solo directorial debut, was met with acclaim when it was released in the States earlier this year, with most critics praising its warm, witty screenplay and likeable performances. Lionsgate, out now ©MGM

FILM AVENGERS: ENDGAME

©Marvel Studios

FILM FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY

DVD MR. TOPAZE The only film directed by Peter Sellers fell out of distribution almost as soon as it was released in 1961. A rare print has existed in the BFI National Archive for decades, but it’s now been dusted down for commercial release. While undoubtedly a curio, this modest pastoral comedy is of tremendous interest to Sellers fans. He plays an unassuming schoolteacher in a sleepy French town, who eventually sells his soul to a crooked financial business. Despite its gentle surface, it’s a rather sad and cynical little film in which Sellers basically plays it straight. BFI, £16.03, released 15 April.

DVD POSSUM

©Dark Sky Films

Will this really be the final chapter in the blockbusting Avengers saga? If there’s more money to be made, and there is, then probably not. Still, there’s no denying that the Avengers films are among the biggest and best entries in the Marvel superhero franchise, so no wonder this supposed bookend has been greeted with such intense anticipation.

All your old favourites including Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Panther and Black Widow unite once again to restore harmony to a universe shattered by that terribly vexing Thanos. Marvel Studios, released 26 April

This deeply disturbing British horror film was written and directed

by Matthew Holness, one half of the brain behind cult comedy show Garth Merenghi’s Darkplace. However, don’t expect to find a shred of campy humour here. Possum is a deadly serious yarn about a disgraced puppeteer (Sean Harris) traumatised by the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his stepfather (Alun Armstrong). Sparsely written, visually arresting, powerfully performed and eerily scored by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop – Holness has cited those notoriously frightening ‘70s/’80s public information films as an influence – this haunting film will burrow under your skin and linger. Spirit Entertainment Ltd, £9.99 DVD, £12.99 Blu-ray, released 4 March.

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PACE Based in Paisley, PACE is one of Scotland’s most renowned youth-oriented theatre companies. It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights…

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Photo by Mihaela Bodlovic

KEEPI N G TH E

FEATURES

W

hat do James McAvoy, Paolo Nutini, Richard Madden and Kevin Guthrie all have in common? They’re male Scottish actors and entertainers? Unleash the Q.I. klaxon. The correct answer is they’re all successful alumni of the PACE Theatre Company.

Established in 1988, PACE is a non-profit making organisation and registered charity primarily renowned for its productive Youth Theatre division. Open to anyone between the ages of three and 21, it offers a diverse array of practical workshops and, should students so wish, the opportunity to get involved with in-house theatrical productions in either a performance or technical capacity.

According to the needs and desires of the individual, it’s a platform for some valuable training towards a career in the entertainment industry, or somewhere to socialise and grow in a creative, supportive environment.

“The whole team at PACE are really passionate about what taking part in creative experiences really does to a young person,” says Artistic Director Jenni Mason. “Our programme is really diverse, we want young people to try different things and decide what they particularly like.”

PACE provides over 30 workshops per year and works closely with schools in the Renfrewshire area.

“Our relationship with schools is really important to us,” says Mason, “because it’s where we come into contact with young people, and for some of them it’s their first introduction to this type of work.”

They are, understandably, protective of their students. While PACE offers free casting representation, it could never be mistaken for a glitzy showbiz factory.

“We’re not by any means a casting agency,” confirms Mason, “but when a casting company contacts us they’ll have a specific request. We can then give young people the chance to audition if they want. It’s not something we push, but we do have a good reputation within

“

WE WANT YOUNG PEOPLE TO TRY DIFFERENT THINGS AND DECIDE WHAT THEY PARTICULARLY LIKE”

casting for having really quite natural young people. We act as a facilitator and we’re involved throughout the process in a chaperoning role.”

Their approach is essentially encouraging yet realistic. When they invite notable figures and alumni to deliver informal masterclasses, their students are hopefully left in no doubt that a career in theatre, television and film isn’t necessarily paved with gold.

