Top Highland musician: The loss of the Ironworks 'will damage the music scene' as Bruce MacGregor is concerned many will leave the region to get the experience they need elsewhere
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Leading Highland musician Bruce MacGregor says that the loss of the Ironworks will undoubtedly damage the local music scene after news that the venue is to close its doors so a hotel can be built.
Yesterday, Highland Council narrowly granted planning permission for the £30 million Courtyard by Marriott hotel to be built and for the Ironworks to be demolished despite a huge public outcry at the loss of the venue.
Locals have made their views clear as to just why people are up in arms is because the Ironworks is the city’s only dedicated music venue which not only attracted leading acts but paved the way for local musicians.
Mr MacGregor explains why that is so important, saying: “I think the ironworks did a good job a few years ago when they got a smaller stage going for local acts because that really got local grassroots stuff going.
“Local bands need somewhere to play locally and it is fine to do the pubs and things like that but the Ironworks had the right guys working behind the scenes, it was set up properly and you knew you were in a proper venue.”
Blow to the Inverness music scene
Though it will not mean the end of the local music scene with Mr MacGregor’s own pub, Hootenannies, the Market Bar and now the Highlander as well as the Rose Street Foundry among others that all host acts.
However, Mr MacGregor fears it could see Highland musicians depart the north to get the experience they need to learn and improve.
“I think that certainly for a long time before the Ironworks just about every band that went down to Edinburgh, Glasgow or London,” he said.
“The other thing is for local musicians to meet travelling musicians and get influenced by them and other bands and just being a bit of a hub.
“You only really learn from seeing other up and coming bands, I know myself from growing up and seeing other folk bands is what inspired me and got our music going so it will damage the music scene in that respect.”
How do you get started without a proper venue?
He added: “Bands will still want to play, still want to rehearse but how do you get started without a proper venue? And now we have so many pubs doing traditional music and there are not enough traditional musicians in Inverness to look after the ones we have.
“In the next year, once the students disappear there will be a dearth of acts because there are only around three or four decent acts going around so we definitely need something.”
