Traditional bands delight revellers during festive period

OVER the festive period traditional music bands brought their award-winning shows to Oban and Lorn, as well as various islands and not to mention the Hogmanay Party in Oban.

Manran, Skipinnish, Skerryvore and Tide Lines all played in the area, including one mega gig in Fort William to round off the musical year. But it was Western Isles band Ho Ro that had the hardest gig, lugging equipment from one venue to another to meet all the demands of its public.

The annual outing for Skerryvore to Dalmally Community Hall was described by one local as ‘ the biggest thing that happens all year’.

The band played a full set to a capacity crowd that danced well into the wee hours.

Tide Lines really got the crowd going in the Corran Halls. It is doubtful if anyone could describe the band as anyone’s

warm-up act as the quartet headed up by Robert Robertson from Fort William and Ross Wilson from Bunessan played a superb set in various genres including Shut up and Dance with me.

Manran were exceptional – Ewen Henderson on vocals really set the stage alight and of course who can resist Gary Innes’ box playing or wide smile.

Skipinnish, the full band, with Norrie McIvor on vocals, was superb fun with some people at the annual Hogmanay party managing to sing and dance for the threeand-a-half hours the boys took to the stage.

The finale was what looked to be a trad scene music dream with a superb line up at the Nevis Centre in Fort William.

Martin Gillespie, of Skerryvore, told his followers on Facebook: ‘ Well that’s the winter tour over for another year. What a night in the Nevis Centre to finish off.’