ICA Magazine - Issue 116 - April 2012 by ICA

plus FULL EDEN COURT FILM GUIDE

issue 116 APR 2012

(see centre pages)

Easter Bunnies Frightened Rabbit bring their musical eggs north.

Ne w

£45

MAY

Festiva

< B ingOthe ‘G‘a putt

www.bogba

New BANDS, New BEER, New MUSIC !!

Saturday 5th May

NEW ADDITIONS !!! : Tommy Reilly •Stanley Odd •Laki Mera •The Little Kicks •Quickbeam •Graham Brown •Cherri Fosphate plus Vic Galloway and Ally McCrae as MCs/DJ – joining... Three Blind Wolves • Washington Irving • Endor • Fatherson • Kitty The Lion • Open Day Rotation • Over The Wall • Findlay Napier & The Bar Room Mountaineers • Kobi • The Seventeenth Century • Open Swimmer • Matt Norris & The Moon • Mike Nisbet • Lost City Soul • Beerjacket • Woody Pines • Hellovideo • Cafe Disco • Bensh • He Slept On 57 • Midnight Glory • Little Fire • Megan Blyth • Jonathan Powell • Sion Russell Jones • and more...!! Tickets for all Bogbain festivals available from TICKETSOUP.com or 0844 395 4000

NB - LIMITED PLACES!!

B A I N > aste back in festivals

Theb igge st & be st Ce ltic mus ic ev ent in th e ar ea !!

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Starring:

Blazin’ Fiddles • Le Vent Du Nord Kathleen MacInnes Band • Wizz Jones Furnace Mountain • Groanbox Boys • Edwina Hayes • Halton Quartet • Bruce MacGregor Band

Blazin’ Fiddles

Furnace Mountain

Edwina Hayes

Le Vent Du Nord

AFTERNOON SHOWS | GREAT FOOD | REAL ALE

weekend ticket £69

APRIL Mo Fe

For full details of activities & events see feature P26/27 >>

Friday 6th & Saturday 7th April

The Inverness Whisky Festival.

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hs nt tivals s ue en

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PLUS

FILM KIDS

from 13

from 18

from 26

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Win Tickets to see Frightened Rabbit...............................p24

SPORT

SPILL: Frightened Rabbit................p17

EDEN COURT FILM GUIDE: April shows......................................p31–34

What do you think of Belladrum acts for 2012?..........................................p44 Win Tickets to see medium Tony Stockwell.......................................p57

19 church st inverness 01463 715125 mail@icanow.com NEXT ISSUE OUT 23 APR !! deadline for submission: FRI 06 APR

THEATRE

Win Tickets to see Breakin’ Convention - excellent breakdance show in May...............p42

from 38

from 45 BACK

CONTENTS ROAD........................................................... P05 ART . ............................................................. P07 FILM ............................................................ P10 KIDS ............................................................ P13 SPILL........................................................... P17 MUSIC......................................................... P18 SPECIALS ................................................ P26 SPORT ........................................................ P36 THEATRE ................................................. P38 PROPERTY.............................................. P45 EATING OUT ......................................... P48 MAKING THE MOST OF YOU..... P53 CLASSIFIEDS.......................................... P57 SURFING & KEN KELMAN ......... P60 QR CODES ............................................... P61 IG:U SHOW.............................................. P62

from 10

MUSIC

Now, indeed. Well, it’s true - first up is the Inverness Whisky Festival (P26) early this month, quickly followed by Brew At The Bog (P2) early May, then the all new Inverness Comedy Festival - Happyness - which runs at the end of May - and then all of a sudden it’ll be R***Ness! Hold on - doesn’t that mean it will be summer?!?! Yes - it’s just loitering round the corner waiting to finish its rollie... So, that means you can brighten your spirits, ditch a few of those under-or-over-garments you wear so many of, and devote yourselves to the pursuit of thrills. And thrills we got plenty of, dearie, plenty. Why, in these very pages, you’ll find such palpitationinducing prospects as the musical onslaught of FRIGHTENED RABBIT, TWIN ATLANTIC, ANDY IRVINE, DICK GAUGHAN, MILES KANE, GARETH GATES, FUNK D’VOID, THE DUPLETS, SPIERS & BODEN and local types PURPLE DIVIDE; there’s also art from DOUG FISHBONE, DUNCAN LANG, CATHERINE BERTOLA and ROGER&REID; kids can thrill to the SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE show or a great WALLACE & GROMIT exhibition, or take in some animation (MUPPETS, SPIRITED AWAY, THE ILLUSIONIST); the adventurers out there can take on the BLACK ISLE CYCLE CHALLENGE or the VANS DAWN OF THE SHRED; and for those of us who like to indulge in a little bit of what we up here do best, choose between that Whisky festival or a bumper set of uniquely Scottish theatre events - THE STEAMIE, PASSING PLACES, STICK GRANNY ON THE ROOF RACK or NEDATOR. If you need any more summeriness (look it up), check out Highland Hospice’s new mascot BOBBY BEE - on P29. “ Its’allbleedin’comin’togevver! “

SPECIALS

The Festival season starts.... NOW !

ART

April 2012

road

DARTH VADER-MOBILE? Strong the force is with this one! Surely the most stylish of the recent batch of concept cars waved temptingly under our noses. The Toyoya ‘Fun-Vii’ is like a giant smartphone screen on (pretty natty LED-lit) wheels. Absolutely stunning in its ‘off-mode’ jet black, in actual fact, the WHOLE of the bodywork can function as an electronic display - allowing the user to choose to change the entire car’s colour, display full colour graphics or even motion video. The interior of the vehicle can similarly be altered to suit your mood. Not just intended to catch the eye, you will be permanently connected with your surroundings - with the vehicle able to detect hidden hazards in advance or to find friends who may be driving nearby. Would you drive one? Let us know: vote online: bit.ly/ICA116R or scan the QR on the pic

5 YEARS: Servicing • 0% representative • Road Tax • AA Cover • Lifetime Warranty

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IOTA IOTA & The & Highland The Highland Council & Council & IOTA IOTA & The Highland & The Council Highland &for Council The The National National Trust forTrust Scotland present Scotland present

& The National The Trust National for ScotlandTrust present for Scotland presen

Touching Touching Distance Distance // // Astar Astar Buntainn Buntainn Touching Touching Distance Distan

//// AstarAstar Buntainn Buntain

Saturday Saturday 14 April 14 2012 April // 7.30 2012 - 8.30pm // 7.30 // Culloden - 8.30pm Battleﬁeld// Cull Free Free // All//Welcome All Welcome // Refreshments // Refreshments will be served will be se

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Saturday Saturday 14 April 2012Multiple 14 // 7.30April - 8.30pm //2012 Culloden Battleﬁeld // 7.30 - 8. Launch Launch of Artist’s of Artist’s Multiple // Catherine Bertola // Catherine Bertola Catherine Catherine Bertola’s Bertola’s research has research on the has importance focused of cloth oninthe Highland importance culture, in of cloth in H Free Free //the AllWhite Welcome // All //focused Refreshments Welcome will served // Refreshme particular particular theCockades White that Cockades were worn during thatthe were battle worn asbe a symbol during of allegiance the battle to the as a sym

Jacobite Jacobite cause.cause. On the night On wethe will be night launching weawill special beartist’s launching limited edition a special and invitingartist’s limite everyone everyone to make totheir make own cockade. their own cockade.

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byby working working with film, with action, film, music action, and kite cameras. music Collaborating and kite cameras. with local piperCollaborating Donal Brown, with Gaelic Gaelic singers singers Eilidh Mackenzie Eilidh and Mackenzie Calum Barker,and as well Calum as pupilsBarker, from Culloden asAcademy well as thepupils fro pair pair have have created created a live responsive a live outdoor responsive performance outdoor that will take performance place at dusk (dress that for the will take p weather). weather). Come Come and experience and this experience unique intervention this that unique will contain intervention film work by Academy that will contain Catherine Catherine Bertola’s research Bertola’s has focusedfrom on the research importance of from cloth has in visitors Highland focused culture, inmoments on pupils, pupils, musical musical improvisation, improvisation, interviews visitors interviews and moments that breathe air and into the past.the imp that

Launch Launch of Artist’s Multiple of Artist’s // Catherine Bertola Multiple // Catherine Bert

particular particular the White Cockades thethatWhite were worn during Cockades the battle as a that symbol ofwere allegianceworn to the during Earlier Earlier in thein day the // Anniversary day // Anniversary Service // 11am // The Service Gaelic Society // 11am of Inverness // The Gaelic Societ Jacobite Jacobite cause. OnSociety theInverness night cause. weofhosts willInverness bean On launching the ahosts special night artist’s we limitedwill edition be and inviting launching a The The Gaelic Gaelic Society of anniversary service an commemorating anniversary the lives service lost in the commemo battle battle of Culloden Culloden at theown Memorial atmake the Cairn Memorial on their Culloden Moor. Cairn Thison battle Culloden was one of Moor. the shortest This and battle w everyone everyone toofmake their tocockade. own cockade.

