Contributers
The following are a collection of our most frequent contributers, if you want to join the team please do not hesitate to email us at admin@invernessGiGs.co.uk for details
Megan Donald
Contributer/Editor email- megan@invernessgigs.co.uk
In 50 words can you tell the reader something about yourself?
Born in Inverness and living most of the year in Glasgow, I have always had an interest in writing, if not only to avoid studying for my degree! Being an experience-craving media junkie. When not writing for Inverness GiGs, I am music editor for Glasgow University Magazine and am a copywriter for the renowned Subcity Radio. Writing about music is really what makes me happy – mostly because it’s just an in depth analysis of last night’s party with a few carefully placed adverbs!
How did you find yourself writing for invernessGiGs?
I came across InvernessGiGs appropriately through the internet and emailed asking if I could join the team. A few coffees later and I was thrown into the Inverness music scene.
What’s your favourite contribution to the website and why?
My favourite contribution to the website was a review of GoNorth Festival. I really was doubtful it was going to be good but I was really amazed by the quality and variety of the whole thing. I decided to go to town with the review and it forever reminds me of returning to Inverness and meeting the wonderful people who put so much effort into keeping music afloat in the North.
How would you describe your musical tastes?
I have an intense love for upcoming dance music – Machinedrum, Hudson Mohawke, James Blake stuff like that…Opposite in style to that, favourites include folk/electronica, Missippissi blues, reggae and dub…I think MIA is incredible in every way and Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music is a god. I think that about sums it up?!
What makes a good gig for you and what was the best gig you have attended?
The best gig I’ve seen was Hot Chip at T in the Park. So, so dancey and full of joy!
Garry McCartney
Contributor Email- Garry@invernessGiGs.co.uk
In 50 words can you tell the reader something about yourself?
My name is Garry McCartney and I am a music addict. I’ve had a walkman of various sorts in my pocket since I was nine. I’ve regularly attended gigs and clubs for eighteen years. I own six hundred cassettes and one thousand CDs. Tinnitus is a distinct possibility.
How did you find yourself writing for invernessGiGs?
I wanted to write about music and saw an advert in Gumtree saying music writer wanted. It was a good day.
What’s your favourite contribution to the website and why?
My favourite contribution to iGiGs is a review I submitted for Dave Clarke at Ironworks because he tweeted that he liked it. And he’s a techno hero of mine!
How would you describe your musical tastes?
My musical tastes have (thankfully) developed since my year long addiction to gabba in ’93/94. I’m still very much in to dance music but I’m also a fan of indie, rock, hip-hop, folk and most things in between…apart from dubstep and pop R&B.
What makes a good gig for you and what was the best gig you have attended?
The best gigs are on the back of amazing new albums where the band plays the best of their back catalogues as well as their new stuff. Something memorable happening and plenty of audience participation helps too…and the gig should be at the Barra’s.
My favourite gig was at Glasgow Green 1997 with The Prodigy. They were at their peak that day and the crowd were mental too. I was there with a big squad from Forres and we raved it up all weekend with the most-wrecked of them. Ahhh the memories!
Brian McIntosh
Contributor Email- Brian@invernessGiGs.co.uk
In 50 words can you tell the reader something about yourself?
I’m a Professional Photographer based in Inverness and only got into shooting music by accident. Chris needed another Photographer and I had a camera!
How did you find yourself writing for invernessGiGs?
I don’t write anything for Inverness Gigs. I do all the creative stuff.
What’s your favourite contribution to the website and why?
I really enjoy trying to take pictures that give a feeling of the gig to those who weren’t there. It’s really challenging sometimes because of the lighting at some gigs but it’s great fun.
How would you describe your musical tastes?
My musical tastes are quite eclectic. My collection goes from the sublime to the ridiculous. From Kate Bush to American Hardcore Punk and quite a lot in between.
What makes a good gig for you and what was the best gig you have attended?
A good gig is one where the sound engineer hasn’t turned everything up to ten. I’ve been to some where it’s so loud (you know what I’m talking about Chris) that everything just blends into noise (Chris will say that’s just my age)! I’ve been lucky enough to have seen a lot of my musical heroes and quite a lot were memorable. The Fish gig at The Ironworks was fantastic and many years ago I saw a band called Roberto Pla and his 18 piece Latin Jazz Ensemble. I only went because the ticket was free and I didn’t expect anything like what I heard. It was brilliant.
Chris Lemon
Editor/Contributor email- admin@invernessgigs.co.uk
In 50 words can you tell the reader something about yourself?
I am a 37 year old music enthusiast, who is old enough to know better and young enough to not care. I don’t play an instrument but have every admiration for any act that is bold enough to play in front of an audience.
How did you find yourself writing for invernessGiGs?
I guess it was by accident I had never intended to write reviews, but news pieces led to comments, led to previews and led to reviews.
What’s your favourite contribution to the website and why?
I think it’s any article or contribution that gets the reader to take action and go to a gig. My favourite story is of a young musician who off the back of a promotional article we did of a Netsounds gig, he attended the event, got started speaking to people in the know and subsequently played (and is playing) a few gigs off the back of it.
How would you describe your musical tastes?
I grew up with a strong leaning towards singers with passion and story to be told, so it was The Housemartins and The Proclaimers that I grew up with along with Queen and The Boomtown Rats (latterly Bob Geldolf). I think my my music tastes have developed to a far more eclectic taste now, but still like a good tune with a strong message.
