AN ANNUAL Matt McGinn remembrance event is gearing up for its 'biggest' one yet.
The Matt McGinn Remembrance Hootenanny, which is set to take place on Saturday, is a space to celebrate and rejoice in the late singer's life.
The event will see more than 20 folk singers playing Matt McGinn songs, including The Gallowgaitors and Kevin Gore, with special guest appearances from the likes of Gavin Patterson and Peter Dale Evans.
Attendees will also swap stories during the day, and reminisce on McGinn's life.
The Gallowgate Calypso and Coorie Doon singer, who grew up in the Calton area of Glasgow's East End, was a prominent folk singer-songwriter in the 60s and 70s.
Having been born on Ross Street in January 1928, the event will kick off on the same place in which McGinn was born.
Not only was the street specifically chosen but the month was too.
As McGinn was born in January and died in the same month, the event was planned to occur in the first month of the year as another layer of honour.
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Starting at the Matt McGinn blue plaque on Ross Street, which was placed in 2019, the gathering will then move to a function suite in The Old Burnt Barns pub for food, drinks and music.
James Scott, 67, from Rutherglen, who organised both the event and the blue plaque, spoke to the Glasgow Times about the upcoming day.
He said: "I started this event because I thought that this man was somehow being forgotten.
"He is one of the most famous, and one of the best folk singers in Scotland.
"He had written about 400 songs and poems, and the only other Scottish person that we believe has written that much is Rabbie Burns.
"All of his writings were just pure brilliant, and I've been a fan of his right from the start.
"I even met him back in the 70s and he was a good guy to talk to."
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The event, which first began back in 2019, will begin at 1pm and is expected to run on until around 5pm.
The event is free of charge and open to all members of the public who wish to celebrate McGinn's legacy.
James said that so far, this year's event seems to have more attraction that ever before.
He said: "This Saturday will be the biggest ever presence of the event than ever before.
"We're expecting a lot of people as there has been a lot of attention around it.
"We have also got more entertainers than ever before at Saturday's event, and they're very excited about the day, especially as most of them are big Matt McGinn fans.
"I'm looking forward to it too, obviously."
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Many current folk singers around Scotland still play and perform McGinn's music, such as The Corries, The Weavers and The Ian Campbell Folk Group.
McGinn died by way of smoke inhalation on January 5, 1977 following a fire at his home.
He was 48 years old.
For more information, or to contact the organisers, click HERE
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