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Live Outdoor LivePerformance Outdoor // ROGER&REID Performance // ROGER&REID

Collaborative Collaborative duo Graeme Roger &duo Kevin Reid Graeme have been exploring Roger the battlefield’s & Kevin resonance Reid have The artists’ artists’ research residences and residences funded and by event the Highland are funded Strategic by Board the Highland C byThe working by with working film,research action, music with andevent film, kite are cameras. action, Collaborating music withCulture local and piper Donal kite Brown, cameras through through Creative Creative Scotland’sScotland’s Rural InnovationRural Fund. Innovation Fund. GaelicGaelic singers Eilidhsingers Mackenzie andEilidh Calum Barker, Mackenzie as well as pupils from and Culloden Calum Academy the Barker, pair have pair created have a live responsive created outdooraperformance live responsive that will take place atoutdoor dusk (dress for performa the For more information For more contact information IOTA on 01463 724383 contact IOTA on 0146 weather). weather). Come and experience Come this unique and intervention experience that will containthis film workunique by Academy interven www.invernessoldtownart.co.uk www.invernessoldtownart.co.uk pupils,pupils, musical improvisation, musical interviews improvisation, from visitors and momentsinterviews that breathe air into from the past. visitor Photo: Fin Macrae

EarlierEarlier in the day // Anniversary in the Service day ////11am Anniversary // The Gaelic Society ofService Inverness // 11am / The Gaelic The Society Gaelic of Inverness Society hosts an anniversary of Inverness service commemorating hosts the lives anlostanniversar in the battle of battle Culloden atoftheCulloden Memorial Cairn onat Culloden theMoor. Memorial This battle was Cairn one of the shortest on Culloden and bloodiest bloodiest fought on Britishfought soil, it turnedon brotherBritish against brother soil, and the it impact turned of the battle brother echoed agai acrossacross Britain. 266 years Britain. on, Culloden 266 is still years a site that connects on, Culloden us intimately with our ispast. still a site th

There’s more playing around with expectations at CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD on SAT 14 APR when an IOTA art project called TOUCHING DISTANCE [3] celebrates the anniversary of the battle and the culmination of artists’ research residencies at the site by CATHERINE BERTOLA and ROGER&REID. Bertola’s research has focused on the importance of cloth in Highland culture, in particular the White Cockades that were worn during the battle as a symbol of allegiance to the Jacobite cause. Catherine’s new limited edition lead cockade will be launched on the night. ROGER&REID have been exploring the resonance held within the battle site itself using film, action, music and kite cameras. Working with local piper Donal Brown, Gaelic singers Eilidh Mackenzie and James Graham and pupils from Culloden Academy, they’ve created the framework for a live responsive performance which will take place at dusk. Find out more at www. invernessoldtownart.co.uk Back in the city centre IG:LU at 19 CHURCH ST showcases the work of the very talented DUNCAN LANG [4] FRI 09–THU 19 APR, showcasing ten years of photography from across the world, with images documenting trips in Asia, America, Europe and Scotland. As part of the exhibition Duncan will be turning his camera on Inverness, capturing the big vistas and small details that make all his work so rich and interesting. www.theIG.LU

KIDS

You never know quite what you’re going to get from the Highland Institute for Contemporary Art (HICA). Sometimes not even after you’ve experienced it, which is, in its own way, rather admirable. The emphasis is on the conceptual end of the art spectrum, but while it could perhaps do with reaching out more to pull people in (the ambiguity of opening times being a case in point), if you make the effort you’re likely to see intriguing stuff. This month’s exhibition by DOUG FISHBONE, called NEITHER HERE NOR THERE (01 APR-06 MAY) takes the form of a couple of video works playing around with preconception, perception and even a little deadpan humour. In Elmina [1], white New Yorker Fishbone casts himself as an African prince in a movie alongside an all black cast with no mention made of the incongruity, releasing it as both a limited edition art work for a Western art-world audience and an inexpensive DVD for mainstream African markets. In Untitled (Hypno Project) [2], twelve protagonists are filmed watching a video while hypnotised, having been given suggestions to respond in certain ways. To find out more go to www.h-i-c-a.org

MUSIC

Battlefields & beyond

FILM

MULTIMEDIA

SPECIALS

PICTURES

SPORT

PERFORMANCE

THEATRE

OBJECTS

4 BACK

INSTALLATIONS

ART

BEAULY GALLERY ART

New works from ESTHER ARMSTRONG and DAVID BODY, with additions from local artists. beaulygallery.co.uk

relevance of the artistic experience. Last year, forty six young people worked with Elgin based visual artist Lynne Strachan to create designs inspired by the theme of Urban V Nature.

INCHMORE GALLERY

A FINE ART FRIENDSHIP 31 Mar - 28 Apr

CASTLE GALLERY

IAN MCWHINNIE PAINTINGS & BILL & JACQUIE MCNEILL GLASS 31 March - 21 April Ian’s oil paintings are inspired by memories of childhood, musicians, dancers, circuses, the sea and his travels throughout Europe and America. These paintings are complemented by functional, decorative and architectural fused glass pieces created by the McNeill Studio. castlegallery.co.uk

IG:LU

DUNCAN LANG: Travel Photography See main page www.theig.lu

Celebrating 25 years since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art, artists HELEN L ROBERTSON and NICOLE STEVENSON are exhibiting their paintings together for the first time. The exhibiton will showcase their love of the West Coast of Scotland and the Outer Isles, primarily its beaches and bays, in pastels, mixed media and collage. inchmoregallery.co.uk

IONA GALLERY, Kingussie,

MATISSE: DRAWING WITH SCISSORS LATE WORKS 1950 - 1954 to 22 Apr, Featuring 35 lithographic prints of the famous cut-outs, produced in the last four years of his life. It includes many of his iconic images, such as The Snail and the Blue Nudes. THE MAKING OF LONGBIRD: WILL ANDERSON 28 Apr to 27 May theionagallery.co.uk

JUST ART, Fochabers

EDEN COURT GALLERY

SCOTLAND: FABRICATIONS, to 7 April,

DOODLE THERAPY MOORE by Jonathan Moore – Stalls Gallery, April Artist Jonathan Moore hopes this show will inspire other sufferers of mental health issues to express themselves using art.

KILMORACK GALLERY IMAG

EILEAN DUBH by James A Moore – Blink Gallery, April A beautiful collection of photographs of the Black Isle by James Alan Moore. jamesamoore.co.uk PARKINSON’S AWARENESS WEEK The One Touch Gallery, 16-22 April Exhibition by Parkinson’s Disease sufferer & artist Tom Maxwell.

ELGIN LIBRARY

A DOG’S LIFE - Setting the Scene with Wallace & Gromit, 31 Mar - 28 Apr A collection of some of the props and sets created by Aardman Animations which feature in the Wallace and Gromit films. This is a rare chance to get behind the scenes and appreciate the ingenious imagination and elaborate detail which goes into creating Wallace & Gromit’s world. Visitors will be able to see the prison in which Gromit awaited rescue by Shaun the Sheep, the Greenhouse where he grew his beloved marrow for the competition, the Basement of 62 West Wallaby Street where Wallace tried out his Mind-Manipulation-O-Matic contraption and many other scenes.

MORAY ARTS MEMBERS EXHIBITION 31 March - 13 April PAINTINGS BY CAROLA SPLETTSOESSER 21 April - 4 May

ELIZABETH STRATH: Sacred Figures & Places, to 11 Apr FROM SCOTLAND TO SPAIN 14 Apr - 26 May Prints & paintings by Geoff MacEwan. morayartcentre.org

NAIRN MUSEUM Celebrating 150 years JOHN GORDON & SON from 9 Apr

CROMARTY SEA AND SKY Paintings by Pat Hay, to 15 July Inspired by beautiful landscapes and seascapes.

DOUG FISHBONE: NEITHER HERE NOR THERE 1 April - 6 May, See main page. h-i-c-a.org CALMAN ARTWORKS - YEAR ONE: URBAN V NATURE, thru Apr Calman ArtWorks aim is to give young people who have had little or no involvement in the arts a chance to experience the power and

MORAY ART CENTRE

SUTOR CREEK CAFÉ, Cromarty

H-I-C-A HUNG

DAVID COOK & HENRY FRASER to 28 Apr, Two painters worth watching. David Cook lives a life so immersed in paint that he has been able to paint some of the most energetic and profound landscapes currently produced in Scotland. Henry Fraser has a studio in Edinburgh where he creates paintings of characters with a chink that lets us see their souls. kilmorackgallery.co.uk

TORE GALLERY TRIUMPHS & TRAGEDIES, 31 Mar - 19 May, Inverness Museum and Art Gallery will be marking the return of their summer opening hours with a portraits exhibition dedicated to the Royal House of Stuarts. inverness.highland.museum

NEW STILL LIFE PAINTINGS from 6 Apr, a colourful exhibition of new Still Life paintings by gallery artists including JENNIFER MACKENZIE, ISABELL DICKSON, FIONA MATHESON, CLARE BLOIS and CHRISTINE O’KEEFFE. A mixed show of painting, printmaking, ceramics, jewellery runs alongside

ART FILM KIDS MUSIC SPECIALS SPORT

Geoff MacEwan

PRINTS AND PAINTINGS

MORAY art CENTRE 14.04. - 26.05.2012 The Park, Findhorn, Forres, IV36 3TA | 01309 692426 info@morayartcentre.org | www.morayartcentre.org Facebook: morayartcentre | Twitter: MorayArtCentre

Open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm & Saturday 10am - 4pm ADMISSION FREE

BACK

THEATRE

FROM SCOTLAND TO SPAIN

FILM COMEDY

DOCUMENTARY

DRAMA

FAMILY

ROMANCE

Puppets Without Strings It’s apparently the nationwide Puppet Animation festival this month, billed as “the largest annual performing arts event for children.” Unfortunately you wouldn’t really know it, with participation up here fractured to say the least, to the extent that even the title of the festival is being stretched to “puppets AND animation” by some like the excellent BIKE SHED in Merkinch. At least it’s showing support for the event and there are some fine films on show. First up is SPIRITED AWAY on 31 MAR, master animator Hayao Miyazaki’s stunning animated fantasy that nods at Alice Through The Looking Glass and Narnia, followed on SAT 07 APR by French director Sylvain Chomet’s gorgeous look at 50s Scotland, THE ILLUSIONIST [2], where every frame is a work of art. Finally on SAT 14 APR it’s THE IRON GIANT from The Incredibles’ director Brad Bird with an all-star cast of voices (Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr and Vin Diesel) telling the riveting story of a boy and his robot best friend. BANFF CASTLE are also embracing the festival with a whole programme of films and workshops, with screenings at Banff Town Hall, which you can find more about by going to www.banffcastle.org.uk Eden Court aren’t strictly participating in the festival, though a case can be made for incorporating the screening of the Oscar-winning THE MUPPETS [1], 02–12 APR. The rest of their cinema programme is as enticing as ever as you can see from the full listings on the centre pages of this issue. We’re particularly looking forward to an ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL - 15-26 APRIL (featuring THE JEWEL; a timely film about corporate corruption, directed by Andrea Molaioli and starring the awesome TONI SERVILLO), RAMPART (great script from James Ellroy and a fantastic WOODY HARRELSON performance that might even match his impressive turn in the Julianne Moore Sarah Palin HBO TV biopic), a sneak preview of EWAN MCGREGOR’s newie, SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN ahead of release and Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s spectacular ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA which those in the know are praising as film of the year already.