Among their recent speakers were the successful Scottish actors Brian Ferguson, Scott Reid, James McArdle and (star of Mill #2, which you can read online at millmagazine.co.uk/read) Kevin Guthrie.

“It’s really nice to hear about their journeys,” says Mason. “They’re all really good at delivering and inspiring, but they’re also able to give an honest account of what it’s like to be working in the industry, which is really important because a lot of young people don’t

necessarily think about the reality of what it can be like. It can be brilliant but there are lots of ups and downs in a career like that.”

True, but the fundamental purpose of PACE is primarily positive and altruistic.

It’s a force for good.

“There are some young people who want to go on and do this as a career, which is brilliant,” says Mason. “But for us it’s much more about the personal development that comes from that.

The confidence building side, being a team player, a leader, an individual, a creative thinker, all these things which they’ll hopefully carry through with them into whatever career they choose to do.”

Everything you need to know about PACE and how to get involved can be found at pacetheatre.com. The company is located at Spires Drama Studios, School Wynd, Paisley, PA1 2DA. 0345 130 5218.

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FOOD & DRINK

caffeine

BUZZ

Do you know your cappuccinos from your lattes? If not, then never fear as coffee artisan Katie Sutherland is here to guide your trembling hand.

C

offee is the drink that fuels the working world and gets the sleep-deprived through another day. As the growing coffee scene in Renfrewshire shows, it’s fast becoming one of the area’s favourite pastimes.

Good quality, well-made coffee can be intoxicating. Beware, though, as you can become hopelessly addicted to those well-roasted, good quality beans! (Gatehouse Coffee Roasters are roasting some beautiful blends right here in Paisley).

The days of being able to order a coffee without having to answer a myriad of questions on types, roasts, milk and syrups seem like a distant memory. So here’s a quick guide to what’s out there. And remember: to find your perfect coffee, seek out places that are passionate about coffee, can tell you about their blends and are happy to answer your questions.

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ESPRESSO The powerhouse of coffees.

A single (or double) shot of strong, energy-boosting caffeine, guaranteed to wake you up and definitely not for the faint hearted. It stands alone as a drink and is also the foundation of all other coffee drinks.

AMERICANO An espresso with added hot water (one part espresso to three parts hot water) making it a longer drink that packs less of an immediate punch. It can be served with or without milk, the choice is yours.

CAPPUCCINO A strong contender in the coffee flavour stakes, it mixes the power of espresso with steamed milk and foam in equal measures topped with either chocolate or cinnamon. If you want more milk and less foam, ask for a wet cappuccino. Prefer more foam and less milk? Ask for it dry. For the purists among you this is traditionally enjoyed at breakfast time.

FLAT WHITE

A double shot of espresso with a small amount of foam on top to add a touch of sweetness without overwhelming the coffee taste.

The punchier version of a latte, size matters with this drink. Made with the same amount of espresso as a latte, it contains less velvety milk which gives it a stronger coffee taste and makes it a slightly smaller drink.

LATTE

MOCHA

The milkiest of the coffee drinks gives a more subtle coffee flavour. It’s an espresso mixed with more steamed milk than a cappuccino and topped off with a very small layer of foam.

This drink is frequently combined with vanilla, caramel or hazelnut syrups.

The sweetest of the coffee drinks and a favourite among chocoholics!

It contains espresso, chocolate syrup/ powder and steamed milk. If that’s still not rich enough for you, top it off with cream. Think hot chocolate with a subtle hint of coffee.

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PAISLEY FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL Scotland’s largest food and drink festival is back, back, back for two more mouth-watering days of culinary pleasure.

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FEATURES

T

he fifth annual Paisley Food and Drink Festival promises to be the biggest one yet. Once again, this fragrant smorgasbord of stalls, stages, tents and yurts will pitch up outside Paisley Abbey, but get ready for some brand new treats. Here’s our guide to this year’s kitchen-fresh highlights.

