Inverness Hogmanay Line Up Announced
The bands for Scotland’s biggest free Hogmanay concert The Red Hot Highland Fling in Inverness were announced at the City of Inverness Area Committee by the Chair of the Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group Councillor Graham Ross.
Opening the show in Northern Meeting Park Arena will be Hò-rò; who were winners of the “Danny Kyle award” at Celtic Connections. Hailing from the Scottish Highlands & Islands, Hò-rò have quickly become amongst the most popular news bands on the European music festival scene and will come to Inverness after successful tours to Germany, France & Belgium. Hò-rò were recently in the news for all the wrong reasons when they lost all their equipment when their van went up in flames following an arson attack in Glasgow. Thanks to the generosity of fellow performers the band have been able to borrow everything they need to complete their autumn tour and make their debut at The Red Hot Highland Fling.
Hò-rò will be followed by two former winners of the prestigious “Scottish Traditional Music Live Band of the Year Award” who have been booked to appear on the night. Skipinnish have been given the honour of headlining the show in the prestigious middle position; which is a tradition that is unique to the Inverness Hogmanay Show; and enables as many youngsters as possible to see the headline act at this family friendly show. The band have played a string of headline appearances at some of Britain’s biggest music festivals in 2017; and their unique mix of traditional and contemporary music has firmly established them one of the most popular live bands to be found in Scotland today.
Closing the show, and making sure that the music pauses just in time for a spectacular fireworks display at midnight will be Skerryvore. A firm favourite with the Inverness crowd Skerryvore are one of the few bands in the world that organises its own annual music festival, Oban Live, which now attracts over 10,000 visitors each year. This year’s show will see Scott Wood, the newest member of the Skerryvore line up make his debut at The Red Hot Highland Fling. Scott Wood, who plays pipes and whistles, has replaced founder member Martin Gillespie who, in common with many pipers, developed ‘focal hand dystonia,’ a neurological condition which affects the hands causing involuntary contractions, spasms and often discomfort. This was the same condition that led to the retirement of Stuart Cassells, founder member of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
The show will be hosted by Comedian Craig Hill who has travelled the world with his sell out show “Someone’s gonna get kilt!” since he was last seen stealing a crane and taking a selfie from 80 feet up in the air at last year’s show.
The Chair of the Inverness Events and Festivals Working Group Councillor Graham Ross added “ The Red Hot Highland Fling is now firmly established as one of the UK’s top Hogmanay experiences and attracts visitors from far and wide to the Highlands. In addition to introducing the performers for 2017; I am also pleased to confirm that the City of Inverness Area Committee has given approval for another Hogmanay Show in 2018”.
ENDS