If all that cinematic wonder inspires you to make your own films, then you might be interested in the NORTHERN LIGHTS project, a Scotland-wide documentary to be made by you. The aim is to gather together bits of film submitted by anyone who’s interested, from fragments to more extended pieces with a pretty much free brief in terms of what you shoot. There are £10,000 worth of awards available to the people the organisers consider to have made the best contribution to the project. For more details go to their website at www.wearenorthernlights.com which also has online tutorials, feedback and links to their Twitter feed. Sounds interesting...

FILM

FROM SAT 31 MARCH

SPIRITED AWAY @ The Bike Shed, Merkinch see feature <<< THE HUNGER GAMES @ Eden Court continues its run... have you seen it yet?

FROM SUN 01 APRIL YOUNG ADULT @ Eden Court RED DOG @ Eden Court

FROM MON 02 APRIL

THE MUPPETS @ Eden Court see feature <<< MIRROR MIRROR @ Vue Inverness

FROM TUE 03 APRIL

THE SQUID AND THE WHALE @ Eden Court An Inverness Film Fans screening*

FROM WED 04 APRIL IRON SKY @ Vue Inverness

FROM THU 05 APRIL TITANIC 3D @ Vue Inverness

FROM FRI 06 APRIL

FROM FRI 20 APRIL FROM SUN 08 APRIL

ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS @ Eden Court

FROM WED 11 APRIL BATTLESHIP @ Vue Cinema

FROM THU 12 APRIL

SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN @ Eden Court - Friends Preview Screening see feature <<<

FROM FRI 13 APRIL RAMPART @ Eden Court see feature <<< THE ADOPTED @ Eden Court BLACK GOLD @ Eden Court GONE @ Vue Inverness

FROM SAT 21 APRIL

THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA @ Eden Court HIGHLANDER @ Eden Court

FROM THU 26 APRIL

MARVEL AVENGERS ASSEMBLE @ Vue Inverness

THU 26 APRIL

TEAM AMERICA - Staff Pick @ Eden Court

FROM SAT 14 APRIL

FROM FRI 27 APRIL

FROM SUN 15 APRIL

FROM SAT 28 APRIL

THE IRON GIANT @ The Bike Shed, Merkinch see feature <<< JOURNEY 2 – THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND @ Eden Court

ItFF @ Eden Court Italian Film Festival - see centre pages

THE ARTIST @ Eden Court Yes, you know, the one that won all the Oscars! THE RAVEN @ Eden Court AWAY FROM HER @ Eden Court THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL An Inverness Film Fans screening* @ Eden Court Slumdog Geriatrics? MICHAEL @ Eden Court HEADHUNTERS @ Vue Inverness THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY @ Vue Inverness RIGOLETTO: LIVE FROM THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE @ Vue Inverness

FROM TUE 17 APRIL TUES 17 APRIL

FROM SAT 07 APRIL

WE BOUGHT A ZOO @ Eden Court THE IRON LADY @ Eden Court ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA @ Eden Court TRISHNA @ Eden Court SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN @ Vue Inverness see feature <<<

FROM THU 19 APRIL

THE ILLUSIONIST @ The Bike Shed, Merkinch see feature <<< APRIL ADVENTURE FILMS @ Eden Court RESTLESS NATIVES @ Eden Court

IN DARKNESS @ Eden Court BEL AMI @ Eden Court INTO THE ABYSS @ Eden Court THE KID WITH A BIKE @ Eden Court

THE VOW @ Eden Court

NB: FULL EDEN COURT FILM GUIDE P31

*Inverness Film Fans [InFiFa] meet fortnightly at Eden Court for screenings & discussion. New Member’s welcome. For programme details visit: www.invernessfilmfans.org

Gang Show 2012 Inverness Area

ART FILM KIDS

11-14 April

Evenings 7:30pm Saturday Matinee 2:30pm Tickets from ÂŁ10

MUSIC

01463 234234

www.eden-court.co.uk www.invernessgangshow.net

SPECIALS SPORT THEATRE BACK

KIDS ART

FILM

MUSIC

SPORT

SPECIALS

THEATRE

It’s The Taking Part That Counts... Last month we pointed out how science is enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to TV shows like Bang Goes The Theory, James May Explains and of course, the man made entirely of hair, teeth and post-pop curiosity, Brian Cox. Hopefully you’ll have joined the rush to learn more at Elgin College’s Family Science Day and are no doubt hungering for more. Just as well then that the SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE ON TOUR is coming to EDEN COURT EMPIRE on SUN 15 APR. If you’ve ever been to the original Science Museum in London you’ll know it’s a place of genuine wonder, with lots of buttons to press and a shop to rival the greatest toy stores in the land. Most importantly it manages to communicate the fact that learning about the world can and should be fun. This live show on tour maintains that message with spectacular science demonstrations, extraordinary experiments and a theatrical experience that might just ignite the first spark in any budding Coxes. For a taste of what to expect see http://tinyurl.com/88xv9l5

For hands-on involvement with a little more of an artistic bent, why not head to INVERNESS MUSEUM & ART GALLERY for A DOG’S LIFE: SETTING THE SCENE WITH WALLACE & GROMIT from 31 MAR-28 APR. Neatly coinciding with the Puppet and Animation Festival which you can read more about on our film pages, this is a great chance to see actual props and sets created by Aardman Animations which feature in the Wallace and Gromit films. Visitors will be able to see the prison in which Gromit awaited rescue by Shaun the Sheep, the Greenhouse where he grew his beloved marrow for the competition, the Basement of 62 West Wallaby Street where Wallace tried out his Mind-Manipulation-OMatic contraption and many other scenes. The model house in Letsby Avenue contains 3D viewers of stereoscopic behind-the-scenes stills and there is even an original model of the Anti-Pesto Van, W&G’s preferred mode of transport. Clips from the films show how sets like these are used to create the illusion, but that’s not all. The exhibition takes a wider view of stop-frame animation using modelling clay. Part of the gallery is set up as a workshop space for visitors to create their own characters - the modelling clay is provided – so if you are inspired by what you see you can have a go yourself. The opportunity to animate your models and make them into short films will be available through a programme of short supervised sessions and workshops. For more information see www.inverness.highland.museum

SAT 31 MAR

Entrance, Inverness Islands, 2pm. There’s been a wildlife crime on the Ness Islands! FILM: SPIRITED AWAY @ The Bike Shed, Grant Someone’s been eaten but whodunnit? Can St, 2pm. See Film pages you deduce who ate who at the Deadly Scene Investigation? Based on CBBC’s Live ‘N’ SPRING FUNDRAISER @ Grantown Playgroup, Deadly wildlife and adventure show. Meet at Heathfield Rd, Grantown. Daffodil Tea. Car boot the Bught Park entrance to the Ness Islands. sale, stalls, raffle, kids treasure hunt and face Start between 2pm and 3pm. Corinne McCallum painting, refreshments available, 10am - 1pm, 01463 710786. FREE entry. INCREDIBLE EDIBLE @ Strathpeffer Community Centre. A chance to learn to make simple, tasty food and then sit down and eat what you have made. Suitable for P2 upwards. £6 Please book CLOUD MAN n moray in advance. Film

Special Events

KIDS PICK:

@ Universal Hall, Findhorn, Sat 31 Mar, 4pm. Get ready for plenty of plays on the word “cloud” in this blend of puppetry and storytelling created by Ailie Cohen and performed by JEN EDGAR. It tells the story of Cloudia who always has her head in, yep, you guessed it, the clouds. She is also a cloud expert who all her life has dreamt of seeing a Cloud Man, one of a breed of extremely rare creatures living a quiet life high up in the sky. As the story progresses you’re asked to follow the clues to the very top of Cloud Mountain where the views are surprising, and if you are lucky, you may see something very special indeed. 45 mins - suitable for children aged 4–7 & their adults. £6 / £5 concs/£4 U16’s (concessions).

SAT 07 APR

Special Events

THE GRUFFALO @ Culloden, 2pm. Oh help, oh no - it’s the Gruffalo! Come along and see if you can find him. Aimed at families with younger children. Meet at the Doocot car park, Culloden. 2 - 3.30pm. 01463 710786. Theatre

CHASING RAINBOWS @ Nairn Community Centre, 2.30pm, 6.30pm. Join The Pallywags in their enchanting new production. Come sing and dance along with Lou, Chew and Groo Groo. The show also features Rodd Christensen (‘Spencer’ in Ballymory) and Lauren Hair (Got to Dance) as Betsy Breeze. 01667 453476 or email info@nairncc.co.uk. 01667 453476 Theatre/Puppets

PUPPET THEATRE ‘THE ELF OF GLEN FERN’ @ FILM: THE ILLUSIONIST @ The Bike Shed, Banff Town Hall, 2pm. Grant St, 2pm. See Film pages Film

KIDS SATURDAY MATINEE @ Strathpeffer Community Centre. Entry by raffle ticket - £2 per strip, with a raffle prize pulled at the end. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult. Sweets, popcorn and juice will also be on sale.

