Scotcampus Freshers' Festival

Taking the ‘square’ out of George Square, the second annual Scotcampus Freshers’ Festival rolls into the centre of Glasgow on 3 and 4 October. Billed as a introduction to all that’s good about student life, it’s essentially a Freshers’ Fair on a big scale – as the largest student exhibition in the UK it will offer 10,000 students (and potential school leavers) the chance to meet some of the companies that will be shaping the next three or four years of their lives.

Organisers seem to know what students like – free stuff, and lots of it – so expect to leave the event with bulging bags full of goodies from the likes of Downtown Clothing, the Odeon and Subway. Freebies of the non-material type can be just as rewarding, and here come in the form of guitar and drumming lessons, health advice, beauty treatments and life coaching.

It’s not all serious business though – the festival has put together an impressive line-up of Scottish bands to keep the crowds entertained throughout the two days, all housed in the Irn Bru 32 music tent. Look out for dancefloor-friendly electronic pop-punk from Glaswegian up-and-comers Isosceles, melodic rock from Hi 5 Alive, and a headline set from much-hyped Skinny tips Attic Lights. And if you thought the only (w)rappers you’d find in George Square were discarded Greggs’ ones, think again - a special appearance from Taio Cruz, Britain’s answer to Ne-Yo, should have the ladies swooning.