by Stewart McConnell

ORGANISERS of this year's musical extravaganza, Live@Troon are getting ready to take the wraps off an eagerly anticipated programme jam-packed with local talent and star studded musical headliners.

And they hope to ensure it's the best one yet.

Nostalgia will be all the rage with revellers being taken back to the Seventies with the contrasting sounds of Slade and Abba taking centre stage. However Bombskare and Crash Club will give a more contemporary feel to the festival.

This year the programme has been extended with the first acts taking to the stage on the evening of Thursday, September 8 and the final act completing the event on Sunday, September 11.

As the countdown to hosting the town's seventh annual Live@Troon event nears, those looking to attend are being urged to snap up their tickets quickly, with a full sell-out expected as visitors travel to the festival from across the UK and Europe.

A number of big named stars have been confirmed to headline the Main Stage during the weekend of gigs with a raft of local talent performing in venues across the town including: Girvans, The Harbour Bar and the South Beach Hotel.

Festivities will kick-start with a night of stand up comedy in the South Beach Hotel hosted by local funny man Billy Kirkwood.

The weekend line-up:

Thursday September 8, South Beach Hotel – Comedy at the Beach - Stand up comedy hosted by Ayrshire’s very own funny man Billy Kirkwood and introducing Garry Little, Ross Leslie and Gary Meikle. A side-splitting night is in store. (ticket price £12.50).

Friday September, 9, Main Stage, The Concert Hall, Troon.

Headlining: “ABBAMANIA” the touring production that will take you back to a decade of great pop and is guaranteed to have everyone dancing , prize for best dressed audience member. They will be supported by Slade Experience so "Cum On Feel the Noize" (ticket price £20), 7pm.

South Beach sessions in the South beach hotel - eclectic mix of music with full line up to be announced, 7pm.

Saturday September, 10, Main Stage, The Concert Hall, Troon: Children's afternoon disco, from 1pm – 4pm (free of charge).

Headlining: Scotlands own “ Hector Biserk” with the popular return of “Colonel Mustard and the Dijon five” with Bombskare and Crash Club making up the exciting four-band line up. Ticket price £20, 7pm.

South Beach Sessions in the South Beach Hotel - diverse mix of music with full line up to be announced, 7pm.

Sunday, September 10: Main Stage, The Concert Hall, Troon: The ever-popular town centre parade will take place from noon, finishing at the town hall where various youth workshops will be taking place.

Every year the primary school talent competition “Troon's Got Talent” seems to grow in stature and in quality so this year we have moved it to the Sunday afternoon on the main stage in the town hall, from 1pm.

Headlining on the Sunday at 7pm in Troon Concert Hall are The Glasgow Studio Orchestra.

People can held along and enjoy the classic film themes played by a full 70-piece classical orchestra and guest singers with the tickets priced £20.

The South Beach sessions are being staged in the South Beach Hotel on Sunday at 7pm and will feature an eclectic mix of music with the full line-up to be announced.

Alan Clayton, Chair of Live@Troon said: “Following on from the success of last year’s festival we decided to extend 2016 to four days from the Thursday through to the Sunday night.

"We also wanted to engage with different genres of music to give a wider audience appeal, so we have everything from 70s pop, rap and house to classical music, we hope to pull the best ever Live@Troon out the bag. As a town we will have enjoyed a fantastic summer hosting The Open Championship and we are looking for the festival to once again fill the streets of Troon with music lovers over the festival weekend.

"As a town, we're a close knit community with a wealth of local talent on our doorstep. One of the key goals of Live@Troon is to nurture and showcase unsigned talent at a grassroots level encouraging them to play on the same stage as some of the best names on the Scottish music scene.

"With this in mind we are looking forward to seeing the up and coming bands playing a special afternoon session on the Saturday. One thing is for sure; this year our musical spectacular will put Troon on the map as not only a beautiful seaside holiday hot-spot but as a hub for musical excellence."

For more information about Live@Troon, please visit the website: www.liveattroon.com or contact the chairman Alan Clayton on 07990 523916.