5 feelgood things to do in Inverness this weekend
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Look back with Blue Rose Code, try punk'n'metal, chill in the Market Bar, head to Fortrose for a classy duo, big screen music stars on big screen plus last call for Eden Court's musical before it heads out across Scotland ...
1 A Scottish star on tour plus intimate alternatives
There's the return to Inverness of a favourite musician, Ross Wilson and his line-up Blue Rose Code on Friday, May 12 to Eden Court's OneTouch at 8pm. And in contrast, same night, those who like their music a little punky with a hint of metal, Tooth & Claw should be your destination for Fife band At Their Mercy, with Also Fight The Raptor (Inverness post-hardcore), We Make Mammoths (Central Scotland groove metal), Grufus (Kirkcaldy punk/metal and MoRk (Nairn acoustic punk). Start time tbc. But if – same night – you are up for something that is free, relaxed, with a seat and a chance to chill, enjoy some great music with a pint in the Market Bar, Ashley And The Cosmonauts are on from 10.30pm.
2 Traditional talents star at debut event
An Evening Of Traditional Music: Charlie McKerron and Marc Clement play to raise money for Groam House Museum, hosting a concert this Friday, from 7-9pm. The gig is being held at the Free Church, Fortrose, Groam House Museum. The talented duo, according to the museum, are "regarded as two of the finest traditional musicians in Scotland". In 1985 Charlie joined Gaelic folk band Capercaillie, and has written award-winning music for film and documentary, appeared on screen and TV and is a member of Session A9. Marc Clement, an accomplished guitarist and singer from Inverness, has established a reputation as a producer too, working on the album of singer songwriter Dylan James Tierney, among recent projects. A founder member of Blazin' Fiddles for 12 years, Marc joined Session A9 in 2007 and performs regularly with solo fiddlers Adam Sutherland and Bruce MacGregor. Groam House hope this will be the first in a series of concerts. Chairman Doug Maclean said: “We hope the calibre of the musicians is setting the bar for our events to come.”
TICKETS: Here – and also from Groam House Museum, open daily 1-4pm.
3 Music on film ...
First there is the chance to watch an iconic concert from 2022 on Saturday, May 13 at 6.30pm as Vue Inverness screens Machine Gun Kelly: Mainstream Sellout Live From Cleveland (15) plus exclusive behind-the-scenes moments, with Colson Baker. Then on Wednesday, May 17, Eric Clapton: Across 24 Nights (–) takes you back to the Royal Albert Hall concerts from 1990/1991 with17 songs.With his own band, there are songs such as Wonderful Tonight, Layla, White Room and Cocaine, as well as rarer things – example – Knockin' On Heaven's Door with Phil Collins! He plays with an orchestra and also shares the stage with legendary bluesmen such as Albert Collins and Buddy Guy. Edited from the original footage and completely remixed in Dolby Atmos surroundsound, this film captures these performances across all the sets over both years. The film is said to show Clapton at his most exhilarating.
MACHINE GUN KELLY FILM TICKETS:
4 Get on your feet for The Stamping Ground
The musical commissioned by Eden Court in a co-production with RAW Material and built on Runrig's music, gives us a very contemporary Highland world reflecting our lives, problems and dilemmas, as a cast with some new faces starts off a Scottish tour of The Stamping Ground after returning to perform some dates back at Eden Court where it had its world premiere last year. There are still performances up until Saturday, May 13. Director Luke Kernaghan revealed they have tweaked the production based on the experience of performing last year. Having seen the tweaked show on Tuesday, I can say what people loved about it first-time around is all still there and some cast changes have added subtly to the mix. Fancy seeing the latest version? Or maybe see it for the first time? Now's your chance. Eden Court got to their feet to welcome the return of the homegrown musical and it's all soundtracked by some of Runrig's most epic anthems. The Stamping Ground is on at Eden Court until Saturday, 7.30pm plus matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. Inclusive shows – Thurs 7.30pm (captioned); Fri 7.30pm signed; Sat noon (touch tour, book this one with the ticket desk 01463 234234); Sat 2.30pm (audio described).
5 Dinner-party drama
More drama and it's classic 70s TV drama Abigail’s Party recreated from film director Mike Leigh's original devised play for the stage and now back onstage at Eden Court from Wednesday, May 17 to Saturday, May 20 at 7.30pm. The blackest of black comedies gets darker as alcohol flows, ‘nibbles’ are handed around and hostess Beverly's dinner party begins to go a little bit wrong ... A record 16 MILLION! people watched it when it was first on TV. Can you miss it?
HEADS UP – one for your diary on Friday and Saturday, May 19 and 20. It's the chance to see a special version of huge theatre hit Every Brilliant Thing:
"You’re seven years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad say she’s ‘done something stupid’. She finds it hard to be happy. You start a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling."
In the play by Duncan Macmillan, a young girl tries to ease her mother's depression by creating a list of all the best things in the world. Everything worth living for. Through adulthood, as the list grows and grows, she learns the deep significance it has on her own life. Every Brilliant Thing is a hilarious and heart-wrenching play about depression and the lengths we will go for those we love. Usually for one actor, the play by Dingwall Players has special permission – from playwright Duncan Macmillan himself – to perform it with a bigger cast and it will be on both nights at 7.30pm in Dingwall Town Hall, as part of the Word On The Street book festival. Tickets: www.dingwallplayers.org