PLATFORM ON TOUR A weekend organisation based on the premises of what was once the late, lamented Glasgow nightclub, The Arches, Platform is devoted to gathering together the very best independent street food traders. This will be their first jaunt outside of Glasgow, during which they’ll provide a funky cavalcade of food trucks and all-weather eating areas.

A VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN FOOD ZONE Does what it says on the meat-free tin.

THE RUM SHACK Glasgow’s foremost – nay, original – Caribbean bar and canteen emporium heads back into Paisley town centre with some sizzling reggae DJs in tow.

CAMRA BEER TENT The Campaign for Real Ale will be barrelling up with a beer tent where thirsty punters can sample over 70 different varieties of amber liquids.

GIN TASTING Glasgow beverage titans Gin 71 are hosting a special Friday event offering you the benefit of their expertise, plus a Saturday bar stocked with over 20 different varieties of gin.

FOOD DEMONSTRATIONS Star guests include Gary Maclean, winner of the 2016 MasterChef: The Professionals tournament, plus local entrepreneurs Three Sisters Bake.

CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT While you, of course, drink sensibly, your kids can enjoy some lively interactive fun in the company of Sprog Rock and Captain James Tea Cook. They’ll also be bewitched by the flights of fancy emanating from the storytelling yurt inside Paisley Abbey. Not only that, they’ll get the chance to bake pizzas with Tennent’s Training Academy and stir up some chocolate with Lime Tree Larder.

MUSIC Saturday’s main stage is this year sponsored by popular Paisley music venue, The Bungalow. There will be rock, there will be roll.

The Paisley Food and Drink Festival takes place on Friday 26 April between 4pm and 10pm and on Saturday 27 April between midday and 9pm. Check paisley.is for more specific times, prices and details.

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LUNCH AT THE FARM AT No. 12 Our famished editor Paul Whitelaw treats himself to a mouth-watering spot of lunch at this converted farmhouse oasis.

I

’ll stick my neck out and wager that The Farm at No. 12 is the only café in Renfrewshire with an adorable menagerie of alpacas, micro-pigs and mini-ponies as neighbours. Just a short drive from the centre of Paisley, this charming outpost is an ideal stopping-off point if you fancy enjoying a delicious lunch while surrounded by calming rural pleasures.

Upon arriving with my usual lunch-buddy Paul (see overleaf ), I was immediately struck by the café’s warm, welcoming, cosy atmosphere. This small yet spacious converted farmhouse is a rustic delight. An open kitchen looks out over the main dining area, which was packed with satisfied customers during our lunchtime visit. The Farm at No. 12 is clearly a popular destination for people eager to get away from it all for an hour or so.

Despite being very busy, the staff couldn’t have been friendlier as they attended to each table. Paul and I were tempted by the specials – elegantly chalked up on a wall-mounted

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blackboard in time-honoured style – but we eventually opted for something from the varied lunch menu.

Regular readers will know that I’m one of those new-fangled vegetarians they have now, so I eagerly settled on the chili cheese and veggie special pizza (£6.95) plus a side order of salt and chili chips (£3). This expertly homemade discus o’ pleasure was hot and spicy but not overbearingly so. Washing it down with an icy bottle of sparkling water and a Diet Coke (both £1.50) was a mere formality. I couldn’t quite finish it all, but that says more about my delicate disposition than the faultless food itself. My myopic eyes are bigger than my belly.

Paul, a carnivore, opted for the quite magnificent smoked mozzarella cheese burger (£7.95), which he garnished with a rich BBQ sauce alongside a standard side-serving of onion rings, chips and salad. Paul has a much more impressive appetite than I, plus I don’t do dessert, so he followed that feast with a sweet Oreo tart while I had a coffee.

This farmhouse retreat provides a most agreeable morning and afternoon dining experience; you won’t regret your visit.

What’s more, alpacas!

The Farm at No. 12 is located at 12 Brownsfield Holding, Barnsford Road, Inchinnan, PA4 9LZ. 07535 598 440. facebook.com/thefarmatno12.