SUN 08 APR Special Events

EASTER FUN DAY @ Whin Park. Fun for all the family at Whin Park on Easter Sunday. Face painting, music, ice cream, treasure hunt and much more raising funds for MFR Cash for Kids. www.mfr.co.uk/cashforkids.

MON 09 APR

SAT 14 APR Art

PUPPET MAKING WORKSHOP @ Banff Castle, 10am Film

ANIMATED FILM EVENT @ Banff Castle, 6pm FILM: THE IRON GIANT @ The Bike Shed, Grant St, 2pm. See Film pages Special Events

DAFFODIL FESTIVAL @ Brodie Castle. Enjoy daffodil teas with delicious home baking and entertainment, daffodil display in the drawing room and daffodil walks with the gardens team.Daffodil teas from 1.30 - 4.00pm in the marquee, entertainment by Elgin Strathspey.

Film

KIDS FILM SHOWING – THE SMURFS @ Strathpeffer Community Centre. Entry by raffle ticket - £2 per strip with a raffle prize pulled at the end. Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult. Sweets, juice.

YURI GAGARIN FAMILY ACTIVITIES @ The Multicultural Centre, 1 Ardconnel Terrace, Inverness. Organised by the HighlandRussia Connection charity. 01667456245. www.highlandrussia.org.uk.

TUE 10 APR

SUN 15 APR

Art

DRAGONS! REELIG GLEN @ Reelig Glen Top DAFFODIL FESTIVAL @ Brodie Castle Car Park , 2pm. It looks like the dragons have been out at Reelig Glen again. Come along and As Sat 14 see if we can track them down, as they have left all sorts of clues to follow. Meet at the top car park at Reelig Glen. 2 - 3.30pm. Corinne YOUTH OUTDOOR CHALLENGE @ Badaguish McCallum 01463 710786. Outdoor Centre. Youth Outdoor Challenge is a fun weekend of camping and orienteering with CRECHE WITH BOUNCY CASTLE other activities for schools, clubs and groups @ Strathpeffer Com Ctr. See Tue 03 Apr entering as teams of three or four with a supervisor. youthoutdoorchallenge.org/index2

SAT 21 APR

Special Events

WED 11 APR Art

TUE 03 APR Special Events

THU 12 APR

KITE MAKING @ Pavilion Shinty Pitch, Drumnadrochit, 1.30pm. A chance to make kites out of bits and bobs and, weather PUPPET MAKING WORKSHOP permitting, fly them. Meet at the Pavilion at @ Banff Castle, 10am. the shinty pitch in Drumnadrochit. 1.30-3pm. Corinne McCallum 01463 710786.Children £3. ANIMATED FILM EVENT @ Banff Castle, 6pm. CRECHE WITH BOUNCY CASTLE @ Strathpeffer Community Centre. A great PUPPET THEATRE ‘LANDSCAPES’ chance for kids to burn off some energy with the @ Banff Town Hall, 1pm, 2.30pm, 4pm. bouncy castle, playing games or drawing. Fully supervised. Suitable for 2-8 years old. £2.50 child/£5 family. Please book in advance. PUPPET MAKING WORKSHOP @ Banff Castle, 10am Film

Theatre/Puppets

FRI 13 APR Art

WED 04 APR

Film

LIVE ‘N’ DEADLY- DSI: DEADLY ANIMATED FILM EVENT SCENE INVESTIGATION @ Bught @ Banff Castle, 6pm Art

SUN 22 APR

MAKE YOUR OWN MOSAIC @ Strathpeffer Community Centre. Come along and design and create your own mosaic using a variety of YOUTH OUTDOOR CHALLENGE @ Badaguish paper/foam mosaic tiles. Suitable for P1 – S1. Outdoor Centre. See Sat 21 Apr £6 per child. Please book in advance.

SUN 29 APR

BUTTERFLY RESCUE DAY @ Arderseir Common. The small blue butterfly needs your help! Its caterpillars only eat a rare plant which we have been growing from seeds. Today we will be planting them along the foreshore between Ardersier Common and Fort George. Please give us a hand if you can. Tools will be provided but please bring your own gardening gloves. Meet at Ardersier Common car park between Ardersier and Fort George. 2–4pm. 01463 710786. Free.

SAT 05 MAY Theatre

JAMP @ Universal Hall, Findhorn, 2pm. Family entertainment - parkour, acrobatics, dance, stunts, gymnastics, breakdance and physical theatre.

www.strathpefferpavilion.org

What’s on at The Pavilion in April

Sat 31st Mar, 8pm

An Evening of Burlesque TICKETS £19.50 / £18 (over 18s only)

Fri 20th Apr, 8pm

Blazin’ Fiddles TICKETS £15 / £14 / £6

Sat 21st Apr, doors 7.30pm

Frightened Rabbit

Fri 27th Apr, 8pm

Isla Grant

TICKETS £14 (+ Booking fee)

TICKETS £17 / £15 / £6

Dates For Your Diary: 16 & 17 May: Food & Craft Fair 26 May: Showaddywaddy Tickets from Pavilion Office 01997 420124 or

24HR HOTLINE: 08444 771000 www.ticketweb.co.uk

SCOTT HUTCHISON: FRIGHTENED RABBIT

FRIGHTENED RABBIT @ Various venues - see below!

S PI L L the ic intervieaw

Selkirk’s finest, FRIGHTENED RABBIT, are coming up to the Highlands for an intriguing-sounding tour, mixing acoustic and full band sets and taking in places as diverse as Forres, Ullapool, Mull, Stornaway and Strathpeffer, getting the lay of the land before they play Belladrum in August. Check out the listings page for where and when to see what should be a terrific mix of smart songs and entertaining onstage yarns. We caught up with mainman SCOTT HUTCHISON to find out more: Why did you decide to do the tour as a mix of acoustic and full band sets? It’s really to do with the size of some of the venues. If we did full band in a 100 capacity club it would probably end up sounding fairly awful, for us and the audience. I’d much rather the songs came through than ending up blowing people’s heads off. You’re going to be playing some pretty far flung parts of the Highlands and Islands. Being from way down South in Selkirk, which virtually makes you Cockneys, do you get the fear when you come so far North? Ha! Grant & I have family ties to Wick, so we’re quite well versed in the northern fettle, thanks. I welcome the particular brand of madness that is prevalent in the remote parts of this country. In fact, I’d be disappointed if the crowds weren’t a bit on the mental side for this tour. You were due to play Belladrum up here last year, but understandably cancelled to undertake a US tour instead. What was the American experience like? How did crowds react? It was brilliant. We’ve been touring there for about 4 years, and this was easily the best yet. We were opening for Death Cab For Cutie, playing some monster sized arenas. It was an incredible experience to feel like we were winning over new fans each night. There’s always been a certain grandeur to your sound. Have you got aspirations to play the big arenas? Is there a secret Bono inside you trying to get out? There’s no secret Bono in there, as I think I’ve always been quite forthright about our desire to be a big band with a big sound. Though, in our new material we’ve tried not to use that ‘epic’ (horrid word) soundscape nearly as much as we did last time ‘round and I’d be perfectly happy playing in lovely theatres as opposed to arenas. How’s the dynamic in the group changed now you’re a five piece? It has become a collaborative effort. Don’t get me wrong, there still needs to be someone in charge (me, Bono), but the music we are making now is so much more varied and interesting. Becoming a 5-piece has made us a better band.

What’s this week’s explanation for why you’re called Frightened Rabbit? Is it a name you’re going to be comfortable with for the rest of your days? Ach, I don’t know if I love the name, but we’re stuck with it now. It’s from an old nickname that my parents gave me in nursery, as I was really shy as a youngster. I think you just live with it for a bit and, in the end, who cares? Previous albums seem to have been very much inspired by your emotional state at the time. What’s the mood of the forthcoming songs? Dark. It’s been an interesting year for me personally... Lyrically, I’ve pushed it a bit further than on Winter of Mixed Drinks and a lot of the music is in the minor key now, which is new for us. Where’s your inspiration coming from at the moment? Any other bands feel like kindred spirits? I’m always inspired by The Twilight Sad, basically Scotland’s finest band. Often, you don’t need to look much further than your own doorstep for the good stuff. I love Withered Hand, Aidan Moffatt, FOUND, The Phantom Band. Scotland is (s)miles better, as they say. What’s the greatest song anyone has ever written? Poor Places by Wilco is my favourite song, if I had to pick just one. Jeff Tweedy is a hero of mine. And a lyric of your own that you’re particularly proud of. Hard to say. I could probably tell you the ones that make me cringe... But I won’t! If people haven’t heard you before, how would you describe the sounds you make? Just enough out of the ordinary. What’s your most surprising talent? I have no skills outside of what I currently do as my job. Shit at football, can’t do wheelies, average cook, slow at reading. Can’t even work a yo-yo anymore. Useless. After this tour what are the plans for the rest of the year? We’re recording the next album in May. We’ve got tons of songs and we’re all itching to get it made. Then we’re playing a few festivals before the record comes out later this year. I just want to keep busy really, keeps the Devil at bay. Any message for the people of Inverness? See you shortly.