What makes a good gig for you and what was the best gig you have attended?
A good gig for me is the right band at the right time in the right venue. One that stands out for me was a Proclaimers Gig at St Andrews in the middle of summer, everything clicked.
However on the same lines the first Rockness with Fatboy Slim taking to the decks, emphasised the same adage.
Frank Finlayson
Contributor/Editor email- frank@invernessgigs.co.uk
In 50 words can you tell the reader something about yourself?
Fortysomething Frank Finlayson aka Frankie Boy, Chartered Surveyor by day, invernessgigs contributor by night. Sort of man of mystery.
How did you find yourself writing for invernessGiGs?
A chance meeting with Chris Lemon in the queue into Belladrum in 2010 led to promises of contributions to the website. Previous to that my only published works were in the once glorious Inverness Thistle fanzines back in the late 80s, none of which were music based, all football and humour related.
What’s your favourite contribution to the website and why?
My favourite contribution on the website can no longer be found on it! It disappeared strangely at noon on 1 April! Otherwise it has been a pleasure to review Kassidy, Adam Ant and interview Carol Decker.
How would you describe your musical tastes?
My musical tastes are wide and varied. Probably best to group them:
From my youth: Adam and the Ants, Wah!, The Pale Fountains, Heaven 17, ABC
From today: Guillemots, Glasvegas, Groove Armada
Locally: The Boosts, Little Mill of Happiness, Leonard Jones Potential
Other acts to float my boat at festivals this year: The Staves, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, The Pierces, Mike Skinner, Manic Street Preachers, The Wombats and Anna Calvi
I could probably rewrite the list above tomorrow and it would look completely different!
What makes a good gig for you and what was the best ?
For me a good gig is where there is a connection between the audience and the artist, where the crowd get involved without the need for throwing pints around and where you leave with that warm glow of having seen something very special. Bands like Kassidy are particularly good at doing that, and I also saw that when Ledrra Chapman played Room 2, but this year I would have to hand it to Adam Ant who did this and a whole lot more. The venue can also play a part too, who hasn’t had a great experience at the Raigmore?
Lori Williams
Contributer/Editor email- lori@invernessgigs.co.uk
In 50 words can you tell the reader something about yourself?
41 year old, American born, Scottish naturalised parent of 3 fabulous girls. Full time University of H and I student, studying Scottish Cultural Studies at HTC in Dingwall. Interests include history, archaeology, photography, hillwalking, acoustic music, guitars, and the University of Florida Gators football team. Rather fond of lighthouses too. And of course, Gaelic language, music and culture.
How did you find yourself writing for invernessGiGs?
I was asked by a musician to review their gig and send it in to the site. The artist knew I could write and suggested that I could do a whole lot better than 99% of the rubbish on the internet (iGiGs excluded, of course). I wrote the review, and then met the editor who asked me to continue writing for the site. This work combines my love of live music, photography and ability to write, all good!
What’s your favourite contribution to the website and why?
I really enjoy the photojournalism, I think pictures add so much to a story, and bring to life a gig for someone who couldn’t be there. I also use the what’s on pages, to plan rare nights out.
How would you describe your musical tastes?
Acoustic, singer songwriter, Americana, folky, country, roots, bluegrass music. Kinda have a soft spot for the blues too. And Gaelic music by Cathy Ann Macphee and Runrig!
What makes a good gig for you and what was the best gig you have attended?
A good gig you have to be able to dance. Went to see Runrig one time at Usher Hall in Embra- A beautiful venue but we had to stay sat in our seats the whole gig. Awful. Also, nothing too loud, I do not like music that you cannot hear the lyrics to, what is the point of being screamed at or in pain from an over amped sound system? Most memorable gig was Bob Dylan in South Carolina, age 19, or Kenny Rogers in Orlando, age 12. Best gig- hmm, Runrig at the Barrowlands, Jon Gomm at the Coffee Shop Strathpeffer, Rythymnreel at Ironworks, or the beautiful Bella…
Mark Allison
Contributer
Marks interest in music started at the age of 5 when he wrote his first two songs; there is even recorded evidence somewhere in the family home. The next two significant memories include a Kiss
pinball machine on an early family holiday in the States and the death of Beatles legend John Lennon.
From the age of 15, Mark started in the first of many garage bands before moving on to the local gigging circuit at 18. In his early twenty’s, he combined his love for playing and writing about music while working at the Inverness Courier. By day he would write articles for legendary Courier correspondent Jim Love, while at night, Marks first semi professional band Rainland were touring all over the Highlands and Islands including supports to bands like Big Country, the Quireboys (managed by Sharon Osbourne) and Hipsway duo Skin and Pim.
After taking a step back from playing music in his mid twenty’s, Mark concentrated on his design business. In this period he created and produced an award-winning book on modern Inverness and conceived
a national football magazine ‘Pride of Scottish Football’ which lasted over a two-year period.
On returning to music in 2006, he started writing, recording and planning for what would eventually be the band ‘the Wildflowerz’.
Before joining the team at invernessGiGs, Mark wrote a music column for the iMag magazine for a few months where he featured some local acts including ‘James Mackenzie and the Aquascene’.
Mark has a music collection that stretches from Metallica and Motorhead through to Abba and Bob Marley, but it is the loud crunchy guitars and the melodic hooks that he loves the most.
