Southside Fringe central is open for business

Susan Phillips entertains the first Fringe crowds. All pics by Karen Diver.

Over 200 people came and went during an afternoon of entertainment hosted by co-founders Crawford Smith and Corinna Currie, and revellers young and old were treated to over six hours of fantastic performances, from live music to stand-up and spoken-word poetry.

The new face of the Fringe also looks the part, with spray painted décor and exhibition space for art and photography from local artists.

Local businesses donated catering to the event, with wine from Oddbins Shawlands and craft beers from the Glasgow Beer Club, as well as much-needed sustenance from the Pudding Lane Cafe and Battlefield’s Light Bite.

In addition to the HQ opening, the Fringe began its crowd funding appeal on March 1, and the festival co-founders are hoping to rake in as much as possible.

Corinna commented: “Funds raised will provide a strong and vibrant visual presence in and around the southside over the Fringe, running May 9-25.”

Crawford and Corinna targeted around a dozen venues hosting 40 acts in their inaugural year — what they ended up with was over 100 events in 28 locations.

The only way is up, as Crawford added: “2013 was the year of the southside. In 2014 the southside is just going to keep getting bigger and better.”

The HQ is a community space, self-funded and thriving on goodwill. Opening hours will gradually increase over March, April and May, and programmes for the Southside Fringe will be available at the beginning of next month.