MUSIC CLASSICAL CLUBBING

FOLK

JAZZ/world

ROCK

Real Folk This is possibly the best time in history to be a folk musician, at least in terms of commercial success. And if you define “folk” as anything orbiting the Mumford’s Death Star, from raggle-taggle boisterousness to sensitive singer songwriting. Which is all very well and does make for at least some alternative in the charts to relentless R’n’B collaborations about clubs/champagne/fine ladies and world-weary sexual braggadocio, but rather obscures the fact that true folk has a scope and emotional force that’s been all but forgotten. Just namechecking Woody Guthrie every now and then isn’t enough. So if you’re looking for what the genre is really about, you should start with someone like DICK GAUGHAN [1] (IRONWORKS, THU 12 APR). Having played everything from free jazz to rock and country over the years, it’s his contribution to the heartbeat of Scottish music that’s been most important, particularly his love of “Muckle Sangs”, The great Scots Ballads of antiquity with themes and motifs traceable back thousands of years. As a powerful songwriter of both the personal and the political, he reminds you exactly why a man with a guitar can still move mountains. Don’t miss his gig or indeed his excellent website at www.dickgaughan.co.uk Another of folk’s great names appears this month in the form of ANDY IRVINE [2] (EDEN COURT, SUN 22 APR). From Sweeney’s Men in the mid 60s and enormous success with Planxty in the 70s he’s maintained his excellence into the 21st century, the Irishman regarded as a world music pioneer and an icon for traditional music and musicians, establishing himself as something of a modern day troubadour. Again, one not to be missed. MILES KANE [3] (IRONWORKS, MON 23 APR) is also a bit of a troubadour, though much more in the mould of a Scott Walker. First with The Rascals and more recently as one half of The Shadow Puppets with Arctic Monkey Alex Turner, he’s championed lush pop with and without big orchestral foundations. His new EP “First Of My Kind” is out to coincide with Record Store Day on 21 Apr, so head along to Inverness’ best record shop, Imperial Music in the Victorian Market to buy it before you check out what should be a rather special gig. Recommendations must also be hurled the way of the Biffyesque TWIN ATLANTIC [4] surfing burgeoning success at IRONWORKS on SAT 14 APR and up and coming local youngsters PURPLE DIVIDE [5] launching their new ‘Trapped’ ep by performing a special gig at IG:LU on FRI 20 APR with the sublime SCOTT REID in support, and a

GARETH GATES

DUPLETS

FRIGHTENED RABBIT

BEL CANTO

CLASSICAL

CLUBBING

FOLK

Classical

Clubbing

Folk

RICHARD DURRANT @ Universal Hall, Findhorn, 7.30pm.

FILTH AT DIGITAL @ Digital Nightclub 10pm Filth we know & love (Ross Lyall, Andrew McGibbon), Digital? Well, Digital was GOING to be Digital, but by the time you read this it might well be something else. Tricky business, naming clubs - there’s so darned many of them and they all moan if someone uses a similar name. For now, let’s just call it “The Club Formerly Known as Mister G’s”...

SCHIEHALLION @ The Gellions, 9.30pm

WED 28 MAR THU 29 MAR

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR @ Strathpeffer Pavilion, 8pm Opera Bohemia, Scotland’s most dynamic young opera company, makes an eagerly-awaited return to these parts in Donizetti’s tragic opera loosely based on Sir Walter Scott’s The Bride of Lammermoor. SUZANNE SHAKESPEARE comes back to sing the part of Lucia, after a season with Opera Australia. £12 (conc. £10, school pupils £5) from Ticketweb/24-hr hotline 08444 771000, from June’s Card Shop Dingwall and Pavilion 01997 420124

FRI 06 APR

SAT 28 APR Clubbing

GARETH GATES @ Miami Nightclub Yes, really - only he’s not singing, for he is now getting a reputation as a pretty nifty DJ - can imagine him have a good feel for scratching what with that ol’ stutter he used to rock.

FRI 30 MAR

GLENN MUNRO & PARTNER @ Elgin Museum, 7.30pm A musical evening and lecture by Glenn Munro.

THU 05 APR Misc.

THE BAND OF HER MAJESTY’S ROYAL MARINES SCOTLAND @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm A musical entertainment from the famous Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland incorporating not just military music, but also some light classical pieces, music from the shows, exquisite solo numbers on a range of instruments, a touch of Jazz and the traditional display of pageantry by the immaculate Corps of Drums. 01463 234 234

SAT 05 MAY

FUNK D’VOID & SILICONE SOUL @ Ironworks. MAYDAY WEEKENDER. 0871 789 4173

FRI 06 APR

BEL CANTO @ The Little Theatre, Nairn, 7pm Bel Canto - meaning ‘beautiful singing’ - is a group of highly talented musicians from as young as ten who have performed in many venues across the Highlands and Moray area. With pieces from traditional to opera: from Burns to Mozart. Teas, Coffees and Wine available Tickets: £10, Concessions: £8.

SAT 28 APR

VERDI’S REQUIEM @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm The Inverness Choral returns with one of the most popular - and dramatic - works in the repertoire. 01463 234 234

SUN 29 APR

CHORAL EVENSONG @ Inv Cathedral 5.30pm

WED 02 MAY

SCOTTISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA @ Eden Court Empire, 8pm DVORAK Czech Suite, MOZART Piano Concerto No 20 in D minor, K466, BEETHOVEN Symphony No 2, JAKUB HRUSA conductor JONATHAN BISS piano. 01463 234 234

JOY DUNLOP & TWELFTH DAY @ Hootananny Gaelic singer Joy Dunlop and Scottish fiddle and harp duo Twelfth Day bring their blend of innovation and tradition to the subject of Scottish women’s lives, loves and poetry to tie in with the release of a collaborative album. 01463 233 651

THU 29 MAR

BRIAN O HEADHRA @ Hootananny ANDY CHUNG @ The Gellions, 9.30pm

FRI 30 MAR

THE ROYAL CONSERVATOIRE OF SCOTLAND HOPE STREET COLLECTIVE @ The Craigmonie Centre, 7.30pm The Hope Street Collective are a collection of young traditional musicians from across Scotland, Ireland and America. Instrumentation includes; pipes, song, fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar and piano and they play a variety of traditional tunes and contemporary arrangements. Tickets available in advance and on the door - call 01456 459 224 or email fran. davidson@highlifehighland.com or book online atwww.booklochness.com. 01456 459 224 ANDY CHUNG @ The Gellions, 10pm BALLACHLUISH HELLHOUNDS @ Hootananny Bluegrass, blues and country from a Glasgow band who were a big hit at Belladrum.

SAT 31 MAR

A WANDERER FANTASY @ Nairn Community Centre, 8pm MICHAEL LUNTS, actor and pianist, tells the story of Franz Schubert in words and music 01667 455701 www.musicnairn.org.uk.

SAT 21 APR

WED 28 MAR

SPORRANATIONALS @ Hootananny Folk/Rock

SCHIEHALLION @ The Gellions, 5pm DAVY COWAN @ The Gellions, 10pm

CLUBBING REGULARS WEDNESDAYS

BROKE WEDNESDAYS @ Love2Love 11- 3am WEDNESDAY with SI PAUL - TOWIE @ MIAMI (The Only Wednesday Is ‘Ere) The Big Mix Of Party Pop And Rnb

THURSDAYS

THURSDAY 118 - THIRSTDAY NIGHT @ MIAMI with Alottarhythm intelligent grooves pop and rnb

FRIDAYS

BACK TO THE FRIDAYS @ Love2Love 10.30pm - 3am Bringing you the best music from today, tomorrow and the past DMFAO @ MIAMI ( DANCE MY F***IN ASS OFF) With Allottarhythm Man on the decks Doors 10-3am RETRO FRIDAY NIGHTs @ HUSH, 9pm

SATURDAYS

THE BIG SQUEEZE @ Love2Love 10pm - 3am The working week is over - celebrate with style! MIAMI’S SOUND MACHINE @ MIAMI

SUNDAYS

118 / JUKE BOX with Si Paul… @ MIAMI The only night in Inverness where YOU get to choose the music all night 10.30 til 3am

SUN 01 APR Folk

BLUE ROSE CODE @ The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore, 8.30pm Spellbinding celtic-tinged acoustic ballads, delivered with a delicate growl. facebook.com/bluerosecode. Folk/Country

RACHEL HARRINGTON WITH THE KNOCK OUTS @ Bogbain Farm. Ancient sounding Country Noir. Drawing from a rich array of influences including an upbringing in the Pentecostal pines of Oregon and a dad with a secret stash of Motown and Stax albums, glimpses of Otis Redding, Loretta Lynn, Sam Cooke, Hank Williams, Ray Charles and Emmylou Harris can all be spotted prowling the edges of Harrington’s work. £10/8. 01463 772800

TUE 03 APR Folk

BLUE ROSE CODE @ Hootananny See Sun 01 Apr

FRI 06 APR

THE KILMARNOCK EDITION @ Eden Court OneTouch, 7.30pm Six multi award-winning artists, representing the best of Scotland’s new songwriters and all well known in their individual genres, come together to form a new exciting band. 01463 234 234

NORTHERN NASHVILLE CAITHNESS COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012 @ Halkirk Riding Centre. Since it started in 2004 the NNCCMF has gone from strength to strength, with country music fans converging on Caithness over Easter Weekend to be part of this 3-day 5-show extravaganza of live country music. There’ll be fans and top class acts from the USA, Canada, Europe, Ireland and the U.K. alongside a wealth of local talent and youth bands. nncmc.co.uk.