Photo by Brian McGuire, paisley.org.uk

FOOD & DRINK

FOOD & DRINK

DINNER AT JAPAN STREET FOOD

T

he eating and drinking scene in Paisley has, over the last few years, experienced an upsurge in quality cafes, restaurants and bars. A case in point being Japan Street Food, a little restaurant that’s earned five stars from 93 reviews (and counting) on TripAdvisor. I had to find out why.

My dining partner was friend and neighbour Alan, who took the photos in the previous issue of the food at Elderslie’s Butchers Steak & Grill. He confessed that it was one of the hardest jobs he’d ever done; trying not to eat the meals in front of him was a challenge. I thought I’d make it up to him by providing a dinner he could actually eat this time.

The restaurant opened in April 2017. It’s small and cosy, with space for ten covers. Due to its popularity they’re planning on expanding their dining area soon. In the meantime, do book your table in advance. Our host was friendly and knowledgeable and kept us entertained with some comical anecdotes. We were sat nearest to where the chef was preparing the food, which was making us hungry.

To start we both ordered gyoza dumplings: thin dough wrapping filled with vegetables or minced meat, fried until crispy. Alan opted for pork while I picked the vegetable dumplings (both £4.20 for four pieces). This delicious appetiser was crisp on the outside with a soft filling, and when dipped in the gyoza sauce provided a nice bit of heat on a chilly night.

Following this, Alan chose the chicken katsu curry: fried breaded chicken served with rice or noodles and Japanese curry

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sauce (£8.50). Alan gave this top marks. Meanwhile, I tucked into a plate of rainbow rolls: crab stick, avocado, cucumber and Japanese mayo topped with salmon, tuna, prawn and seabass (£11.95). As a fan of a popular Japanese restaurant chain (which shall remain nameless), I was surprised at how much fresher, tastier and better the food here was.

The final dish is Japan Street Food’s showpiece. The dragon roll (pictured above) consisted of prawn, soft shell crab tempura, cucumber and cream cheese topped with avocado, Japanese mayo, Teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds and crunchy Tenkatsu flakes (£12.50). This was just as delicious as the rolls that preceded, but the addition of the crispy crab tempura throughout gave it a light crunchy texture which was unlike any sushi I had tried before.

This was a favourite for both of us.

Happily sated, our host asked if we would like some sake - a Japanese rice wine served warm in traditional small cups. I had to decline as I was driving. Sake is one of the few drinks that give me that warm, fuzzy feeling. The more you drink, the fuzzier it gets! Japan Street Food has four varieties in stock.

This restaurant is a hidden gem which combines delicious fresh food with excellent customer service. It might just be the best Japanese food you’ve ever tasted, and it’s available right here in Paisley. I’ll be adding to the five star reviews.

Japan Street Food, 11 Renfrew Road, Paisley, PA3 4AF. 0141 887 8201. japanstreetfood.co.uk

Photo by Alan K. Gray

Fresh and sumptuous Asian cuisine is the order of the day at a cosy hidden gem in Paisley. Paul Dickson dives in.

Where to pick up your copy of Mill If you are a business that would like to distribute Mill, please contact paul@millmagazine.co.uk PAISLEY Abbey Mill Business Centre 12 Seedhill Road, PA1 1JS Black & Lizars 6 New Street, PA1 1XY Blend Coffee Lounge 25b Causeyside Street, PA1 1UL Brick Lane Studios Forrester House, Weir Street, PA3 4DW Bull Inn 7 New Street, PA1 1XU Cafe Lusso 4 School Wynd, PA1 2DB Cardosi Espresso Bar 65 High Street, PA1 2AS Comicrazy 45 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AN Courtyard by Marriott

