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A review from 5D Music & Theatre writer Maria Robertson.
Photography by John and James McFadyen https://www.johnmcfadyenphotography.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/jamiemcfadyen87
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It’s not everyday you get invited to a corporate event that includes a concert of two bands you love, so I was very excited to get an invitation to the Kilkerran 20th anniversary celebrations in Campbeltown. Highly secretive, I had to resist screaming to the world that I was getting to see Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Travis, whilst drinking such gorgeous whisky!
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Finally it was time, wristband on and drinks tokens carefully stowed, off we went to the town’s Victoria Hall. First up was a local band called Fling, they describe themselves as a party band and they do covers of well known songs. Erin Ferguson is their singer and has an impressive vocal range and the set list included quite a variety of different types of songs. They started with Don’t Stop, Footloose and travelled through Valerie, Rocking All Over the World and other party type songs. Their set also included some unexpected gems like Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and the dance song You’ve Got The Love. Both worked really well and the singer transitioned through the differing vocals with ease. My favourite was Skerryvore’s Take My Hand, bringing back happy memories of seeing them play it in Aberdeen. Fling finished their set with an Abba medley which had everyone jigging around merrily, the perfect warm up act!
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Our wee group had been edging further and further forward during Fling’s set and were concerned we would be too close to the bagpipes once the Red Hot Chilli Pipers (RHCP) took to the stage, but as soon as they arrived we happily clung to the barrier in front of the stage! They always bound around with seemingly endless energy, and this time the pipers even had Kilkerran banners flying from their longest pipe, most fitting for the occasion and raised more cheers from the crowd as they were swung back and forth with the songs.
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If you have not come across RHCP before, they are a glorious mix of pipes, drums, guitars and a full drum kit. Line ups differ depending on the gig, and size of venue, but they always play an invigorating set of well known songs such as the Killers, Guns N’ Roses’ Sweet Child of Mine, Gimme All Your Lovin’ and Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing. You can sing along all you like as they are so loud no one will hear you, they are absolutely amazing.
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Being down the front it was almost as if it was just our wee group and the band; we were all grinning like idiots caught up in the moment and loving life together!
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Last, but certainly not least, was Travis. Another fantastic Scottish band. The first concert I went to, with them as support, was Oasis on Loch Lomond. Unfortunately my friends at the time wanted to smoke certain substances before going in and so I only heard Travis from in the car outside! A huge regret and one of the reasons I have rarely missed a support band since then. Soon after I realised how awesome Travis are and have loved them ever since. I’ve seen them a few times, the most recent being at Party in the Palace down in Linlithgow.
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This was a totally unique experience, we were in a relatively small hall and I was right on the barrier front and middle. So close to the wonder that is Fran, Dougie, Neil and Andy. It was also their first concert since their new album L.A. Times came out.
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They played a mixture of the well known songs and the new. Fran explained that it was like when your friend has a new baby and is really proud of it and wants to show it off, and you never know if you give it some attention you might like it too! He introduced the song Alive saying that we never know when our life will be over and we have to make the most of it, it includes the lines: “We are alive, And as long as we are breathing, we can keep this dream alive”. So true and such a worthwhile thought. They also taught us some of the lyrics so we could sing along in the chorus “Na-na-na, hey hey, Bye, bye, bye”. Awesome song, and I managed to tweet a bit to share with the world: https://x.com/AberdeenShop/status/1812233934765461840 Travis themselves retweeted it and it now has almost four thousand views!
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Another new song we were treated to was The River, again with moving lyrics. I suggest you go and listen to this one on your own, truly listen to the words and let that river flow over you. I am pretty sure this is the one that Fran made me ugly cry as he introduced, as he suggested we think of a grandparent or someone we have lost and bring them into the room with us. I often try to do that with my Grandad as I have missed him for about 40 years now so it was lovely to be invited to do so in company.
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During Mull of Kintyre some of the RHCP pipers joined Travis on the stage for an exclusive collaboration which was rather magical. As if that was not exciting enough, whilst singing Gaslight Fran came down off the stage! Many of us got rather exited to get that close to this singing genius, who many of us have loved since the 90s!
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The set started with Sing and Driftwood, it included Side, Flowers in the Window, Turn and it ended with Why Does It Always Rain on Me. All such brilliant songs, which many of us have loved for many years already.
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It was so sad when this fantastic evening finished but it was certainly one that will live in our memories for years to come, and there is the new album to look forward to getting to know better. What more could anyone want from a night out?
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Further information:
Kilkerran whisky: https://kilkerran.scot/
Fling: https://www.facebook.com/flingpartyband
Red Hot Chilli Pipers: https://rhcp.scot/
Travis: https://travisonline.com/
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Maria Robertson is the Chief Music & Theatre Writer for the 5D Pop Culture Website and provides reviews & coverage of local Aberdeen music & theatre gigs. She’s an experienced writer for numerous sources and is a self-confessed live gig addict ever since seeing The Counting Crows at the Barrowlands in 1994.
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