Following on from their previous announcement, Jocktoberfest 2014 have now completed there lineup for the festival with a series of acts being announced this week.
Red Kites playing Mad Hatters earlier this yearRed Kites, who last played the Highlands in April to an impressive crowd for a Thursday night, return once again for a debut at the festival. They describe themselves as “epic yet intimate, with emotive lyrics and sweeping melody all wrapped in a pop sensibility”. The band have a strong fan-base in the area and to no real surprise with tunes ranging from the poppy bounce along of ‘Lizzie Jane’ to the emotionally poignant ‘Beat in Time’.
The Inverness borne Garden of Elks whose EP ‘Yoop’ was released earlier in the year (Niall Strachan talked to us about in an interview earlier this year) will return to Inverness following their Belladrum appearance. Autumn Sun who combines singer/songwriter Neil Cannon with rapper Ben ‘Echo’ Lightley. The duo met met at Alness College where they are both just finishing their first year of the Music Performance course. (You can read the review of the college’s recent showcase)
“Meeshelle has undoubted technical ability and there is real sense of versatility about her voice”The Hayloft stage will see not one but four current and former lead singers from the local scene. Craig Robertson formerly of The Frues who in their time managed an impressive array of gigs including Wickerman and Belladrum. Craig’s gigs have been limited for the past few years, with a gig supporting Michael Cassidy in 2013 and most recently a slot at NorthHop 2014. Meeshelle, front woman for The Leonard Jones Potential has found the perfect vehicle for her brand of “acoustic chilled out Jazzy music” in her current set up.
Winnie who we suspect is better known with his surname “from The Side”, has started gigging again, and with The Side promising a new line-up and to returning to action, this will be a perfect warm up for fans of the band. Completing the list of leadsingers is Dr Wook, who will also be appearing with his band The Whiskys. Our admiration for both his band and his solo act has always been obvious so as with Belladrum you will be able to catch both performances.
Alice Bentley when she supported FathersonHollie Aitkinson, winner of Bellas Got talent 2013 and subsequently playing the festival earlier this month will be joined on the bill by another young female singer songwriter in Alice Bentley whose Belladrum 2014 slot was described as having “Well observed vignettes that comprise of a truly engaging mix of delicacy, awkwardness, heart and soul; Alice brings an unashamedly poetic voice to the Potting Shed.”
Other acts playing the Hayloft stage will include; The Rogues, Verona, Esperi and Gabro.
Tickets for the festival (to be held on the 5th and 6th of September) are priced at £30.00 (free entry for under 13s) and available via www.jocktoberfest.com.
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A lifelong passion for music matched with a geeky fascination for social media and websites resulted in the creation of Inverness Gigs back in 2010. The aim of the site is to help promote, support and generally raise awareness of the local music scene.In fairness fifteen years of being a psychiatric nurse never prepared me for the experiences that we have had over the last few years and the evolution of Inverness Gigs has certainly been a steep learning curve.I currently write (less and less), edit and co-ordinate most of the Inverness Gigs activities.Occasionally seen on Twitter, and LinkedIn, if you want get in touch you can contact me via our Facebook page.