Marchburn Drive, Glasgow Airport Business Park, PA3 2SJ Claire Reid Hairdressing 7 Mill Street, PA1 1LY DP Group Mirren Court, 119 Renfrew Road, PA3 4EA Elixir Lounge, Upper Floor 12 New Street, PA1 1XY Ethos Hair & Beauty Unit 2 Brown’s Lane, PA1 2JH Eve Spa 11 Christie Street, PA1 1NB Finishing Touches 7 Johnston St, Paisley PA1 1XQ Fullerton Chiropractic 7 Neilston Road, PA2 6LL Gael Interiors 4 Orchard Street, PA1 1UZ Gantry 12 New Street, PA1 1XY Graphic Hair Design 67 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PD Grumpy Monkey 22 Moss Street, PA1 1BA Houston Kiltmakers 67 High Street, PA1 2AY Iain Stewart Hairdressing 97 Causeyside Street, PA1 1TU Iconic Fitness 10-12 Lawn Street, PA1 1HA Incube Shop 9b Gilmour Street, PA1 1DG Incube 27 High Street, PA1 2AF Incognito 63 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YT Ivad Gifts 95 Causeyside Street, PA1 1TU, 29 Gauze Street, PA1 1ES Jam Jar 16 Shuttle Street, PA1 1YD James Martin Hairdressing 74 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YP John McKay Jewellers 53 Moss Street, PA1 1DR Kenneth Edwards 45 Causeyside Street, PA1 1YN Lagoon Leisure Centre 11 Christie Street, PA1 1NB Lixie Boutique 14 New Street, PA1 1XY Mad Hatter’s 39 Gauze Street, PA1 1EZ Milton Watermill Hotel Bladda Lane, PA1 1SR My Hair Guru 48 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PW Obsession of India 32 Moss Street, PA1 1BA

Paisley Physiotherapy 13 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AG Piazza Shopping Centre Central Way, PA1 1EL Rainbow Turtle 7 Gauze Street, PA1 1EP Rowantree Café 165 Glasgow Road, PA1 3LF Shoe 52 5 Mill Street, PA1 1LY Skirlies Cafe 4 Broomlands Street, PA1 2LR Soho Salon 35 High Street, PA1 2AF Ta Ta Bella’s Tea Room 63 High Street, PA1 2AS Taste Buds 22b Lawn Street, PA1 1HF The Gatehouse Coffee Roasters Benn Avenue, PA1 1JS The Lane 7 Shuttle Street, PA1 1YD The Little Coffee Company 28 Causeyside Street, PA1 1UN White Cart Company 75 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PE, 30B High Street, PA1 2BZ Woodlands Coffee House 44 Glasgow Road, PA1 3PW Zambretto 42 Old Sneddon Street, PA3 2AP BISHOPTON Angelini’s Pizzeria & Cafe 76 Greenock Road, PA7 5JB Ingliston Country Club & Hotel Old Greenock Road, PA7 5PA May’s Coffee Shop 19 Greenock Road, PA7 5JW BRIDGE OF WEIR Harrods Dry Cleaners 8 Castle Terrace, PA11 3EF Laura’s Nail & Beauty Lounge 37 Main St, PA11 3NR The Lion’s Paw 1 Morrison Place, PA11 3NU Tulip Hair Design Unit 10, 23 Livery Walk, PA11 3NN ELDERSLIE Butchers Steak & Grill 133 Main Road, PA5 9ES Elderslie Coffee Shop 11 Stoddard Square, PA5 9AS Hairpod 16A Canal Street, PA5 9AU ERSKINE Erskine Swimming Pool Bridgewater Centre, PA8 7AA Look Opticians Bridgewater Place, PA8 7AA HILLINGTON Ducati Glasgow 6 Mossland Drive, G52 4FA Origin Fitness 22 Earl Haig Road, G52 4JU The Experience Montrose Avenue, G52 4JR

