South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture

Tam Cowan – writer, broadcaster and comedian – has enjoyed a successful career in newspapers, radio, television and stand-up for more than 35 years.

Most notably as co-presenter of BBC Radio Scotland’s award winning Off The Ball that celebrates its 32nd anniversary in 2026.

Tam is also a popular columnist in The Sunday Post with a light-hearted weekly spread which takes an irreverent look at the world at large.

When it comes to playing it for laughs, he’s honoured to be rubbing shoulders with Post legends, Oor Wullie and The Broons.

His monthly Aff The Baw comedy show – at Blackfriars in Glasgow – is a hot ticket attracting a diverse list of special guests from the world of football, theatre and TV.

Tam’s one-man-show at the Edinburgh Fringe has sold out for the past three years.

He is in huge demand for comedy gigs and dinner speaking events and also enjoys his time spent working for different charities … chiefly St. Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie.

But this string of dates in September is Tam’s first-ever national tour of Scotland.

With the aid of satnav – plus a carefully curated list of great fish ‘n’ chip shops and curry houses – he’ll travel the length and breadth of the country appearing at some of our most popular venues.   He's temporarily suspended his membership of Slimming World for one month.

A lifelong fan of Motherwell FC, his other big love is his family … wife Liz, daughter Sophie and their wee Maltese dog, Casper.

Word is all three can’t wait to see the back of him when he hits the road.

But for Tam the tour – which is long overdue – can’t come quick enough.  He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to going out on the first tour of my career.  What a great opportunity to have a laugh, joke and a real carry-on with all the people who’ve been listening to my guff for the past three decades.  I cannae wait.”

Over 16s only.

Available to book online or by calling The Town House Hamilton on 01698 452299.

Cost: £27.50 / £25.00 (subject to £1.50 transaction fee)

The Drifters are back on tour in the UK performing all their classic hits including Saturday Night at the Movies, You’re More Than A Number, Come on Over to My Place, Under the Boardwalk, Kissin’ In The Back Row and many more!

The legendary group have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, performed for the President of the United States and listed among the Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Under the guidance of Tina Treadwell (daughter of the group’s original founders, George & Faye Treadwell) The Drifters have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in recent years with multiple successful UK tours including headline shows in major arenas and, most notably, the world-famous Royal Albert Hall in London for the first ever in the group’s glittering career.

“I am thrilled with the success of our recent UK tours and we invite you all to join us in continuing to celebrate this incredible and everlasting story of The Drifters.“ said Tina, speaking about the tour.

Available to book online or by calling Lanark Memorial Hall on 01555 673199.

Cost: £33.00 (subject to £1.50 transaction fee)

Award-winning actor and producer Scott Kyle — known for Outlander, Kajaki, The Angels’ Share, Billy & Tim and Once Upon a Time in Scotland — brings his most personal work to Rutherglen Town Hall with a bold and emotionally charged spoken word performance.

“It’s Not Where You Start…” is a powerful exploration of memory, resilience, and belonging. Drawing on his lived experience — from spending time in care as a child to becoming a foster carer — Kyle gives voice to stories often left unheard.

Blending heartfelt poetry with striking comic book-style projections, this is storytelling that is both intimate and visually unforgettable. It’s a tribute to the past, a reckoning with the present, and a timely call for compassion as the UK care system faces increasing scrutiny.

Winner of the Stage Award for Acting Excellence, Scott Kyle delivers a must-see performance filled with honesty, humanity, and hope.

“The story of how Scott Kyle went from being a latch-key kid on the streets of Rutherglen to an award-winning actor starring alongside Hollywood Icon Harrison Ford is both highly amusing and incredibly inspirational.” — Paul Kelbie, Discover Scotland Magazine

“A really well-told TED Talk with beautiful animations… such an engaging, humble and honest performer.”  — Cora Bissett, award-winning theatre director and playwright

 “An amazing story and well worth your time… superb animations.”  — Nicola McCartney, award-winning playwright and director

Available to book online or by calling Rutherglen Town Hall on 0141 613 5700.

Cost: £20.00 (subject to £1.50 transaction fee)

For reasons outwith his control, Fred had to cancel his 2025 Edinburgh Fringe shows and his Autumn Tour - “Fred MacAulay: No podcast - LIVE”. Now, thankfully, due to reasons completely within his control, he is now preparing to hit the road in 2026 with the 2025 show repackaged and updated and simply called “GOOD EVENING!”.

So what happened? Simply put: Fred suffered a freak accident and then an unrelated prostate cancer diagnosis. Is there humour in either of these? In the words of a famous Scotland footballer “Maybes Aye, Maybes Naw”.

Now in the fourth decade of his comedy career, Fred MacAulay still loves being on stage doing what he does best ...... quite simply it's STAND-UP and his appetite for performing is as strong as it was all those years ago when he took a massive side-ways step from a career as an Accountant and Company Secretary into the world of entertainment.

A career which has taken him all over the world (apart from South America) (and some other continents) where he has worked in television and radio. But it’s always been and always will be as a stand-up that Fred wants to be remembered. It's because of stand-up that he’s been asked to do all the 'celebrity' things that he’s done.

He might talk about some of them, but he's more likely to talk about what is current - having been a guest on the famous Radio 4 News Quiz show for almost 18 years he has some previous in this respect. And as a family man he'll no doubt be talking about the latest stage of that aspect of life ..... grandchildren. "I can remember the joy of having our kids just after I'd embarked on my career in comedy ..... what a great source of material they were! I mean, that wasn't the main reason for having kids ...... but I hope the same applies to the grandkids!"

Fred hates the word ‘celebrity’ yet he’s done Celebrity Mastermind (twice) and Celebrity Masterchef (once) and who can forget his Celebrity Fame Academy for Comic Relief (Answer: hopefully everyone). Asked twice to do ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here’ Fred said No! “I’m waiting for the Scottish version ….. “So You Think You’re A Celebrity, Get The **** Out Of Here!”

Asked for a snappy quote for publicity, Fred sent this: “I really hope that a lot of people come out to see this tour. I think it’s the best show I’ve done since the last one.”

Here’s what others have said:

‘ONE OF THE BEST STAND-UP COMEDIANS BRITAIN HAS EVER PRODUCED’ - Richard Osman, Pointless

'FRED MACAULAY IS AN ELITE COMEDIAN' - Kevin Bridges

‘RIB-ACHINGLY FUNNY, ONE OF THE FUNNIEST MEN ALIVE’ – Sunday Times

 ‘A MASTERCLASS’ – The Evening Express

Available to book online or by calling East Kilbride Arts Centre on 01355 261000.

Cost: £20.00 (subject to £1.50 transaction fee)

After a SELL-OUT run of shows in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and two sell out shows at the Pavilion Theatre Glasgow ‘Up a Close’ is back for its 2026 Autumn Tour and is very excited to be returning to Rutherglen Town Hall, what a fabulous audience, on Friday Evening 18th September and Saturday 19th September for a Matinee and Evening performance.

Up A Close’ is the story of Joanna, looking back on her life in her Partick tenement flat, when her husband doesn't come home one night, she reminisces on her marriage, her children, the wonderful times she had growing up in the mid-70s with her Mum, Dad, her Auntie Sandra, her best friend Anne Marie, the nuns and dancing up the toon to the Bay City Rollers. The audience will laugh and cry and identify themselves in this brilliantly written and acted play of tough love and hope and laughter, full of nostalgia, poignancy and fun and pure Glasgow banter.

Available to book online or by calling Rutherglen Town Hall on 0141 613 5700.

Cost: £22 / £20 concession (subject to £1.50 transaction fee)