Blues gig goes ahead after venue swap

members of the public are all getting involved in the fundraising efforts.

Each week staff members will be set a different challenge, with gym members

A pair of Scottish and Finnish musicians are getting ready to perform in Kinross-shire later this month.

Blues artist Dave Acari and his Scandinavian counterpart Ismo Haavisto say they were determined to not let Brexit scupper their plans of putting on a series of shows this November.

The two musicians became firm friends after playing a series of shows together in Finland earlier this year.

Plans were soon in place for the pair to play at the Green Room in Perth - however after the popular venue shut down, the gig was moved to Backstage at the Green Hotel in Kinross.

Dave said: “The only fly in the ointment has been the encouraged to bet on who they think will win.

Liam continued: “In November we have staff versus staff challenges each planned Perth venue closing down without notice back in early September. Thankfully we’ve been able to move the show to Backstage at the Green Hotel, Kinross.”

Acari has also documented his thoughts on the current political climate in his music, with his latest single being called ‘Brexit Blues’.

He has just returned from his third tour of the USA, which also saw the summer launch of the ‘Dave Acari signature model’ guitar from California-based National Reso-PHonic Guitars and a jaunt to both the Midwest and the east coast.

The signature guitar project began earlier this year when Acari made his Californian debut demonstrating week.

“Members and non-members can place a £5 bet on which member of staff they think will win, and if they win they will be entered into a draw to get a free membership.

“It will be quite fun challenges like who can finish a box of Jaffa Cakes the quickest. “This week we have a donkey derby. “It is all going to make us look a bit silly and will bring a smile to people’s faces.

“In December there will be a Christmas raffle and come January we will do a ‘biggest loser’ challenge, so whoever loses the most weight or body fat wins.”

Liam and the rest of the team at Fit4Less hope to have the defibrillator in the gym by the end of January 2020.

Should the fundraising drive be successful, the defibrillator will be installed in the gym’s staff room, and any extra money will be reinvested into other health and safety equipment in the gym.

The team is also raising money online at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ perthfit4lessdefib instruments on National Reso-Phonic’s booth at the National Association of Music Merchants Show in Anaheim and performing in and around Los Angeles.

Meanwhile his musical partner Haavisto is one of Finland’s top musicians and has represented his coutnry at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee and at the European Blues Challenge in Berlin.

Dave Acari and Ismo Haavisto perform in Kinross on Thursday, November 28 at 8pm.

Tickets cost £15 and can be bought from www. ticketweb.uk/event/dave-acari-ismo-haavistobackstage-at-the-green-hotel-tickets/