HOUSTON The Carrick Centre Coffee Shop Main Street, PA6 7HD

The Paper Shop North Street, PA6 7HF HOWWOOD The Boarding House Main Street, PA9 1BQ INCHINNAN The Farm at No.12 12 Brownsfield Holding, Barnsford Road, PA4 9LZ INTU BRAEHEAD King’s Inch Road, Glasgow, G51 4BN JOHNSTONE Hairpod 62A High Street, PA5 8SJ Johnstone Community Sports Hub Beith Road, PA5 0JA No. 8 66 High Street, PA5 8SG Papamacs Gourmet Kitchen 5 Houstoun Square, PA5 8DT Quality Cards & Gifts 2 Houstoun Square, PA5 8DT Signature Permanent Cosmetics 6-8 Walkinshaw Street, PA5 8AB KILBARCHAN

Bobbins 25 Steeple Street, PA10 2JF KILMACOLM Cairn Drumpellier Place, 1 Lochwinnoch Road, PA13 4HE Wild Rose Ardgowan Place, PA13 4AA LINWOOD ON-X Linwood Brediland Road, PA3 3RA The Salon 15 Napier Street, PA3 3AJ Tweedie Hall and Library 15 Bridge Street, PA3 3DB LOCHWINNOCH Bluewater Dentist 69 High Street, PA12 4AB Cucina Minucci 2 High Street, PA12 4DA Now & Then 8 Church Street, PA12 4AD RSPB Largs Road, PA12 4JF QUARRIER'S VILLAGE The Sourcery Faith Avenue, PA11 3TF Three Sisters Bake Faith Avenue, PA11 3TF

RENFREW Renfrew Leisure Centre Paisley Road, PA4 8JL Quality Cards & Gifts 17 Canal Street, PA4 8QE CK Hair 44 Canal Street, PA4 8QD The Hair Boutique 28 High Street, PA4 8QP Judy McFaite Hairdressing 29 Dunlop Street, PA4 8PG

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LAST WORD

PEOPLE

An award-winning jazz musician and dedicated community activist, Evelyn Laurie is one of Paisley’s most prominent creative figures.

What inspired you to start the #PositivePaisley campaign? I’m a Paisley buddy, but I’ve lived and studied elsewhere.

When I moved back to Renfrewshire in 2010, I was quite dismayed at the way Paisley had become so down in the mouth. The town I’d known was once vibrant and optimistic. In 2011, I came out of the Abbey and the sun was shining. I tweeted, “Doesn’t Paisley look lovely in the sunshine? When did you last visit?” with the hashtag #PositivePaisley. Lots of people retweeted and commented. It seemed like I’d tapped into a huge well of positive feeling for the town. A movement was accidentally born! This was before the council adopted its culture-led strategy, and I like to think we played some small part in pioneering that.

You also run a freelancers’ network called Creative Connections? I set that up because there was very little support for freelance people involved in the local creative sectors. They can feel isolated, they lose motivation, confidence and have difficulty in identifying opportunities and deriving income from their art. I got a few of us together just to share experiences and it grew from there. We now have around 130 members from all creative disciplines throughout Renfrewshire.

How did you begin you career in music? For many years I sang only in choirs until I attended a jazz vocal workshop run by Fionna Duncan, Scotland’s jazz grandmummy. That’s where I was able to find my own voice. I then sang at open mics, then little gigs, then bigger gigs. My music career went largely on hold while I was getting

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EVELYN SAYS...

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more involved as a community activist, but last year I recorded my first album with some of Scotland’s best jazz musicians. I managed to get some of my own compositions on there too.

What has the response been like? I’ve had many achievements in my professional career, and I was of course delighted to win the Provost’s Community Award for Arts and Culture in 2018, but now that I’m focusing on music I’m really proud of how it’s been received. It won Jazz Album of the Year from Lincoln City Radio, reached number 14 on Amazon’s Jazz Chart, and one song was shortlisted in an international song-writing competition. There’s a great music scene here in Paisley, with lots of support going into helping young songwriters and musicians. I’d like to see more jazz, though, and maybe some support for older musicians!

Evelyn’s album A Little Bit of Me is available to buy on CD from evelynlaurie.com and White Cart Company, Paisley, and as a download from iTunes and Amazon.

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