SAT 07 APR Folk

CELTIC HEART @ Market Bar. MAD DOG MCREA @ The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore, 10pm ‘Jiggery folkery, hokery pokery... Mad Dog Mcrea blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music. www.maddogmcrea.co.uk. BRIAN O HEADHRA @ Hootananny Folk/Country

NNCCMF @ Halkirk Riding Centre See Fri 06

SUN 08 APR

NNCCMF @ Halkirk Riding Centre See Fri 06

THU 12 APR

FOLK PICKS: Folk

THE DUPLETS @ Eden Court OneTouch, Sat 21 Apr 8pm This is the exciting return to Eden Court for locally born duo The Duplets where they will debut material from their beautiful new album, Leverage. Gillian Fleetwood and Fraya Thomsen met at a music workshop at the Inverness’ Balnain House in its much-lamented guise as a ‘Home of Highland Music’ - who’s idea was it to stop that, again? (Idiots, whoever). Their friendship and musical partnership has endured and this gig comes just after the release of their second of what will surely be many albums. Class, mate, class! 01463 234 234

Folk

DICK GAUGHAN @ Ironworks See main feature. A true legend of Scottish songwriting and pivotal influence on the development of folk and traditional music. FINDLAY NAPIER & THE BAR-ROOM MOUNTAINEERS @ The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore, 9pm A welcome return for local troubadour and his band, doing their nu-folk thang. HARRY BIRD AND THE RUBBER WELLIES @ Hootananny

FRI 13 APR

ESTHER O’CONNOR @ Market Bar A quality piece of kit, this one. Having been described as sounding like ‘Neil Young meets Beyonce round at Joni Mitchell’s house’, she is also not averse to a bit of Jacques Brel and runs her own label, Redhead Records. Glam as the day is long and as musical as a very musicky thing. 01463 233292

NORTH SEA GAS @ Hootananny SKERRYVORE @ Ironworks

SAT 14 APR

NORTH SEA GAS @ Hootananny

SUN 15 APR

ASHLEY & THE COSMONAUTS @ Market Bar DOLALLY @ Hootananny

RACHEL HAIR TRIO @ Cromarty Old Brewery, Sat 28 Apr 8.30pm One of the leading bands on the Scottish folk scene, the Rachel Hair Trio presents a sparkling blend of melodic harp mastery, rootsy songs and sophisticated rhythmical drive. Fronted by acclaimed harpistcomposer RACHEL HAIR and featuring the much-in-demand singerguitarist JENN BUTTERWORTH and top Scottish double bassist EUAN BURTON, the group has honed a repertoire drawn from traditional, contemporary and international sources to create performances that crackle with character, passion, verve and joie de vivre. Recommended.

SPIERS & BODEN @ Eden Court One Touch, 8pm Described by The Guardian as “the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene” and twice winners of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo, Spiers and Boden have made the genre of spontaneous, punky English folk very much their own stomping ground. 01463 234 234

WED 18 APR

DANNSA @ Universal Hall, Findhorn, 7.30pm Blending together a gorgeous mix of dance, fiddle music, guitar, pipes, keyboard, and Gaelic song these engaging performers bring you an evening of traditional rhythms and finely crafted dance. The line-up includes dancers Caroline Reagh and Sandra Robertson; piper and stepdancer Fin Moore; Dannsa-co-founder Frank McConnell, Mac Morin (dancer and pianist), guitarist Matheu Watson plus the beautiful voice of MOD Gold Medallist Catriona Watt. RM HUBERT/KRIS & ANDY (WRB) @ Hootananny

THU 19 APR

WINGIN’ IT @ Hootananny

FRI 20 APR

BLAZIN’ FIDDLES @ Strathpeffer Pavilion, 8pm Bruce MacGregor’s Highland legends who we might take for granted but have reached national and international acclaim, drawing together the distinct flavours of fiddle music from different parts of the Highlands. 01997 420124

MUSIC

Folk/Country

RED KITES EP LAUNCH @ Ironworks Folk/Blues

KENT DUCHAINE @ Market Bar Terrific blues guitarist. 01463 233292

SAT 21 APR Folk

THE DUPLETS @ Eden Court OneTouch, 8pm See Inset <<<<

CEILIDH & DANCE @ North Kessock Community Hall, 7.30pm Organised by The Highland Branch of Seagull Trust Cruises, featuring solo singers, musicians and a Gaelic choir. Entry is £10 for adults (BYOB) with accompanied children under 12 free. Refreshments will be served at the interval and there will be a raffle with all proceeds from the evening going towards the running costs of the Branch’s new boat. STC is a charity providing free cruises on the Caledonia Canal for people with special needs. WINGING IT @ Strathpeffer Comm Ctr 8pm Fabulous duo of ADAM BULLEY (mandolin/ guitar) and CHAS MACKENXIE (guitar). Tickets £12 / £10 from Duncan Kennedy 01997 421124.

SUN 22 APR

ANDY IRVINE @ Eden Court OneTouch, 8pm See main feature. For more than 40 years, Andy has been a world music pioneer and icon for traditional music and musicians. And he’s funny as hell. 01463 234 234 HELPING HANDS CEILIDH @ Raigmore Recretion Hall, 7.30pm Featuring Tweed Ceilidh band Fully licensed bar and Stovies Raffle Tickets £4 Adult, £3 Child and £12 Family.

THU 26 APR

SUN 01 APR

BLUE AND SENTIMENTAL @ Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness. Bl’azz event, a serendipitous reflection on the melancholia of jazz. 01463 257102.

TUE 03 APR

WATOTO CONCERT @ Dochgarroch Village Hall, 7pm Watoto is a holistic care programme that was initiated as a response to the overwhelming number of orphaned and vulnerable children and women in Uganda. Free. watoto.com/the-choir.

THE CAMPBELLS OF GREEPE & SPECIAL GUESTS @ Eden Court Empire, 8pm Five voices, one family, nine Mòd gold medals through three generations. 01463 234 234

WED 04 APR

FRI 27 APR

WATOTO CONCERT @ Smithton-Culloden Free Church 6.30pm As Tue 03

ALLY MACKENZIE @ Hootananny JAMES GRANT @ Eden Court OneTouch, 8pm Love & Money frontman plays material from all his critically acclaimed solo albums and a smattering of the old favourites in a solo acoustic setting. 01463 234 234 Folk/Country

ISLA GRANT @ Strathpeffer Pavilion, 8pm 01997 420124 Folk

SAT 28 APR

RACHEL HAIR TRIO @ Cromarty Old Brewery, 8.30pm See inset on previous page. SCHILTRUM @ Hootananny

FRI 04 MAY

THE GAELIC SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOWCASE @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm 01463 234 234

SAT 05 MAY

INVERNESS MUSIC FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS CONCERT @ Eden Court OneTouch, 7.30pm The Inverness Festival Association will present another outstanding concert of highlights from this year’s Inverness Music Festival as a tribute to the breadth of young talent we have on display in the Highlands. 01463 234 234

JAZZ/WORLD WED 28 MAR Jazz/World

YOLANDA BROWN @ Eden Court One Touch, 8pm saxophonist with a straight down the line approach, no Wayne Shorter squawks for this bird...

THU 29 MAR

CASTLE BLUES @ Castle Tavern, 8pm American blues.

FRI 30 MAR

“BLUE NOTE NITE” WITH THE HIGHLAND HOT CLUB @ The Greenhouse, Dingwall, 7.30pm

THE BLACK ISLE STOMPERS PLAY DIXIELAND @ Castle Tavern. Swing and Latin in the Castle Tavern.

THU 05 APR

MORAY JAZZ CLUB @ Elgin City Football Club, 7.30pm With The Black Isle Stompers.

ROCK SAT 31 MAR

RACHEL HARRINGTON @ Cromarty Old Brewery, 8.30pm Rachel Harrington grew up in a small town in Oregon with a deep Pentecostal upbringing, from families of Danish dairymen and Irish lumberjacks. As a child, her only exposure to music was gospel - that and her father’s secret Stax/Motown collection he’d amassed since his return from Vietnam. It’s a background that makes her more than just another purveyor of Americana, tracing a distinctive link between country and soul. She’s playing here with her all-female honky tonk band The Knock Outs. Tickets from 01381 600277 or centre@cromarty-training.com. COMPLETE STONE ROSES @ Ironworks, 7.30pm Even better than the real thing. Who needs the reformed version when this lot do the songs so well? HIGHLAND HOSPICE Fundraiser. £10. 0871 789 4173 MYSTIC SHOES @ Madhatters

HIGHLAND HOTCLUB @ Hootananny Gypsy Swing quartet from Inverness. 01463 233 651

SUN 01 APR

THU 12 APR

MORAY JAZZ CLUB @ Elgin City Football Club, 7.30pm Brian Keddie - Trombone, Mario Jannetta - Saxophone, Bill Jannetta - Guitar, Eddie Grant - Bass, Philip Stewart - Piano.

NETSOUNDS PRESENTS: ESPERI/I BUILD COLLAPABLE MOUNTAINS @ Hootananny and VLADIMIR/LITTLE MILL OF HAPPINESS @ Madhatters.

SUN 15 APR

TUE 03 APR

Jazz/World

BL’AZZ @ Eden Court Maclean Room, 2.30pm Under the direction of Mr Pat C Strachan: ‘The Black Isle Stompers’ a five-piece band, playing a full range of jazz from ragtime, blues, dixie, swing and sometimes beyond. Tickets £8 each Eden Court Box Office or 01463 234234. Misc.

THU 19 APR Jazz/World

MORAY JAZZ CLUB @ Elgin City FC, 7.30pm As Thu 12

THU 26 APR

ROOT MA TOOT BIG BAND @ Hootananny Swing band. 01463 233 651 CASTLE BLUES @ Castle Tavern, 8pm MORAY JAZZ CLUB @ Elgin City FC, 7.30pm As Thu 12

FRI 27 APR

TEA POSY @ The Greenhouse, Dingwall, 7.30pm With Highland Hot Club.

