Numbers up on last year's festive return to Inverness Leisure for Skipinnish

This time last year, Skipinnish had waited two years to celebrate returning to Inverness and the leisure centre crowd after lockdowns.

This year 200 more people than last had decided their return was an occasion worth forking out for in these difficult times.

LCC Live Promoter Les Kidger confirmed afterwards that numbers had increased by around 100 on the day before.

And in spite of the frosty and icy conditions, it was 1,700 voices swelling every singalong and camera phones brightening the darkness.

And when a Skipinnish Inverness crowd cheer, it’s a monster of a thing.

There was a lot of cheering going on after the band created the atmosphere of their traditional start, a lone piper taking the stage in the spotlight for Cro Chinn T-Saile before the dancing sound of The Hag brings the full Skipinnish line-up alive onstage.

The band’s co-founder, accordionist and main songwriter Angus MacPhail didn’t take long to comment on the crowd’s vocal qualities after Land Below The Waves: “Thanks so much – it feels so good to be back in Inverness. We were playing to 5,000 the other night and you folk are just as noisy!”

That was the Barrowlands, by the way …

Earlier Inverness singer songwriter Dylan James Tierney had stepped in to replace the scheduled support set from Sandi Thom.

It was a great chance to be discovered by the big Skipinnish crowd. And Dylan’s 10-song set included mostly his own songs from this year’s debut album Old Misty Road and many new ones destined for the follow-up – plus the perfect cover, Caledonia – which got the crowd onside with a big cheer. Songs that came across strongly were his single Lovers Hold Hands, new one cowboys & Gypsies, and the dreamy, earwormy closer Paradise.

Skipinnish’s set had lots of the best-loved favourites including Last Of The Hunters, December, Alive, plus a live performance of latest single Summer’s Call.

And there was a great cover of Mark Knopfler’s Piper To The End, appropriate as the band is saying farewell after 12 years to Alasdair Murray, playing his second last gig at Inverness.

There was one more big job for the crowd before the night ended.

Skipinnish were reprising last year’s hit festive cover A Fairytale Of New York – and Norrie asked us to take over on the late Kirsty McColl’s “lady part”. Bassist Charlotte Printer usually shares the vocals with Norrie, but wasn’t available, replaced by Stephen Jack for the gig.

And you did a great job, Inverness! Perfect warm-up for the only possible finisher Walking On The Waves which saw the whole place erupt.

See next week's papers for more pictures and words. Were you there – what did you think? Tell us and we'll tell the world! Why not share your pictures too at Inverness Courier Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/invernesscourier/

Missed The Proclaimers gig at Inverness Leisure the night before?

https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/review-the-proclaimers-power-on-296882/

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.