Showtime Colin’s delighted to give something back
Months of hard work finally paid off for Mauchline Young Farmers last week.
The cast of 50 were performing in their One of Ayrshire’s longestserving musicians is set to light up Cumnock with a top night of live bands – all for a good cause.
Colin Kennedy has decades of experience in towns the length and breadth of Ayrshire, and has decided it’s time to give back.
The Colin Kennedy Band along with popular local acts Addiction and Marc Bunten will perform at The Dumfries Arms Hotel in Cumnock on Saturday, February 25 with all proceeds going to the Ayrshire Hospice.
Colin said: “Most people would know me through bands like Dance Faction, Midnight Express and Yankee where we played for many years. I chucked it nearly 10 years ago when I turned 50, and that was when I decided I was finished.
“It was only because Craig Smart from Freckfest and I had a conversation regarding the passing of Willie Freckleton and I said I would put a band together if ever anybody said they would do anything in Willie’s name.
“We got together, started writing annual show, this year entitled Three Scenes and a Little Bit More.
See page 50. material and did the FreckFest things and that’s been going on for the last two or three years.”
The band released their first album, Paint The Grey Sky Blue, last year with some of the proceeds from the release also going to help the Hospice unit.
Now Colin hopes fans of his previous bands – as well as the support acts joining him on the night – can come together and raise even more money for the vital service which has helped thousands of people across Ayrshire.
He said: “We did a Hospice fundraiser in the summer on the golf Open Saturday, where we raised about £ 2,000.
“I’d lost a few neighbours who were close friends to me so I decided to step it up.
“The money is going right into the unit, helping wee projects like decking for the patients to sit outside.
“It’s very important to me – I feel obliged to do what I can. They’re delighted that we’re trying our best to do stuff for them.
“I made enough money from doing the thing I was doing all those years and it’s a chance to pay it back. Everybody’s lost somebody that’s ended up in there, and it’s a hell of a humbling place when you’re in it.”
Colin and his bandmates are looking to return to a town that was once a thriving part of the Ayrshire music scene, with clubs and pubs packed for live acts in the 70s and 80s.
And if this fundraiser goes well, he’s hoping to continue raising money for the Hospice with more gigs around Ayrshire.
Colin said: “I was hoping I could do this last year, but we just ran out of time.
“Hopefully later this year we can do something down in Ayr or Prestwick too.”
Lights and PA on the evening are being provided free of charge by Smalltown Audio, while Dumfries Arms Hotel owner John Campbell is working on sponsorship for the night to raise even more.
Colin Kennedy Band, Addiction and Marc Bunten will perform in aid of the Ayrshire Hospice at Cumnock’s Dumfries Arms Hotel on Saturday, February 25 from 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £ 5 and are available from the hotel.