SAT 28 APR

SHOOGLE(!) PRESENTS: THE HORNDOG BRASS BAND @ The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore. Heavy heavy brass grooves with funk, ska and jazz influences, it’s what Shoogle(!) is aw aboot! www.horndogbrass.com.

WED 02 MAY

THE BLACK ISLE STOMPERS PLAY DIXIELAND @ Castle Tavern. Swing and Latin in the Castle Tavern.

BILLY MORRISON @ Market Bar

LITTLE RUMBA @ Market Bar

WED 04 APR

FERGUS AND GREG @ Market Bar

FRI 06 APR

DDW @ The Room THE SHIRE @ The Room DEF CON ONE/THE 10:04S @ Madhatters. Rock/Country

THE GALIPAYGOS @ Market Bar.

SAT 07 APR

AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE WATERBOYS @ Eden Court Empire, 8pm This is a Waterboys full career show which will also include some songs from the fantastic recent ‘An Appointment With Mr. Yates”. 01463 234 234 Rock

JOE VITERBRO @ Madhatters. DDW @ The Room THIS IS ELVIS LIVE @ Smithton Hotel Britains favourite Elvis Impersonator. Tickets £10, 01463 791999.

SUN 08 APR

THE LITTLE KICKS + CS BUCHAN @ The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore, 9pm Energetically appealing indie with a host of pop hooks. www.thelittlekicks.co.uk. MEGAN BLYTH EP LAUNCH support: BARRY MACKAY/IAIN MCLAUGHLIN

Rock/Country

RED HOOK RAPIDS @ Market Bar

FRI 13 APR

FRIGHTENED RABBIT @ The Loft, Forres Acoustic Show. Scott Hutchison, frontman of the fine Selkirk combo plays acoustic, stripped down versions of the band’s songs as part of the full line-up’s Highland foray. See ‘SPILL’ P17... JONNY AND THE GIROS/HOLY GHOSTS @ Madhatters BIRO @ The Room

SAT 14 APR

TWIN ATLANTIC @ Ironworks See inset >>> THE MYSTIC SHOES @ The Room LEWIS HAMILTON @ Market Bar That F1 car’s gonna be awful noisy in that wee room - but hey, you can’t say it’s not entertainment. EAT DR APE/RUSSIAN NINJAS @ Madhatters.

SUN 15 APR

with DF Concerts, who also brought the Kaiser Chiefs to the Pavilion. Tickets at Ticketweb, Ticketweb’s 24-hour hotline 08444 771000, Ticketmaster and the Pavilion office on 01997 420124 (9 to 6 Mon to Fri). Tickets are £14 plus booking fees and any other card or online seller charges. Over 14s only - under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. NB: this will be a standing event. 01997 420124 see p17 DROPKICK @ Market Bar OXBOW LAKE BAND @ Madhatters.

SUN 22 APR

HAMISH ROBERTS @ Market Bar

MON 23 APR

MILES KANE @ Ironworks See main feature

WED 25 APR

ADMIRAL FALLOW @ The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore, 9pm A welcome return for pub favourites Admiral Fallow just before they go off and conquer the world!. admiralfallow.com.

THU 26 APR

ADMIRAL FALLOW @ Ironworks Impressive young folksters. Warming down from their Old Bridge Inn show last night with a cosy night in the tiny setting of Ironworks...

Rock/Electronica

THE MOUSE THAT ATE THE CAT @ Madhatters. Glasgow electropop duo. No animals were harmed in the making of this band. Allegedly.

MON 16 APR Rock

THE MARIONETTES @ Hootananny

WED 18 APR

FRIGHTENED RABBIT @ The Old Bridge Inn, Aviemore. With a mix of acoustic shows and full band sets on the cards, the anthemic indie quintet are playing intimate venues - as low as 100 capacities - across their native land. Since releasing their debut album Sing the Greys in 2006, the band has gone from strength to strength, building a dedicated fanbase and selling out shows nationwide and stateside. Formed in Selkirk in ‘03 when Scott Hutchinson began playing solo shows under their curious FR moniker. Playing and recording all the instruments himself, he founded their trademark sound and soon brought like minded compadres on board. With a 4th album due soon this could be the year they finally go massive so don’t miss the chance to catch them in such intimate surroundings. See P17

THU 19 APR

1930S/THE DEPORTEES @ Madhatters.

FRI 20 APR

RANT @ The Room NEW TOWN TRIPTYCH/THE OTHER PEOPLE @ Madhatters.

SAT 21 APR

FRI 27 APR

THE FUMES @ The Room THE WORLD’S GREATEST MICHAEL JACKSON TRIBUTE EVER STARRING BEN @ Ironworks, 7.30pm The acclaimed tribute show promises to provide the world’s closest experience to an original Jackson concert and recreates the iconic stages of Michael’s incredible career from as early as his Jackson 5 days to his worldwide sell-out arena tours. Careful you don’t use too much hairspray. www.michaeljacksonuk.com/. 0871 789 4173

BREW AT THE BOG MUSIC FESTIVAL @ Bogbain Farm Bogbain has teamed up with craft beer revolutionaries, BrewDog, for this brand new one day music and beer festival. With BBC Radio 1′s Ally McCrae as our hosts for the day, Brew at the Bog features the best in up and coming musical talent. Visit www.brewatthebog.com for more info and to buy tickets. 01463 772800 See P2 - lots more next month! Misc.

THE SOLID SILVER 60S SHOW 2012 @ Eden Court Empire, 5.15pm, 8.30pm Starring Peter Noone. Featuring From The USA Chris Montez and Brian Hyland.

REGULAR FOLK & ROCK NIGHTS: APRIL ANKOR LIGHT @ Coffee Affair Sat 31 Mar ROBIN ABBOT @ Market Bar Mon 02/09/16/23/30 April BILLY MORRISON @ Market Bar Tue 10/17/24 April ROBIN AND BILLS @ Market Bar Thu 5/Wed 11/19/26 Apr

ROCK PICKS:

TWIN ATLANTIC @ Ironworks Sat 14 April Sam McTrusty and his noisepop cohorts roll back into town - they pick up more followers each time they visit. Entirely proficient loud/ quiet/loud quirky Scot-rock band with just the faintest whiff of boyband. Maybe they’ll be the next Biffy, maybe the next Deacon Blue - they use cello’s now, afterall...

MUSIC

@ Hootananny Up and coming local singer songwriter. Get there early to see a support slot from the excellent Iain McLaughlin.

CLASSIC CLAPTON @ Wick Assembly Rooms, 8.30pm A two-hour journey though the music of Eric Clapton including all of his hits: ‘Wonderful Tonight’, ‘I Shot The Sheriff’, ‘Lay Down Sally’, ‘Crossroads’ and ‘Tears in Heaven’. Ooh, that actually made me shudder. £14. FOUND ON THE FLOOR, FILTHPACT & THE OBSCENITIES @ Flannagans Bar, Elgin, 8pm A Night of Punk, Metal. I’m glad Flanagan’s is there, aren’t you? WOT’S NEXT @ Market Bar

SAT 28 APR

DONNIE LIVINGSTONE @ Market Bar SELECTIVE SERVICE @ Madhatters. Rock mixed with funk, blues and reggae from a Scottish act who are building quite a reputation and even played an instore gig at Liam Gallagher’s Pretty Green shop in Glasgow. Big things are brewing for them.

EZRA @ The Room

SUN 29 APR

FRIGHTENED RABBIT @ Strathpeffer Pavilion, 7.30pm Top Scottish indie rock band, in association

SAT 05 MAY

PURPLE DIVIDE EP LAUNCH @ IG:LU, Fri 20 April Up and coming rock types play a special gig to launch their new ‘Trapped’ EP. Support from SCOTT REID. See p25. Numbers ltd - book place via website www.theIG.LU

CHARLIES RANCH/NAKED RED @ Hootananny

ART

FILM

KIDS

MUSIC

SPECIALS

SPORT

THEATRE

BACK

THEATRE

SPORT

SPECIALS

MUSIC

KIDS

FILM

ART

SPECIALS CHARITY

CLUBS

MARKETS

MUNICIPAL

TALKS

Malt Teasers Expect lovers of a dram to be flocking here this month for the INVERNESS WHISKY FESTIVAL [1] based at BOGBAIN FARM on FRI 06 & SAT 07 APR. Over 20 distillers will be there including HIGHLAND PARK, TOMATIN, GLENGLASSAUGH, ABHAINN, GLENMORANGIE and many more, with free samples of unusual and rare whiskies that you might never get the chance to sample again. Spitoons are provided, though why anyone would even think about using them is beyond us. There’ll be masterclasses as well as live music, food, exhibition stalls, cocktail bar, and BBC Radio Scotland’s TOM MORTON [3] (himself an eloquent whisky fan) returning for a very special music show. He’ll be introducing a radical approach to whisky tasting along with songs poems and tales in his show ‘Lies, Dram Lies‘ and showing excerpts from his TV series ‘Spirit of Adventure’ and the sequel made twenty years later, ‘Journey’s Blend.’ And before the weekend even begins there’s a chance to partake in the inaugural Inverness Whisky Tour on the evening of FRI 06 APRIL where you will be guided around 6 infamous Inversnecky venues to try 6 infamous Scottish malt whiskies, along with a multitude of infamous Scottish musicians, before finishing up in Hootananny for a great night of live music and entertainment. BRUCE MACGREGOR [4] will be your tour guide for the evening, which starts in the Castle Tavern, and you will then visit the weird and wonderful sights of Inverness like you’ve never seen them before. Was there really a cheese riot? Who was Granville? Why was there an explosion on Baron Taylor’s Street? Answers to all these and more are promised. And if you really want to indulge yourself there are luxury packages available including accommodation, food, clay-pigeon shooting, an optional round of golf at Castle Stuart and even a private whisky masterclass. There’s also the presence of a 2012 Whisky Festival Ambassador in the form of Lochaber resident DR BROOKE MAGNANTI [2], better known as the author of the saucy Belle De Jour blog, on which the Billie Piper TV series was based. It was actually her entry in a whisky blog that first got her identity rumbled so, realising her love of a good dram, the festival organisers tweeted her to ask her to take part. She agreed and will be launching a limited edition booklet exclusive to the festival featuring the original blog article she wrote. It will also feature her own drawings of botanical flowers, together with a fantastic insight into why she wrote the blog, and what living in Scotland means to her. For more details go to www.invernesswhiskyfestival.co.uk

THU 29 MAR Misc

WOMEN@WORK – ROSS SHIRE NETWORK MEETING @ Strathpeffer Community Centre. Speed reading with Kate Boyd. This is a free workshop, open to all women and lunch will be available for £3 per person. Please contact the Community Centre if you are planning to attend. 01997 421989 info@strathpeffercommunitycentre.org.uk. TALK ON BIRD MIGRATION @ Fraser Park Bowling Club, 7.30pm. By Mark Wynn. RSPB Highland Group.

