Kaiser Chiefs Are Coming
ANDREA MUIR sets the scene for the big event
‘Good Grief! The Kaiser Chiefs!’
THIS IS the watered down version of some of the comments we’ve had since the announcement on 16 April that The Kaiser Chiefs – an award-winning, festival headlining, indie band from Leeds -- is coming to play at Strathpeffer Pavilion on the 19-20 May.
We staff at the Pavilion uttered expletives of the same ilk when we got the phone call in February that it was a possibility. However, we had the luxury of taking the idea with a pinch of salt.
‘Go for it’ I said, when Tina, the Pavilion’s Arts officer, told me about the phone call. ‘Of course, it’ll never happen, but such things keep life interesting, eh?’
Tina, usually never short of a comment or two, was briefly speechless, smiled a small, strange smile and then got on with more immediately pressing matters.
The Pavilion in Strathpeffer has been through its fair share of ‘up close and personal’ with a variety of celebrities over the years including Emmeline Pankhurst, George Bernard Shaw, The Bay City Rollers, Kenny Ball, The Saw Doctors and the Proclaimers (phew! You don’t often get to mention that lot in the same sentence!)
In recent months we’ve been busy with weddings, Christmas parties, a huge conference, a few plays, the odd dance and trying to bring together enough focus to the Pavilion whose raison d’etre is to be all things to everyone.
The programme we have been rolling out this year shows some of the variety we want to develop and so the news that for some gift of a reason we’ve got chart-toppers, is brilliant. Never before have we had so many offers of voluntary help – even from people way down in England (strange place: full of people and smelly motorways). Never before have I been quoted in The Sun!
Of course, loads of mainstream bands have found there way up here mainly due to the excellent festivals which seem to take place virtually every weekend in the summer months. The Highlands is really getting on the map for live music offered. What is even better is that what comes in can then go out – and the stage is being set for us to produce at least one household name successful band in the not too distant future. This, I’m sure, is down to the confidence that has been developed through a lot of hard work and risk-taking by a number of individuals and organisations (you know who you are!)
Anyway – The Kaiser Chiefs at The Pavilion is still a great story and it is our intention to keep you up to date with what is happening from the inside in the run up to the gigs with a piece on Northings every few days. Hope you enjoy and we survive!
(The Kaiser Chiefs also play the Corran Halls, Oban, on 21 May)
Andrea Muir is the General Manager of Strathpeffer Pavilion
© Andrea Muir, 2008
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