JCBs "performing" at this year's Merchant City Festival

The nine day festival, which starts on July 25, will include a host of performances and music, including a new work - Fragile - which will involve JCBs.

The Fragile premiere is a large scale street performance involving international performers from Motionhouse - a leading UK dance theatre company - plus 25 local performers.

It will be directed by Kevin Finnan, choreographer and movement director for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Conflux director Alan Richardson said: "In Fragile we'll be bringing something special to the streets of Glasgow with one of the UK's top outdoor performance companies and a host of machine-dancing JCB diggers.

"We're excited to deliver a quality programme of local and international street theatre acts to surprise, provoke and entertain the thousands who'll flock to the festival."

Council leader Gordon Matheson, chairman of the Merchant City Festival Committee said: "The Merchant City Festival has always been a vibrant, eclectic and exciting celebration which played a vital role in bringing the city to life during the Commonwealth Games.

"As we celebrate the first anniversary of the best ever Commonwealth Games, the Merchant City Festival will be nine days of ambitious, diverse, exciting and fun cultural events which Glasgow has earned an international reputation for delivering. We are looking forward to delivering an outstanding festival and welcoming tens of thousands of people to the streets, hubs and venues across the Merchant City."

The Brunswick Street Stage will include a screen and licensed area in a large marquee.

The festival will also be home to fashion and design events, dance, comedy, street theatre and a family zone which will run across five days from July 27 in Merchant Square.

The SURGE festival, a highlight of the Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme, returns for the sixth time.

There will also be pop-up food stands, craft stalls and street entertainment.