The Spree Festival will hit the town in October, featuring a line up of artists including former Aztec Camera Roddy Frame, the band Francois and the Atlas Mountains, Irish singer Damien Dempsey and camp comedian Craig Hill.
The event comes on the back of Paisley's successful bid to host the Royal National Mòd in October next year, the cultural highlight of the Gaelic speaking world's year.
The intention is to create a cultural legacy invigorating the town beyond that event.
The Spree will take place across four venues in the town, from October 25 to 28, and events will include Gaelic workshops and comedy.
Lisa Whytock, festival organiser said: "This is such an exciting time for Paisley.
"The events are shaping up well and we'll be releasing more information once further acts have confirmed.
"The Mòd is coming to Paisley next year and this year's festival will help prepare the way."
The four venues to host the events will be a specially erected Spiegeltent, at County Square, Paisley Abbey, the Wynd Centre and Paisley Arts Centre.
The Spree will link with Renfrewshire Council's events and Creative Renfrewshire's strategies and is part of the Year of Creative Scotland.
Mark Macmillan, Renfrewshire Council Leader, said: "We're delighted to be launching a new national arts festival in Paisley.
"Cultural events like this are central to our plans to regenerate the town and we hope The Spree will encourage people to visit us and find out for themselves just how much is going on.
"It's a great opportunity for us to showcase Paisley's cultural heritage and also the vibrant arts and cultural scene in the town.
"With the Royal National Mòd coming to Paisley in 2013, these are exciting times for the town. The Spree will help deliver an enduring cultural legacy."
Tickets for Spree events are on sale now and can be bought through Ticket Scotland, Renfrewshire Council's box office www.tickets- scotland.com and www. renfrewshire.gov.uk/thespree
The event will be delivered through a partnership of Creative Scotland, Renfrewshire Council, EventScotland and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
ewan.fergus@ eveningtimes.co.uk
