Motherwell Strathclyde Park previously hosted the major Scottish music festival, T in the Park, until 1996, when it was moved to a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire. It has also hosted other music festivals such as Retrofest. Modern authors Des McAnulty and Mark Wilson have written novels of critical acclaim which are based in the town (LIFE IS LOCAL, McAnulty) and neighbouring town Bellshill (BOBBY'S BOY, Wilson). Motherwell is the headquarters for both North Lanarkshire Council, which is one of Scotland's most populous local authority areas, and of Police Scotland "Q" division. These organisations cover an overall population of 327,000 people
Balado (food) or cutlets), chicken, fried boiled eggs, fried beef, eggplant or potatoes. Because of its almost identical ingredients and technique, the term "balado" is often interchangeable with "sambal goreng" (lit.: "fried sambal"). Nevertheless, the term "balado" is more specifically referring to Minang cooking tradition, while "sambal goreng" refers to a more general Indonesian cuisine tradition. In Minang dialect the term "balado" literally means "with chili" or "in chili", since "lado" means "chili pepper" in Minang dialect. Thus the naming usually combined the main ingredient followed with "balado", for example: Hot and spicy balado has become an inspiration for a popular dangdut