Easter Ross based Celtic rock band Rhythmnreel will be providing the entertainment at the second of Highland Hospice’s ‘Party at Your Place’ online events, this Friday 11th December.
Broadcast live via YouTube between 8pm and 10pm, the party will be hosted by Kenny Smith and Michael Macmillan of Torridon - who will also be providing some musical entertainment.
As part of their set, Rhythmnreel will be launching their latest single, ‘The Dark Island’, a haunting Hebridean lament about beautiful Benbecula in the Western Isles of Scotland.
The band’s singer, guitarist and songwriter Davy Cowan said, “We are delighted to be performing as part of the ‘Party at Your Place’ celebrations in support of Highland Hospice, a local charity close to so many people’s hearts.”
“The Hospice has been hit hard by Covid-19, especially as the majority of their events have been put on hold both this year and next. This is a fantastic idea for an alternative Christmas party night – and we hope that people will link up to each other by video whilst watching us on YouTube.”
“It’s a great chance to get together virtually with friends or colleagues. We really hope that many of our own supporters will tune in to hear us perform, especially as they will get to hear our version of ‘The Dark Island’, which we are really excited about releasing.”
Davy explains, “My earliest recollections of this song was as a small child at New Year’s celebrations in our house, full of music and craic, with my mother on her keyboards singing all the old classics of the time.”
“The Dark Island is a favourite with everyone, it’s one of these melodies that sticks in your mind and remains grounded in people’s hearts, a recollection or a memory of days gone by.”
“We’ve thought for some time about doing a version of this song and have finally put it together with our own spin – trying to maintain elements of the original Calum Kennedy classic with an added punk infused energy.”
“It starts out as a slow haunting ballad, which builds and then fires up on all cylinders with guitars, thumping bass line, saxophone and a pounding rhythm on the drums. The finale culminates in pipes, fiddle, electric guitar and anthemic voices.”
“It’s a meaningful song, especially those who have left the Highlands and Islands to find work on the mainland. The draw is always there for many people to return one day.”
Davy concluded, “As a band we are, within the boundaries of the ongoing restrictions, working on further material towards a new album scheduled for release during Spring 2021. We are taking bookings and have already announced appearances at several of the largest music events in the Highlands next year including ‘Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival’, ‘Tunes by the Dunes’ and ‘The Gathering’ Festival.
Kenny Smith of Torridon added, “Michael and I are delighted to be hosting and performing at ‘Party at Your Place’. It should be a night full of great craic and good tunes. After a quieter few months it’s great to be helping put a bit of fun back into the Highlands party scene!”
“We were recently fortunate enough to be the first band in the UK to perform live since the Lockdown restrictions, with our seated gig at the Ironworks in Inverness, and we very much hope that things will slowly return to some kind of normality for the music scene across the country.”
“These party nights take place in the Limelights studio in Inverness, and it’s great to be part of a production again – not to mention helping the Hospice which is such a vital Highland charity.”
“We urge all of Torridon’s supporters to join the Rhythmnreel fans in getting your gladrags on, having a few drinks, and tuning in on Friday night.”
We’ll be doing shoutouts via Twitter throughout the party, so now’s the time to start thinking about who you want us to mention or embarrass!”
Rhythmnreel’s ‘The Dark Island’ is released on December 10th, on Pictish Pop Promotions label. It will be available on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, iTunes and Apple Music.
The video was filmed and produced by Gordon Buchanan of Struie Media Productions
Coming up……Party at Your Place….
On ‘Mad Friday’ the 18th of December, the Hospice will join forces with Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival to bring a range of live acts including Dark Horse. This fabulous finale will be fronted by the full-of-fun Miss Scarlet Diamonte (aka Strictly Inverness host Brian Elrick).
