Gary Innes to play Uists, Taynuilt and Easdale

MG ALBA Instrumentalist of the Year Gary Innes will perform in Taynuilt, Easdale and the Uists with his own ERA band, featuring the vocals of BBC Radio 2 award-winning singer Siobhan Miller.

The ERA band also consists of multi-ward-winning musicians Ewen Henderson on fiddle, Steve Byrnes on guitar and Hamish Napier on keyboard.

After two days in North and South Uist, performing in Lochmaddy Community Hall from tonight (June 14) and St Peter’s Hall on June 15, Gary and the band then descend on the musical village of Taynuilt on June 16.

Gary married a local Taynuilt girl last April on the Taynuilt shinty field and said: ‘I’ve worn the Taynuilt shinty strip onstage with Runrig before, but as much as I had wanted too, I never managed to play a game of shinty at Taynuilt.

‘I’ve also always wanted to play a few tunes in the village hall, too, and until now I had never managed to make it work, so I’m looking forward to at least putting one of these to rest. Who knows, if Taynuilt shinty team are short, I might even manage to put both to bed in the same day.’

Gary, who hosts BBC Radio Scotland’s longest running music programme, Take the Floor, has also written a tune for the local Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band, after they were both in New York City together back in April to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tartan Week.

Gary said: ‘I was so impressed with their professionalism, performances and the way that they all generally conducted themselves throughout the trip that I was compelled to write them a tune. The title, The Sgoil Lioneleit Pipe Band’s Welcome to New York.’

This will be the first time the tune has been played in public and Gary and the band are going to be joined by some of the members of the Sgoil Lionacleit Pipe Band to perform their tune together.

If you miss Gary and his ERA band over the forthcoming dates, then you will also have the opportunity to catch them next month on Saturday July 7, when they will performing in Easdale Island Community Hall.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www. garyinnes.com to guarantee entry.

Gary Innes has a busy weekend ahead.