25,000 turn out for Xmas lights switch on

Nov 16 2009 by Alison Rennie, Paisley Daily Express

CHART star Lemar lit up Paisley on Saturday night and then texted his old Buddie David Sneddon to tell him all about it.

The pop favourite starred in the BBC TV talent show Fame Academy with Paisley singer-songwriter David back in 2002.

They both made it to the Fame Academy final but David pipped Lemar as he was declared the winner.

Lemar has stayed in touch with his old rival ever since and was keen to tell David all about his special visit to Paisley.

Speaking after he kicked-off the towns festive celebrations by switching on the Christmas lights, Lemar told the Paisley Daily Express: I keep in touch with David and we text each other, so I think Ill send him one to tell him Im in Paisley.

I came to Paisley when David and I were on Fame Academy together and were touring around the country. Ive also been back here doing a radio promotion and I remember it being a great place.

I love playing in Scotland because the crowd are always really up for it. Theyre the loudest crowd in the UK.

Im not switching on Christmas lights anywhere else this year, so Paisley is special.

Crowd

A record crowd of 25,000 people packed into Paisley town centre on Saturday for the Christmas lights switch-on.

Last years event, which was headlined by X Factor winner Leon Jackson, and the Fireworks Night which took place 11 days ago both attracted 20,000 people into the heart of the town.

But organisers were thrilled to see an even bigger crowd coming together on Saturday to begin the countdown to Christmas.

The action kicked off at 9am, with a farmers market and craft market in the town centre.

And the fun continued throughout the day until Lemar joined Renfrewshire Provost Celia Lawson and seven-year-old Danielle Stobo, who is a pupil at West Primary in Paisley, to turn on the lights at 5.30pm.

Santas reindeer parade took place at noon and was a fun affair as the jolly man in the red suit made his way from Gilmour Street followed by a crowd of excited youngsters to his grotto at the Piazza shopping centre.

He was also assisted by members of Paisleys PACE youth theatre group.

Youngsters were able to have some freezing fun at the toboggan ride on St Mirren Street and the snow beach outside Paisley Town Hall.

Both events were organised by cool bosses at SNO!zone in the Xscape leisure complex at Braehead.

Entertainment on the main stage started at 1pm as local band Marvel Heights, who recently supported Paolo Nutini, entertained the crowd with some old rock classics.

Members of the fantastic Loud n Proud rock orchestra also took to the stage to provide more live music.

The atmosphere was building and the town centre crowds were growing bigger and bigger as X Factor finalist Ruth Lorenzo took to the stage.

The sultry Spanish songstress rocked out with some classic covers she had performed on the ITV show when she was a finalist last year.

Ruth told the Express: I love playing in Scotland and the atmosphere in Paisley is really great. Its a beautiful town, with some lovely old buildings, and it had stopped raining by the time I took to the stage, which was great.

Clyde One DJs Adrian Coll, Gina McKie and Paisleys own Colin Kelly entertained the crowd in between the live performances.

They dragged some brave Buddies up on stage to perform karaoke for the crowds in return for top prizes.

Paisley Daily Express columnist Colin proved he is game for a laugh by appearing on stage in a gold lam› tracksuit.

And he introduced Canadian singing sisters Karamel for their first Scottish performance.

Enthusiastic teenagers had turned up early to bag their space at the front of the crowd so they could get up close and personal with main man Lemar.

They screamed with excitement when the R&B star took to the stage just before the big lights switch-on and the MOBO Award-nominated singers smooth sounds helped keep the crowds warm as temperatures dropped.

And he even encouraged a massive sing-a-long to his smash hit If Theres Any Justice.

The Londoner was then joined on stage by Provost Lawson and schoolgirl Danielle to throw the switch that transformed Paisley into a winter wonderland.

Then, as the Christmas lights started to twinkle across the town, the crowd were entertained with some fantastic fireworks.

And, as they snaked their way through the town centre to head for home, thrilled youngsters, mums, dads, grannies and grandpas enjoyed one final sing-a-long to Christmas classics from Wizzard and Slade which were blasted out over the loudspeakers.

l See tomorrows Express for a picture special on the Reindeer Parade.