Inverness trio fuse folk-pop charm with offbeat humour ahead of their Belladrum debut
Strange Weather may be a fresh name on the Belladrum 2025 lineup, but they’re no strangers to the Highlands music scene. Born from a spontaneous post-gig conversation, this Inverness-based trio of John, Marion and Alison found their perfect harmony in late 2022—and haven’t looked back.
Known for their love of strong melodies, left-field cover choices, and lyrical themes of heartache and regret, the group blends Americana, folk, pop, and humour into a distinct sound. As long-time Belladrum regulars—whether as performers, punters or even Tai Chi instructors—the band is relishing their long-awaited appearance on the festival’s folk stage.
Who are you, and how did this band come to life?
We’re Strange Weather, an Inverness-based trio. John and Marion had been in several band incarnations since 2019, but by December 2022 were performing as a duo. Alison was performing with a harmony group at a gig, got chatting to M&J afterwards and asked if they were looking for a third band member…which they absolutely were! It came together pretty quickly after that.
Photos by KK Through My Lens Photography
How would you describe your sound in a way that makes people want to listen?
We all love harmonies and melodies, with the vocals really up front. We’re writing more of our own material now, but we also try to pick unexpected cover versions, either because they’re fairly obscure, or IF they are well-known songs, we like to change them quite radically!
You can check out Strange Weather here.
For fans of…?
We’ll play a song and you’ll want to dig out the originals for a listen afterwards. We do tend to play songs about heartache and regret but it’s only because they have the best chords.
What’s the first song in your setlist, and why does it set the tone for your show?
This may change before Belladrum, but currently it’s “Sweet Pea” by Amos Lee. It’s an usual starter, almost jazzy and not typical of the rest of the set, but we like to catch people’s ear. A “who are these guys?” kind of thing, and entice them in towards the folk stage.
If you could steal one song from any act at Belladrum 2025 and claim it as your own, which one would it be?
We’ll disagree on this, but John’s choice would be “Summer Son” by Texas, especially if the weather stays good! Alison – ‘Leave a Light on’ by Tom Walker, as it ties in well with some of our poppier belters. Marion – swithering between ‘These Words’ or ‘Unwritten’ by Natasha Bedingfield.
Belladrum is turning 21 this year! What does it mean to be part of a festival that has built such a strong legacy?
We’ve all been regulars at Belladrum over the years, as punters, photographer, singers, Tai Chi teacher (can you guess who does what?!) – in fact, between us, we’ve been to every one! And, of course, you dream about playing there if you’re a musician, so this really is a landmark gig!
What’s next for you in 2025? Any exciting plans for new music, touring, or collaborations?
Definitely writing more of our own material and we’d love to record some songs, develop even weirder cover versions, and keep gigging.
Which new and/or local acts inspire you right now?
Inverness has got such an amazing and wide-ranging roster of talent for such a small town. We’ve made a lot of friends through the musical community, and we’re bound to miss out someone here, but… It’s great to see Luminary, Tuesday Accord, Maryann & Bev, Scratch & Brass and Lottie Grant also playing Bella this year. And we enjoy artists such as Siobhan Neylon and Alistair Cossar, who performed last year. We’re also looking forward to seeing lots of our fellow Glachbeg Folk Club regulars at Belladrum, and are sure that Ruth Martin will be a highlight.
If your music were the soundtrack to a movie, which genre would it fit best, and what kind of story would it tell?
Indie dark rom-com. Man meets woman; man continues to write songs of heartbreak and regret; woman leaves man. Probably quite a lot of off-beat jokes (if our practice sessions are anything to go by). But plenty of melancholy, and an upbeat ending J
Belladrum is known for its theatrical atmosphere. If you could perform inside a famous movie scene, which one would it be and why?
The “When Harry Met Sally” diner scene – Marion yelling “Yes, yes!!”, John looking very embarrassed, and Alison deadpanning the “I’ll have what she’s having” line…
If your band were cast in a film, what kind of roles would each member play?
I could imagine us in a Kill Bill type of movie – the ladies would obviously play sword-wielding assassins, and John would lurk in the shadows, then finally show up and be killed off in the last few minutes…
Strange Weather’s journey from Belladrum superfans to performers is a true local music success story. With offbeat covers, bittersweet harmonies and a wink of theatrical charm, their upcoming set promises to be one of the festival’s folk-stage highlights.
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