The director of LCC Live is on a high after recent sold-out events, and is already looking forward to the coming month
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LES Kidger has been the director of Highland-based events company LCC Live for 10 years, bringing music and community events to the Highlands and beyond.
Already this year, the company has hosted two sold-out shows and the prestigious Piping Inverness event, attracting thousands of visitors and locals to the city centre.
Despite facing a tough few years for the entertainment industry, Mr Kidger did not let that stop him from going full steam ahead when restrictions allowed.
He said: “The last two to three years have been a difficult time for the live music and events industry. Certainly here in Inverness, not being able to put on shows in our home town was a great bind for us.
“To be back to live music events and having the Big Top [at Bught Park] was amazing, with two sold out shows. It’s just great to be back bringing people and music together again.”
Music lovers flocked to see Texas and Skipinnish in the much-anticipated Big Top tent events last month.
Mr Kidger continued: “The crowd on both nights were fantastic and very responsive to the bands. There was a real zest for people to be out and enjoying themselves. It was great.”
Not only did these gigs exceed organisers expectations, they brought a range of economic benefits to the city with hotels and restaurants being booked up.
Mr Kidger explained the success of Piping Inverness: “People don’t realise we do large-scale events, not just music. We decided to take it on and bring an event that large to Inverness.
“Thousands upon thousands of people came into the city and to see the pipe bands – again a great spectacle. This brings people into the city and into the Highlands. It helps everyone financially and economically.
“Because of the amount of pipe bands that come, hotels are booked everywhere. It does bring great benefits certainly to Inverness and other parts of the Highlands.
“When you bring the likes of Texas, it means people don’t have to travel to Glasgow and pay travel costs. Any time we bring a music event to Inverness we think of what other people have to do.”
The company has a small, tight-knit team which Mr Kidger described as the heart of the business.
He added: “You always have times when something does go right and something doesn’t. It’s the people who work with us and who bring these ideas together that are great, from the guys who book the bands to the person who looks after the artists.”
The firm is staging Amy Macdonald at the Northern Meeting Park on August 12 for another sold-out show.
