Helensburgh enjoys over 40 groups and societies promoting music and the creative arts. It has been a dream of Helensburgh Community Council to showcase this rich vein of talent for the delectation and delight of the local community and visitors to the town. Called MUSIC IN THE SQUARE (MiS) the initiative was launched at the 2021 Summer Festival in Colquhoun Square. Its highly entertaining and innovative music and dance programme “went down a bomb” – the only way to describe it. “When can we do it again?” was a common refrain from performers and audiences alike. And from many local shop owners who saw their takings increase.

Funding for MiS comes from a £5K grant for the Scottish Government’s Scotland Loves Local Fund. While performers are not paid directly, this grant allows for donations to the parent group/society to help fund their other activities. Match funding and other in-kind support have also been secured. Whilst we were expecting that Concerts in Colquhoun Square would be our main focus, the unexpected success of Music in the Square has been in the background musical support that Music in the Square gives to an ever-growing number of local events in other locations in the town:

Helensburgh Beer & Gin Festival	May ’22
A&BC Product Launch	Aug ’22
Opening Ceremony of the Helensburgh Leisure Centre	Oct ’22
Helensburgh Wine Festival	Nov ’22
Helensburgh Community Clubs Event	March ’23
Civic Reception for Delegation from Le Taillan Medoc	April ’23

The right background music adds style and ambience to any event. That wee bit of Je Ne Sais Quoi. Hard to define but you know when it‘s there. Who will ever forget the stunning display of Scottish Country Dancing from the Margaret Rose School of Dancers specially performed for our French visitors? Spellbinding!

Exploiting Helensburgh’s deep reservoir of local talent, Music in the Square is fast becoming a well-known feature of life in the town. The priority going forward now is to align our ongoing programme of musical concerts and other events alongside the bi-monthly Farmers Markets in Colquhoun Square. But, for this, the first requirement will be for a multi-directional PA system to enhance audience enjoyment, particularly when singing is involved.

Nigel Millar
Tariq Durrani
07/05/2023