| ▪ Caption/Abstract: | | "Sutherland Live", a Battle of The Bands, held at Golspie High School on Friday 29th September 2006.
Six bands, 3 each from Dornoch Academy and Golspie High School, fought in front of judges including John Sinclair, former keyboard player with Black Sabbath. The competition was fierce, as the prize was to be a recording session with John at his studio in Dores, Inverness-Shire.
Bands were, in order of appearance;
Transition X (Dornoch Academy)
Sutherland Schools' Pipe Band (Golspie High School)
No Matata (Dornoch)
Blaze (Golspie)
Sharp Sound (Golspie)
Soup in 30 Seconds (Dornoch)
Eventual winners were Sharp Sound, a 5-piece rock group from Golspie with a charismatic singer who performed a tight set. Close runners-up (in my mind) were Blaze, a traditional Celtic musical ensemble comprising penny whistles, sax, accordion, fiddle, guitar, keyboards and flute.
No Matata, the brainchild of Miss Rzuchowska, music teacher at Dornoch Academy, entertained us with some samba sounds using piano, glockenspiel, African drums, Sax, Cornet and Bass Trombone.
Soup in 30 Seconds, together for only three weeks, made a brave attempt but although they were entertaining, never really managed to pull it off.
Transition X, the openers, played some traditional rock with an energetic front man but with the added twist that for one number the guitarist became the drummer as the drummer came forward to play the bagpipes!
All the bands played in front of an appreciative crowd, with some friendly rivalry between Dornoch and Golspie pupils.
The lighting and sound were provided by Limelight Event Services, commissioned for the event.
John Sinclair said that he was amazed by the talent present in the Highlands and that it was great to be listening to possible stars of the future.
The evening was organised by Sutherland Drug and Alcohol Forum, who put on displays promoting drugs awareness. |
