KILMARNOCK founded band Fatherson are one of the headline acts taking to the stage on Saturday, July 23 at Irvine’s Making Waves festival.

They say it’s an event they “can’t wait” for and that they have hopes it can get the local music scene thriving once more.

The trio of Ross Leighton, Marc Strain and Greg Walkinshaw are just off a run of 13 shows, and guitarist/vocalist Ross took the time to chat to the Times ahead of the festival.

He said: “I can’t wait for Making Waves. I’m really looking forward to it and I hope it becomes an annual event. It’d be brilliant to get a local music scene positively thriving again, with a big festival that local bands can aspire to play.

"Sometimes you play festivals and the audience are a bit stand off-ish, standing in their wellies with their arms folded and an ‘impress me’ attitude. I know the Irvine audience will be right up for it though.”

READ MORE: Del Amitri's Justin Currie on festivals ahead of Ayrshire's Making Waves

Local crowds are something Ross says he loves, and he was reminiscent of his early memories playing when the band first started out just over a decade ago.

He continued: “When we first started playing shows, the one thing we loved locally was that the crowd was always totally into it.

“I think generally, this part of the world has always embraced live music.

“I used to love going to see bands in the Magnum and the HAC. If no one had been playing gigs when I was growing up and discovering music, it’s very likely that I wouldn’t be playing gigs with Fatherson.”