Published: Tuesday, 27th April, 2010 8:33am

Kilmarnock lays on free bus to Cumnock

Janice Gilmour, Theatre Manager and Ayrways bus driver

Kilmarnock 's Grand Hall is set to become Ayrshire's finest music venue following a £350,000 transformation.

To mark the grand relaunch on Friday 21 May, East Ayrshire Council's Arts and Museums team are laying on free buses to take people back to the main Ayrshire towns and villages.

The venue's debut evening will be devoted to a DJ Night featuring some of the UK 's best DJ's - Seb Fontaine , Utah Saints and Seamus Haji. The venue licence runs until 2.30am, when there will be no public transport available. In an effort to introduce the Grand Hall to Ayrshire wide audiences 100 free bus places are being offered to take clubbers back to Symington, Monkton, Prestwick, Ayr, Auchinleck, Mauchline, Cumnock, Irvine, Kilwinning, Steventon, Saltcoats and Ardrossan.

Janice Gilmour, Theatre Manager said: "The Grand Hall deserves to be recognised as the best music venue in Ayrshire - capacity has been increased to almost 1,300 and we have installed state of the art sound and lighting systems capable of handling a wide range of music. As a gesture to people living out with Kilmarnock , we are giving away one hundred free bus places for people coming to the relaunch party on 21 May.

"The relaunch event will continue on Saturday 22 May with the frontman from The Fratelli's new band, Codeine Velvet Club, supported by Park Circus, rocking the venue. The new sound and lighting system really will be put to the test!"

The Grand Hall refurbishment will complete a programme of investment to all six of the arts and museum venues within East Ayrshire. The refurbishment will mark phase two of the Grand Hall's redevelopment, with the final phase concentrating on exterior conservation and roof works, costing £2.5million and taking place in 2011.

Disabled access to all levels has been incorporated into the work. The venue has been refitted with a state of the art sound and lighting system, which will help to attract music promoters to the venue and make the Grand Hall a viable option for music concerts and tours -establishing Kilmarnock as Ayrshire's biggest and best music venue.

The current ticket office has been redesigned to encompass a more functional box office and foyer.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Douglas Reid, said: "This is another great investment in the regeneration of Kilmarnock . The Grand Hall used to be raved about in terms of the musical attractions it hosted in the 50's and 60's and we are looking to restore it to its former glory. We want Kilmarnock to be the place to see live music in the West Coast of Scotland creating yet another excellent visitor attraction within East Ayrshire."

Tickets for the relaunch weekend are priced at £15 for Utah Saints, Seb Fontaine and Seamus Haji on Friday 21 May and £10 for The Codeine Velvet Club on Saturday 22 May. Free bus places must be booked at the time of booking a ticket and can only be obtained through a box office booking at the Palace Box Office on 01563 554900.