Live music touring network, OFF AXIS teamed up with Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to to tour a cross-section of grass roots talent.
The Road To Belladrum Tour, which had dates in Brighton, Newcastle, Glasgow and Aberdeen, also stopped off in Inverness in March with The Dazed Digital Age, Forgetting The Future, Miro Shot and Danny Mortimer.
First up at The Tooth & Claw in Inverness was Moray-Shire based indie-rocker, Danny Mortimer and his band. The tight three-piece delivered anthemic choruses that at times channeled early Ash.
Next up were the mighty, Forgetting The Future, who hail from the Scottish north coast town of Thurso. It’s a genuine joy to watch this band go from strength to strength with each outing. They delivered another crisp and lush set that showcased their superb musicianship.
I was really looking forward to seeing what Miro Shot would deliver tonight having read about their mind blowing virtual reality and mixed reality concerts. However, my expectations were high. This was The Tooth & Claw in Inverness on a Wednesday night. Tonight we had to settle for the brainchild of Miro Shot, Roman Rappak playing bass and accompanied by brooding, pulsating electro beats. I’ve since been reading and listening more about Miro Shot and how the band are pushing boundaries and exploring new technologies to connect their music with audiences, so you can sign me up for that show when it hits town.
Closing the night was Inverness based electro-rock band, The Dazed Digital Age. Lead singer “Gogo” brought a rock ‘n’ roll swagger to the electro outfit who aced the evening with their hypnotic punk-disco potency, up beat grooves and retro electro synths. We need more rock ‘n’ roll stars, Gogo so keep flicking that finger up high.
OFF AXIS works with hundreds of bands the length and breadth of the UK, helping them build a nationwide fanbase by swapping gigs with each other and quite often playing places they’ve never visited before. The OFF AXIS stage will also return to this year’s Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival with the line-up to be announced soon.
All images © Al Donnelly and © Alan Cruickshank as indicated.
