This year's Cumnck Tryst event will feature a wonderful performance looking back at the area's mining heritage.

Three years of hard work by community groups across the area will come to fruition at this year’s Cumnock Tryst, with 'A Musical Celebration of the Coalfields' forming the backbone of Saturday's events.

Taking place from Thursday, October 5 until Sunday, October 8, hundreds of local groups are set to take part.

READ MORE: Music programme returning to town this week

Starting in 2020, while wrangling the challenges of the pandemic, this musical celebration of East Ayrshire’s mining heritage brought 10 local community groups from Cumnock and across the Doon Valley.

A collaboration with the Coalfields Community Landscape Partnership, these groups are very much at the heart of writing, composing, and performing their stories at Barony Hall alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under the leadership of artistic director and founder Sir James MacMillan.

The festival's founder said: “Working with around 300 people from across our community in East Ayrshire for around three years now has been one of the most enriching and rewarding experiences I’ve experienced.

"And through this time together many have created songs for the first time which connect directly into their lives and their families.

"From the very humorous takes on life in a coal mining community to the inevitable sadness and loneliness that many experienced, these songs have huge heart and I for one cannot wait to hear them performed at our Big Saturday at this year’s Tryst.”

To book your tickets and find out more about what’s on offer this year, visit www.thecumnocktryst.com.