Creative approach to showcase local talent as rooftop is a stage

Spectacular setting for musicians and poets as Dundee collective puts on waterfront gig in echo of famed Beatles concert

A creative Dundee collective has launched its ambitious bid to showcase local talent from some of the city’s most unusual stages.

Against the backdrop of a dipping sun on the River Tay, the musicians and poets took to the spectacular open-air setting on top of Dundee One at the city’s waterfront for a gig reminiscent of the Beatles’ 1969 rooftop show which went down in music history.

While the Fab Four’s central London performance was an unannounced one-off, the Dundee artists hope their stunning venue will be just the first of many unusual locations around the area from which to keep people entertained.

Through social media like Instagram the Underground Rooftop Collective will live stream the performances of the musicians and poets who join the sessions.

Dundee events manager Khal Elhajoui secured the Dundee One rooftop for the first shows this week.

A call has gone out for musicians, singers and poets to get involved.

Poet Cheryl McGregor, a recent Dundee University literature graduate, said the first stage had delivered beautiful views for the performances.

“The events of this year have highlighted the importance of having outlets for creatives to get their work out there, and this is another way of doing that,” said the 23-year-old.

“We knew more restrictions were coming, but thankfully we can still operate within the rules and record it for people to enjoy.

“When you look around the city there are so many special places we can do this.

“There is a beautiful amphitheatre at the foot of Stobswell, but things like underpasses will also be a great place for this to happen.

Cheryl added: “Half of us involved work together at Dynamo (bar) on Union Street so that’s partly why it came together this way.

“But we really want this to be as open as it can be, and would especially like to see more Dundonians coming forward to be part of it.”

The Beatles gig which inspired the Dundee One event happened on January 30 1969 when the group took to their Apple Corps headquarters at 3 Savile Row in central London. They played a 42-minute set before the Metropolitan Police asked them to turn down the volume

“When you look around the city there are so many special places we can do this. CHERYL MCGREGOR

Pictures: Globe Photos/Mediapunch/ Shutterstock; Gareth Jennings. Above: The Beatles’ famed concert. Top left: musicians Haig Massie and Steph Fraser, poet Ed Smith, Iain Iveson, filming and production, poet Cheryl McGregor, and photographer Holly Quinn. Top right: Cheryl McGregor performs.