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Teuchter rock gods Peat & Diesel immortalise good times at the Ironworks


By Margaret Chrystall

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When Peat & Diesel’s support act The Laurettes spoke to the Ironworks sellout crowd on Thursday night to ask if any men with “big, big beards and piercing blue eyes” could come up onstage for a Viking song, none could be found in the audience.

Sellout audience packed the venue for Peat & Diesel's last-ever appearance there. Picture: James Mackenzie
Sellout audience packed the venue for Peat & Diesel's last-ever appearance there. Picture: James Mackenzie

But guys with Viking looks were probably one of the few kinds of people not in the room for the Peat & Diesel gig.

Groups of late teens, families with older kids, couples – from twentysomethngs to sixtysomethings – were all packed into the gig to make some prime memories of the band and venue together at their best.

Boydie, deep in the moment, on this special night at the Ironworks. Picture: James Mackenzie
Boydie, deep in the moment, on this special night at the Ironworks. Picture: James Mackenzie

With excitement already at a high in the packed venue, Peat & Diesel ramped it up for their opening as we overheard a supposed conversation trying to track down a missing Boydie – the band’s charismatic frontman Calum Macleod. But no need to worry as the adrenalin-pumping first notes of Ram Jam’s Black Betty triggered a brief crowd singalong – and there he was, as ever, seated with guitar, steering the gig off with the traditional Horo-Gheallaidh, getting the shindig started.

Innes Scott on accordion and MC duties for the big night. Picture: James Mackenzie
Innes Scott on accordion and MC duties for the big night. Picture: James Mackenzie

Innes on accordion had the role of MC, setting the scene throughout the show for this emotional last gig fixed up just last week. Best songs included Brandy In The Airidh, Dirty Old Town – Boydie’s gravelly voice a good substitute for Shane McGowan, if you know The Pogues version, the Dieseled up version of Amy Macdonald's This Is The Life and the accordion-powered loveliness of Stornoway transforming into something a lot faster.

Uilly Uilleam Macleod "giving it laldy" at the Ironworks gig. Picture: James Mackenzie
Uilly Uilleam Macleod "giving it laldy" at the Ironworks gig. Picture: James Mackenzie

Highlights – a brief appearance from the star of Calum Dan’s Transit Van, Boydie pulling on a gold sequin jacket thrown to him by a fan in the crowd – glam rock excess a surprisingly good look for him! Great banter from the band, one of the best moments when Innes noted a familiar fan near the front who always wears a homemade 'I love Boydie' T-shirt.

The crowd shoulder to shoulder, hands in the air. Picture: James Mackenzie
The crowd shoulder to shoulder, hands in the air. Picture: James Mackenzie

The accordion-player was chuffed when she pulled that up to reveal another saying 'I love Innes' for a change. But his happiness was shortlived as she revealed the final message, 'Boydie – Simply The Best'.

Ninety minutes of Peatlemania magic led to the heart-swelling sound of 1,000 voices lifted to chorus Island, then encore Western Isles and Country Boy, for the kind of gig climax most bands only dream of. And, after all, the memory of this last Peat & Diesel night in this venue that fits them like a glove, will have to last forever.


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