Festival stage named in memory of teenage singer Paige Dougall

A new festival in Fife has named its main stage in memory of local singer Paige Dougall, who died earlier this year with cancer.

Paige was due to perform at Kirkcaldy Breakout Festival in October last year but the event was postponed due to rising Covid infections.

The 17-year-old died at her home in the town in January, two years after being diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer that affects bones or tissue around the bones.

The main stage at the festival, which is taking place on Kirkcaldy’s Esplanade on the weekend of May 27-29, will now be named in support of the charity Paige’s Musical Butterflies.

All profits from the festival will also go to Paige’s charity and NHS Fife.

Festival organisers Ian Arnott and Stuart Prentice said: “Paige is one of the bravest and most amazing human beings we have ever met.

“She was due to play the main stage back in October but we had to reschedule due to Covid. It is devastating that she can not fulfil that dream, but working with her mum Michelle, we will keep her beautiful spirit alive with a massive celebration of her life.”

Paige achieved a UK Top 40 hit in October last year with a song she recorded with Ella Henderson. She also released a charity single with Scots singer Callum Beattie, who is among those performing at Breakout.

Her final wish was a charity in her name, dedicated to making music therapy accessible to help other young people battling cancer at hospital and at home.

Paige’s Mum Michelle will be at the festival to launch the charity and raise vital funds.

Among the acts performing at the three-day event are GBX, Midge Ure, The Skids, Hue And Cry, Big Country, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Gun.

Tickets are available to buy here.