READER all about it! The inaugural 'Largs Live' event is set to strike a major chord with music fans.

The countdown is on to the special Largs Live weekend which will take place from Friday June 29 to Sunday July 1st.

In a first for the town, it will see an unprecedented link up of 20 venues and will feature a staggering total of 45 bands across 68 gigs.

Furthermore, excitingly for an event of this scale, almost all of the events are free, and with the weekend set to be widely publicised outwith the town, hopes are high that it will put Largs on the musical map.

Top of the bill is Scottish songstress and former Fairground Attraction singer Eddi Reader who will perform at Barrfields Pavilion Theatre on Saturday June 30.

She will be bringing her entire band to local theatre Vikingar on Saturday 30th June. Doors are open at 7pm, with tickets priced �20. Tel: 01475 689777.

Other acts include Val Verde - who last year supported Bon Jovi at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium, a 26-piece drum & bass act, African drummers, soloists, full on rock, folk, jazz and contemporary pop bands, a Gaelic choir and the Bobby Wishart Band.

The opening parade starts at 12 noon on Saturday 30th June, marches through the Main Street and ends at Vikingar! where there is a drama workshop for children. The entertainment continues 8pm until 2 am on Friday, 12 noon until 2am on Saturday and 12 noon until midnight on Sunday.

The weekend is complemented by the only pre-Olympic event, a 470 sailing competition, and a dance festival in its own right, the Garden Party at Kelburn Country Centre.

For more information, go to: www.largslive.com