Big musicals, new and classic plays; some of the UK’s most loved pop stars and days of family fun are planned for Inverness over the next few months.
Here’s a small taster of what’s in store.
MUSIC
A host of big name acts will be heading to the Highlands to take part in a number of summer concerts.
Among them is multi-award winning band Kaiser Chiefs who will perform under the banner of Live in the City, in Northern Meeting Park, on Saturday August 17.
Fronted by lead singer and former The Voice judge Ricky Wilson, they have had numerous hits including, Oh My God, Never Miss a Beat and Ruby.
Ricky said: “We’re really excited to be playing in Inverness this August as we’ve heard great things about the Highlands.
“We’ll put on an outstanding show and will pick out some of our best-known smash hits to perform, so come and join us, and let’s make it an unforgettable night.”
Ricky will be joined by guitarist Andrew ‘Whitey’ White, Nick ‘Peanut’ Baines on keyboards, bassist Simon Rix and drummer Vijay Mistry.
Live in the City is a series of music concerts being organised by local concert promoter, LCC Live, in Inverness this summer.
Other events include a concert with the legendary Noel Gallagher and his band High Flying Birds who will perform an outdoor show at the city’s Bught Park on Saturday June 8.
The line-up includes rock band Razorlight and Neon Waltz, Britain’s most northerly band from John o’Groats.
Ska band and crowd-pleasers, Madness, who went down a storm when they played RockNess a few years ago, will be at the Northern Meeting Park in Inverness on August 23.
Prior to these concerts, two with a distinctive Scottish theme will take place when Skipinnish play the Bught Park on Friday July 6 and favourites The Proclaimers play the same venue on July 6.
For tickets and further details on these shows contact: www.ticketline.co.uk; 0844 888 9991.
FAMILY FUN
This year’s Inverness Highland Games and Gala Weekend, is going to be a bumper one as a number of new events are being added this year.
The fun starts on Friday July 19, with performances in the Northern Meeting Park arena featuring the City of Inverness Pipe Band; the Elizabeth Fraser School of Highland Dancing and members of the Inverness Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance; before the 2019 Highlands Strongest Man and Strongest Woman Championships takes place.
Saturday July 20 and a day of fierce competition is expected at the Inverness Highland Games, with heavyweight champion Jamie Gunn scheduled to return to defend his title against a top class field of heavies.
The fun starts with a mass Highland Fling following the opening ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Inverness Royal British Legion Pipe Band by inducting the entire band into the Games’ Hall of Fame.
Other events include the Show and Shine car show; Scotland’s biggest inter-clan gathering, Highland dancing, a craft fair and fun fair, traders village, sports zone, Armed Forces displays and solo piping competitions.
And this year the games will be perfect for families as all under 12s will be admitted free of charge.
Sunday July 21, is Inverness Gala day with a host of events including a Proud Ness parade; Ruff Ness, a new event for dogs and their owners; a junior shinty festival, and a music festival featuring emerging young bands from the Highlands.
Visit
http://invernessfestivals.com
THEATRE
The wonderful family show, Madagascar the Musical, promises to make a colourful spectacle when it comes to Eden Court later this month.
Based on the Dreamworks animated motion picture, it tells the story of the animal friends who escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves in an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hippo and those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound on to the stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime. It’s at Eden Court from April 9-13.
When you see the name Bill Kenwright, you know you’re in for a theatrical treat.
This month he presents the latest instalment in the Classic Thriller Theatre Company – Alfred Hitchcock’s The Lady Vanishes.
This never-before-seen adaptation of the Hitchcock classic stars real-life husband and wife, Juliet Mills and Maxwell Caulfield.
When socialite Iris’ unexpected travelling companion suddenly disappears, she is perplexed to find that all the other passengers deny ever having seen her.
But with the help of musician Max, she turns detective, and together they try to solve the mystery of why the lady vanished…
It’s at Eden Court Theatre, from April 16-20 and His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen from June 24-29.
Another April highlight is Let it Be, April 29 – May 4
The show, which celebrates the music of The Beatles, has already been seen by more than two million people worldwide.
This time, it’s been updated and features an all-new, Let It Be Part II reunion concert.
Emanuele Angeletti (Paul McCartney); John Brosnan (George Harrison); and Ben Cullingworth (Ringo Starr) all resume their respective roles from the previous tour while Richard Jordan as John Lennon completes the Fab Four line-up.
The band will be joined on stage throughout the tour by musical director Michael Bramwell on keyboards.
The show also comes to His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen from May 13-18. Visit www.LetItBeLive.com
Morna Young’s epic fishing drama, Lost at Sea, pays a visit to Eden Court from May 16-18 (also at HMT Aberdeen May 9-11).
Inspired by the loss of her own father, who was a fisherman, Morna’s play pays tribute to Scotland’s fishing communities and is an epic tale spanning 40 years.
Featuring the voices of fishermen and their families in their own words – with music, songs and Scots language – Lost at Sea is the lyrical and powerfully evocative story of a north-east fishing family.
