Govan Music Festival gets underway today and this year’s programme showcases the diversity, talent and passion of the historic Glasgow district, with one show featuring a song inspired by local lifesaving outfit, the Glasgow Humane Society.
Performed by local singer-songwriters Aqeel Butt and Louis Rive, the song entitled Old River will form part of tonight’s show at the Fairfield Club featuring a host of local talent including Glasgow vocalist Becci Wallace and Govan-based hip-hop legend Steg G.
Aqeel and Louis are two local talents who were invited to write a song about the River Clyde for this year’s festival. They felt passionate about shining a light on suicide and the work being done to help people and save lives by the likes of Glasgow Humane Society, who have been saving lives on Glasgow’s beloved waterway the River Clyde since 1790.
Aqeel said: “The song we’ve written for this year’s festival – Old River – was inspired by the work of Glasgow Humane Society. They have been working on the river for nearly 250 years rescuing people who have ended up in the river for whatever reason.
“The song features a spoken word part about someone contemplating suicide at the banks of the Clyde. This is a tough subject to talk about but having seen the statistics on suicide in Scotland, we felt it should be addressed and talked about more – and the festival was the perfect platform for that. Once we worked out the arrangement for the song, it all just fitted nicely together and felt like it was all meant to be.”
Govan Music Festival runs until Saturday 29th March and features a host of thought-provoking and genre-blending performances across its four days.
Marking the birth of spring in the developing part of the city, the festival aims to fill Govan’s venues with performances that inspire and uplift locals and visitors alike.
From a sober hip-hop event for the recovery community to world music and a string quartet, the 2025 programme, delivered by cultural regeneration orchestra The Glasgow Barons, caters to audiences of all music tastes and backgrounds.
Paul MacAlindin, Artistic Director of The Glasgow Barons and Govan Music Festival, said: “Govan Music Festival is an event for all and one that embraces openness, helping others and tackling challenging subjects. This festival aims to amplify the creativity, resilience and brilliance that Govan has to offer and we want to use music to make people smile, make them think and to unite Govan and represent our gallus hometown. Spring is a time of new beginnings and we can’t wait to see all the bold new music and artistry showcased across Govan over the coming days.”
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland said: “An event like no other, Govan Music Festival is forged on the banks of the Clyde by the people who call these streets home. Classical meets hip hop, school choirs meet string quartets, and Musicians In Exile share stages with those whose roots in the area go back generations. Led by The Glasgow Barons, this festival makes art from real-life issues, builds pride and confidence in local residents, and draws audiences from near and far on account of the excellent music on offer.”
Govan Music Festival, which is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, is committed to affordable ticketing, with events ranging from free to £15.
The 2025 edition runs until Saturday 29th March. Tickets for this year’s festival are on sale now at www.glasgowbarons.com/govan-music-festival-2025.
