Acoustic night is an online hit with musicians and fans
A previously popular music night is now hitting the virtual right note after moving online.
Acoustic Nights at the Meeting Place is a long-running monthly gig event at Stonelaw Church.
It focuses on traditional, country and folk music, and has brought many bands and singers from Scotland and beyond to perform in the Royal Burgh.
The concerts, like almost all live music, were halted by coronavirus, but organiser Louise Mairs was determined that the show would go on somehow.
Now, the weekly online concerts are going from strength to strength.
Louise explained: “Musicians always told us how much they loved playing our acoustic nights as, unlike many other venues, there was a respect for what they were doing and an understanding about how much work it takes to reach their standard of professionalism.
“They always got a great listening audience at the Meeting Place. Then lockdown happened.
“We were fully booked for 18 months and had to let folk know that their gigs were cancelled. We felt so bad for them.
“For many, it is their livelihood. I happened to read a Facebook notification about one such musician who was very worried about not being able to pay his bills.
“We decided to move online and Rutherglen singer-songwriter, Ian Bruce was our first guest at AcousticnightsONLINE.
“The audience are now virtual but we know most of them – our loyal Meeting Place regulars.
“They donated to Ian what they would normally have given at the door. He was delighted.”
From there, the shows have kept on coming, swiftly turning into a weekly event.
Louise added : “There are so many musicians out there in the same boat.
“About half of our guests requested that donations be made to a charity of their choosing.”
AcousticnightsONLINE has been running weekly since March and will continue to do so indefinitely.
Louise added: “We have had guest musicians from South Africa, Canada and Australia, along with our local regulars.”
Charities who have benefitted from the shows include the Lodging House Mission, MS support Mid Argyle, Glasgow City Mission, National Trust for Scotland, the Salvation Army Easterhouse Project, Rutherglen/Cambuslang foodbank, Bethany Christian Trust, MOJO(Miscarriage of Justice Organisation), PPE equipment for NHS staff and Foodbank Fife.
AcousticnightsONLINE can be found on YouTube at www. youtube. com/ channel/ UC2_ tik0HjIDV0jLhkX0_Qg
The shows air at 8pm every Friday and videos can be viewed afterwards.
The audience are now virtual but we know most of them – our loyal Meeting Place regulars Louise Mairs