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FESTIVAL IS A HIT
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The new-look Edge of the World music Festival in Thurso is set to become an annual fixture following Saturday’s event. Despite the counter-attraction of Oasis on Loch
Lomond, about 500 attended the marquee concert at Scrabster Farm. The line-up included Coinneach and the London based Mick Abrahams Band, whose drummer GRAHAM
WALKER comes from Thurso. As well as 12 hours of music, and adjoining marquee featured drama, poetry and comedy.
Organizers Duncan MacLachlan said yesterday: “It was a great success and we will be repeating it next year when we might hold it over a weekend, rather than just one
day.”
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Old Picture of Graham when he left Spiggy Topes
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FORSS CONVERSION
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A Plan to convert the old Forss mill and adjoining buildings has been given a conditional go ahead by the Highland Council’s Caithness area planning committee. The work,
which is being undertaken by the Highland Building Preservation Trust, will create five houses for
sale or let.
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INTERNET TAKES CROOKED JACK TO NZ
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A Cathness musician is heading for a nationwide tour of New Zealand after placing an advertisement on the Internet. JOHNNY GRAY
, of popular folk band Crooked Jack, will make the 12,500 mile journey in the wake of the group’s debut album success. The band had earlier asked about Celtic music in New Zealand on the Net
and came up with venues and contacts. Yesterday, the trio’s front man Denis Alexander said: “We were contacted by a Kiwi DJ who told us we were known in New Zealand because our debut album had been
played extensively on the radio there.” Before arriving in New Zealand on February 1, Crooked Jack will star at the traditional Burns Supper at the St. Andrews Society in Bangkok, where Charles Adams, Britain’s ambassador to Thailand, will be the guest of honor. The band’s new album, An Audience with Crooked Jack and Billy McGuire, has just been released.
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WORK UNDER WAY ON TRANSFORMATION OF HISTORIC MILL
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This historic 19th-century mill is to get a new lease of life thanks to conservation and building work to transform it into five new apartments. Halkirk contractors D.M.
Geddes began work at Forss mill on September 11 and expect to complete the contract in a year’s time. The listed building is owned by inverness-based Highland Building Preservation Trust, which acquired
planning permission to convert the mill for housing. The owners recently received over 41,000 pounds from the landfill tax rebate scheme to help fund the 546,146 pound restoration and conversion cost of
the building, which dates back to around 1820. Photo: Mike Brunton
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LIGHT MUSIC SET TO AID GOOD CAUSE - Johnny Sutherland
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Old Picture of Johnny
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52 year old Johnny Sutherland, who’s stage name is “Johnny Fats” has released a three-song recording as a preview to his upcoming album in aid
of charity. The new single, which was recorded in the lighthouse, features Sutherland on guitar, keyboard and vocals, son Isaac on guitar and harmony and Mark Wright on drums. Collectively, they are
called the J. Fats Band. A percentage of the profits will go to the Julie Wheatcroft Fund, a Caithness charity that helps parents of children being treated in distant hospitals. Sutherland, who was born
in Thurso, was once dubbed the British Jimi Hendrix because, like the American maestro, he can play the guitar behind his back and with his teeth. He has played with the Hollies, Jimmy Page of Led
Zeppelin and Rod Stewart.
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THE JAM - Around 1968
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Featuring guitarist Johnny Sutherland (right), drummer Graham Walker and bassist Johnny Gray. The name of the previous group, THE BLEND, can
be seen embiazoned on the drum kit.
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