The idea of a Glasgow Arts Festival goes back to 1982 when the concept was first suggested. So many people agreed with the idea that by the following year nearly £50,000 was raised by groups such as Equity, the Musicians’ Union and Glasgow District Council - and Mayfest was born. This particular time of year was chosen because of Glasgow’s strong Socialist background and history of May Day celebrations and Mayfest is, in fact, very much a people’s festival - going out into the communities as well as to bigger city centre venues.
This, the fourth Mayfest, is the largest ever. Administrator Feri Lean has seen it develop in size and stature until it has grown from two to three weeks featuring companies from ten countries including China, Nicaragua and Japan with the biggest community festival ever and the first ‘official’ fringe. With music, dance, art, theatre comedy and so much more
there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The List Mayfest Special is the definitive guide to both the festival and the city. There is a guide to transport in Glasgow and a comprehensive map and key to all venues. Every Mayfest event or show is listed in the daily diary which gives information, day-by-day, to everything going on during the Festival. There is time, price and ticket information as well as reviews and mini-features on some of the more interesting or novel shows. (Please note that all Art and Exhibition information for Mayfest is included in the usual Art Listings— page 43). Also included is a selective guide to places to eat, drink or both in the city as well as details of our Mayfest competition.
DON’T MISS OUT ON MAYFEST
City Transport Guide 15 Venue and Ticket Intormation . Community Venues 17 s» ’ David Hayman on Burns 18 Mayiest Daily Diary 19 Pubs and Eating Out 33
Carol Scanlan in Charahanc
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TRANSPORT
Glasgow is a fairly compact city with many Mayfest venues just about within walking distance — which is probably the best way to get around.
0 Walking when it is dry — and practical — this is by far the best method. Not only will you see some of the best architecture in Britain if you care to look, but you will also see much busking and street entertainment — some organised for Mayfest and some not. Also the grid system on which the city is built makes it easy to follow directions and difficult to get lost. Glaswegians are friendly and always willing to help, even if, as one guide book says, ‘the local patois can be somewhat opaque.’ Disadvantages are - like Edinburgh, Glasgow has a great many hills and during busy spells, just as many pickpockets.
0 Bl: (PTE) While Glasgow has an extensive and regular bus service, it is not without its faults. On the plus side, the buses run until about 11.45pm with a late bus service operating from George Square and cover every part of the city you will want to visit. On the other hand, bus-swapping is a necessary chore for many journeys. Alighting can be a serious health hazard because the Bus Stops always seem to come as a complete surprise. Furthermore, bus drivers do not give change making pocketsful of change necessary. Buchanan Street Bus Station Day: 332 9644. Night: 332 9135.
Anderston Cross Bus Station 24hr telephone no. 248 7432.
Night Buses From George Square: 12.30,1.45, 3 and 4.15am. £1 within City boundary.
0 Underground Although Glaswegians love it dearly, it is far
from ideal. The service is very
limited in area and does not run on Sundays. While it is frequently ! cheaper, and always faster, than the bus it also gets very busy at peak times, looking and feeling like every Japanese commuter train you have ever seen pictures of. The ? Underground is also very noisy. Trains run on a circuit. First circuit | starts 6.30am, last circuit 10.35pm. ? o Low-level Trains These are fast, regular and usually reliable. The bad ' news is that they are often pricey and useful only for travelling further afield — ideal if you are thinking of attending any community events.
0 Taxi Next to walking, this is the best way to get about the city, especially ifyou are travelling in small groups when the combined fare is frequently cheaper than separate bus fares. Taxis charge 70p I for the first mile and 10p per i one-sixth ofa mile after that. By and . large Glasgow cabbies do not take long, circuitous routes if you look
like a stranger, nor engage you in banal conversation unless you look particularly receptive.
450 Radio Taxis 332 6666/
429 6666/88] 6666.
A1 Radio Cabs 943 0022/
942 1414/333 0099.
o Clydebanlt and District TOA
941 1101 (10 lines).
For information on all forms of transport contact Travel Centre, St Enoch Square. Open Mon—Sat 7am—12pm. Sunday 9am-9pm. f 0 If you do decide to use public i transport, Strathclyde Passenger i Transport Executive in association I with Scot Rail sell ‘Transcard’ tickets 2 which entitle the holder to unlimited transport on buses, tube and train throughout the city. These can be purchased from the Transcentre in the concourse of St. Enoch underground station and cost £5 for a week or £l8 for 4 weeks.
The List2— 15 Mai/15