After a sell-out and critically acclaimed Scottish debut last summer, Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway’s Vintage Festival will return – on a grander scale – to Merchant City Festival, Glasgow as part of Festival 2014. Vintage will take place in the streets and evocative venues across the Merchant City on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July, the first weekend of the XX Commonwealth Games. 

The 13th Merchant City Festival is a key component of Festival 2014, the massive Games-time celebration in Glasgow running alongside the sporting action of the XX Commonwealth Games.  It will be one of three Live Zones that will transform the city, from 23 July to 3 August, with an invigorating mix of entertainment, culture and enjoyment filling the streets, spaces and stages of Glasgow.  

Designers Wayne Hemingway MBE and Gerardine Hemingway MBE announced the Vintage programme highlights at the iconic Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow.  For the first time ever Vintage will reach out to embrace and rejoice in vintage  music, arts and culture  from across the Commonwealth to celebrate being part of Festival 2014, as well as bringing together British music, fashion, film, art, dance, food and design from the 1920’s to the 1980’s. 

Designer Wayne Hemingway MBE said: “We had a great time in Glasgow last summer, the Vintage Marketplace and the Vintage Beauty Salon were mobbed from opening to close, dancing took place in the bars throughout the days and evenings and the sold out nightclubs were uplifting. The city of Glasgow sure knows how to party. This year being part of the Commonwealth Games Culture 2014 programme will allow us to explore international elements of vintage culture that will take us all on a voyage of vintage discovery. This will ensure that this is a one off Vintage Festival and the team can’t wait to deliver something that will live long in the memory” 

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council, Chair of the Merchant City Festival and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “After a magnificent debut last summer we are delighted to welcome Vintage back to Merchant City Festival as part of Festival 2014.  Festival 2014, the massive cultural celebration running alongside the sporting action of the Commonwealth Games, will demonstrate to the world Glasgow’s ability to deliver a world-class cultural programme.  

“Merchant City Festival will be one of three live zones transforming Glasgow this summer. As such the festival has expanded from 5 days and will amaze and engage visitors for an incredible 11 days.  Vintage takes place during the first weekend of Festival 2014 and is certain to be one of the highlights.” 

A flavour of what’s in store came to Glasgow as members of the 1940/ 50s inspired dance troupe The Kennedy Cupcakes, who will perform at Vintage,danced under the iconic balcony signage inside the Old Fruitmarket.  Vintage gramophone DJ Lord Holyrude, who will spin the tunes at various sites across the festival, provided the music. 

The show-stopping, sell-out sensations of Vintage 2013 are back at Glasgow's iconic Old Fruitmarket. But they are bigger, they are better and on 27 July they will bring from Slovakia, the Bratislava Hot Serenaders, one of the world’s most in demand and authentic 1920s to 40s bands for their first Scottish big band performance. The evening will be hosted by Viv the Spiv alongside expert dance teachers who will guide festival-goers through the steps. The Torch Club promises an evening of themed canapés, period cocktails and a wonderful opportunity for all ages to glam up and dance. 

On Saturday 26 July the legendary The Soul Casino will transform the Old Fruitmarket, with some of the UK’s best soul, funk, and disco DJ’s on the decks, spinning vinyl from the 60s 70s and 80. Tickets for these events are now on sale. 

The incredible Vintage Makeover Salon will delight once again. Having sold out within hours last year, the Vintage team have commandeered the large central area of Merchant Square in Glasgow this july. The Salon will be able to cater for many more party-goers keen to be transformed with a decade specific hairstyle and beauty makeover from the vintage beauty experts. The Merchant Square will also be home to the 'Charity Shop DJ' playing across the weekend, with a little help from a host of internationally respected specialist collector DJ’s who will take all those within earshot on a 'vintage spin through the commonwealth from ska to dub, to calypso and on to Bollywood psycadelia, Ghanaian funk, Nigerian afrobeat, Cameroonian makossa and much much more. 

The Vintage Marketplace, one of Europe’s most exciting Vintage collections, has expanded this year to include Candleriggs, Bell Street and Walls Street. There will be wonderful vintage shopping, food and traders from classic vehicles. 

The full Vintage Festival programme will be announced shortly, including more events, masterclasses and workshops, the free live stage and a whole host of daytime, evening and nighttime events. Tickets for Soul Casino (£20) and Torch Club (£25) now on sale online.