5 feelgood things to do in Inverness this weekend
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Loads of great music – rock grunge, hop hop and singer songwriter – plus a Tik Tok viral sensation live at home, outdoor adventure films night and a Tibetan story ...
1 Music all the way – three great weekend gigs!
There are a host of bands of different genres to catch on Friday and Saturday this weekend. First on Friday, April 14 doors from 7.30pm at the Tooth & Claw it's the loud high energy grunge of Inverness duo The Dihydro with support from singer songwriter Dylan James Tierney and hip hop artist Sherbit. The Dihydro's Thomas points out: "We are making a donation to a Mikeysline from ticket sales and stickers are in sale for a donation also. It's a charity that we support and know how important it is to many people!" In the same venue on Saturday, April 15 from 7pm there is the chance to celebrate line-ups past and into the future with the reappearance of Inverness and Ross-shire band (with former members of The Rites and Dionysus) This Machine. They are being supported by the intriguing prospect of SBPtR with new music from former members of Toaster and Raar! And the gig also offers the chance to catch two brothers on the same stage, different times: younger brother Rory Hutcheson in This Machine, older brother Sinclair in SBPtR. Finally, on Saturday, at a free gig there will be a country twang from a super-group of Inverness talents in an appearance from new(ish) line-up Wounded Moose at the Market Bar from10.30pm.
2 Catch an acoustic viral sensation while you can ...
This is possibly one of the most special gigs Inverness will get to see all year – the return of its very own Tik Tok sensation, singer songwriter Katie Gregson-Macleod at Eden Court on Saturday, April 15 from 7pm with special guest tour support Bonnie Kempley and Moteh Parrot opening specially for this date. Just as we're going live with this, confirmation the date is a sellout. Check out this performance on video as a small compensation if you weren't lucky enough to get a ticket.
3 Return of the dinosaurs ...
This is a monster family fun show featuring what Jurassic Live! claims are the biggest and best award-winning animatronics and the most realistic dinosaurs anywhere in the UK. Return to Inverness to the Botanic Gardens this weekend (Saturday, April 15 and16) with room for around 1000 people at each of three shows a day 11am, 2pm and 5pm – but a fresh check has revealaed both Saturday and Sunday shows are now sold out. Tickets are still available for the other four, but don't delay! tickets. The story of the show is that Amber has a dream, Dr Jones is working alongside an evil man to steal dinosaurs! But you can help Amber, Ranger Joe, Ranger Nora and the rest of the team to help the dinosaurs! With singing and dancing, this show is designed for families.
4 Taking you out there ...
This event embraces the whole idea of feelgood – and it looks as if it will be an exhilarating blast of outdoor excitement in four films (150mins) that make up the Scottish Outdoor Film Festival, at Eden Court Cinema on Wednesday, April 19 at 7pm to 9.30pm). It promises to be an evening of authentic, high-quality film showcasing and celebrating the best of Scottish adventure-sports, athletes, film-makers and locations. The films look more closely at the featured athletes, activities and also the locations you will see. Films include Balance which follows international mountain runner Georgia Tindley on as she attempts to find balance between work, life and training. With The Seasons which follows climber Callum Johnson tackling specific challenges as he looks to climb Grade 8 across the four climbing disciplines E8 Trad, 8A Sport, 8A Boulder and Grade VIII Winter over the course of 12 months. The Martin Moran Round follows staff nurse Robin Downie’s trying to create a new running round in the Torridon Hills in memory of his friend and mentor. Guardians Of The Underworld is a short film following 21 year old climbing prodigy Emma Powell, her passion for dry tooling and her evolution into ice climbing. There will also be a live QnA with a panel of both the athletes and the producers of the films. Coming along are fimmaker Jimmy Hyland and Ryan Balharrie, behind the festival, plus from the films, Callum Johnson, Robin Downie and Georgia Tindley.
5 Journey into exile ...
Another film journey into adventure but a very contrasting experience from the outdoor filmfest comes with Wednesday, April 19's Never Forget Tibet (PG) at 7.30pm – a return to Eden Court on the big screen for the Dalai Lama who visited the theatre in person in 2012. It is the secret story of the Dalai Lama’s journey into exile in 1959, told in his own words for the first time on film with exclusive access to the Dalai Lama himself. There is also more on the intriguing-sounding previously unknown private diary of the Indian political officer who led him to safety, Har Mander Singh.
DON'T MISS: If you're a Coldplay fan ...
OK, this may not be for everyone, but following the record-breaking success of Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres Live Broadcast from Argentina to cinemas worldwide last October, the band returns to the big screen in two screenings on Wednesday, April 19 at Vue Cinema Inverness at 7pm and on Sunday, April 23 at 3pm for this new, "definitive" director's cut of the Music Of The Spheres (12A) show featuring band members Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and, of course, charismatic frontman, Chris Martin. The running time is 138 mins.