FRI 30 MAR

HIGHLANDS ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY PUBLIC OBSERVING SESSION @ Observatory, Culloden Battlefield. Weather permitting check www.spacegazer.com. GLENN MUNRO: SIMPLY MUSIC @ Elgin Museum, 7.30pm. Elginmuseum.org.uk.

SAT 31 MAR Annual

OUTING TO LOCH CARRON & LOCH KISHORN @ Highland Council Car Park, 9am. RSPB Highland Group. Details on 01997 433283. Special Events

SPRING FUNDRAISER @ Grantown Playgroup, Heathfield Rd, Grantown. Daffodil Tea. Car boot sale, stalls, raffle, kids treasure hunt and face painting, refreshments available, 10am 1pm, FREE entry. Misc

HANDMADE IN SCOTLAND SPRING CRAFT FAIR @ Lossiemouth High School. Free entry, free tea and coffee and free facepainting. Charity raffle for Ladybird group.

SUN 01 APR

TO THE EDGE & BACK @ Whiteness Head. Enjoy an extensive walk to the end of this remote spit. We will be walking along by salt marsh and shingle shores looking for some of the amazing wildlife and stunning views to be experienced here. Meet at Hilton of Delnies Farm, off the B9092 Nairn to Ardersier road. John Orr 01463 710786.

MON 02 APR

BAT WALK @ Falls Of Foyers. Come along for a short walk to find bats at the Falls of Foyers. We’ll be walking the paths looking for bats and using bat detectors to try and find them. We know there’s one type of bat there, but we’re trying to find others. The meeting place will be given out on booking. This event is free, but donations are most welcome. Please book a place with Katy Martin, Inverness Ranger 01463 710786.

TUE 03 APR

international Travelling Speaker and outstanding photographer from Calgary, Canada. 01320 366246. 01667 453476

rest or a chat with friends.

THU 05 APR

CADBURY EASTER EGG TRAIL @ Brodie Castle, Forres. As Sat 07 Apr

Annual

TELFORD’S TALES @ Various Locations 3 locations along the Great Glen - a lighthearted event bringing the history of the Caledonian Canal to life. Lasts for 45 minutes 10am Banavie Loch Flight, near Fort William, 12.30pm Fort Augustus Lock Flight and 3pm at Muirtown Lock Flight, Inverness No booking is required, but if you need more information please contact Stephen Wiseman on 01463 725561.

FRI 06 APR Misc

INVERNESS WHISKY FESTIVAL @ Bogbain Farm. Friday is the Whisky Tour - see main feat DAWN BLACK GROUSE SAFARI RUNS EVERY FRI, SAT & SUN UNTIL 29 APR @ Bus Leaves Cannich Village Hall, 6am. Take a dawn safari trip through Corrimony reserve with RSPB staff and enjoy fantastic views of the local black grouse as the males strut their funky stuff to woo the females. This event is run in conjunction with the Famous Grouse and each adult participant will be given a complimentary miniature bottle of Black Grouse whisky and an invitation to a Saturday evening whisky tasting. After the safaris we will be visiting the Bog Cotton Cafe in Cannich, where you can choose from a breakfast menu which includes a full cooked Scottish breakfast, porridge, bacon roll, pancakes with maple syrup and more (yum!). We hope to get close up views of the black grouse, but it never hurts to have a little extra help, so remember to bring your binoculars (if you have them!). In order to cause as little disturbance to the grouse as possible, we have to stay in the minibus and keep noise to a minimum, therefore we advise that this trip is not suitable for young children, and any older children must be accompanied by an adult. OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE @ Birnie Village Hall Near Elgin, 7.30pm Andy Lawrence (ROE) Professor Lawrence looks at the scale of the Universe, its incredible violence and complexity, and examines how we feel as humans in the face of all of this. BIRDS AS FLYING MACHINES @ Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown On Spey, 6pm. Paul Rogers presents a talk which looks at how birds are adapted to flight. The subject is covered in easy to understand terms and will hopefully open your eyes to some aspects of birds that you may not have considered before.

SAT 07 APR

INVERNESS WHISKY FESTIVAL @ Bogbain Farm. See main feature

BOAT OF GARTEN CHURCH GUILD FUNDRAISING SOUP AND SANDWICH LUNCH @ Boat Of Garten Community Hall, 12.30pm. Come along and enjoy a choice of soups and delicious sandwiches. Donations received will go towards various Churchwomen’s Guild supported projects Contact Mina Johnson on 01479 831502 for further details.

CADBURY EASTER EGG TRAIL @ Brodie Castle, Forres. Follow the trail, collect the clues, solve the puzzle and win a Cadbury Easter egg!There’ll be extra fun on Sunday and Monday with lots of giant outdoor games, face painters and more! £2 per trail. If you’d like to visit the castle, usual entry prices apply.

WED 04 APR

STRATHPEFFER FOOD & CRAFT MARKET @ Strathpeffer Community Centre. Come and browse our wonderful stalls, everything from fresh bread to preserves, cakes to beautifully made crafts. We also have a cafe selling tea and coffee for those wanting to stop off for a

Charity

HIMALAYAN PRIMULA @ Nairn Community Centre, 7.30pm. The Highland Rock Garden Club hosts an illustrated talk by Pam Eveleigh,

SUN 08 APR

WEBBED FEET AND WATER @ Grants Arms Hotel Osprey Suite, 6pm. Paul Rogers talks about the lives and adaptations of swans, geese, ducks and their environments.

MON 09 APR

MATTHEW FOX @ Universal Hall, Findhorn, 7.45pm. A rare chance to hear Matthew Fox, the celebrated theologian and activist, in an open-tothe-public evening (part of the Into Christ Consciousness conference. www.findhorn. org/intochristconsciousness). CADBURY EASTER EGG TRAIL @ Brodie Castle, Forres. As Sat 07 Apr

FRI 13 APR

AN AFRICAN JOURNEY @ Church Of Scotland Hall, Drumnadrochit, 7.30pm. ‘A journey of a lifetime’. Illustrated talk from Andrew Whittington-Davis about his journey across South Africa. From antelope wrestling to exploring the natural world beneath the ocean.

SAT 14 APR Charity

BRODIE CASTLE’S DAFFODIL TEA EVENT @ Brodie Castle. The garden team will lead guided walks in support of SG. In springtime the grounds are carpeted with the daffodils for which the castle is rightly famous. Bred by Ian Brodie, these daffodils are internationally significant. Some are found nowhere else in the world but the castle grounds! There is also a shrubbery garden with rhododendrons and a good tree collection, plus wildflowers.

SUN 15 APR Charity

BRODIE CASTLE’S DAFFODIL TEA EVENT @ Brodie Castle. As Sat 14 Apr

MON 16 APR

PLANNING FOR MAJOR EMERGENCIES IN HIGHLAND @ Charleston Community Complex, 2pm. Inverness and Black Isle University of the Third Age (U3A) meeting.

THU 19 APR Annual

INVERNESS CIVIC TRUST AGM @ Meeting Rooms Next To Glenmorrison Hotel, 7.30pm.

FRI 20 APR

WORLD CLASS BIRD IMAGES @ Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown On Spey, 6pm. David Cromack presents the pick of the entries submitted for the International Wildbird Photographer competition organised by Bird Watching magazine during his tenure as Editor. It features work from top bird photographers around the globe. David will provide insight into why judges liked some images and disliked others.

SAT 21 APR Annual

TAKING PART IN THE PAST @ Dingwall Academy. Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH) is hosting a free family festival celebrating Highland community archaeology. There will also be several ‘get involved in archaeology’ sessions, including ‘so you want

to be an archaeologist?’ a practical guide on how to become a bone fide trowel bearer - and what the opportunities and pitfalls are when you do. There will also be the chance to try your hand at building a shelter entirely from natural materials; or to explore the rites and customs that are shown in mesolithic and viking burials, and, for those that are feeling energetic, a viking boat race. For something more relaxed Lizzie MacDougall will share the magic of Highland stories through story and image. Skilled craftspeople and heritage booksellers will also be selling their wares at the ‘viking market’. If you are interested in having a stall for the day (free for museum and heritage organisations, £10 for craftspeople) contact Caroline Vawdrey on caroline@archhighland. org.uk or leave a message on 01349 868230 www.archhighland.org.uk. FOCUS ON AMPHIBIANS WORKSHOP @ Pond Near Inverness. Want to find out more about frogs, toads and newts? Well, come along to this free workshop with David O’Brien and Highland Council Rangers to learn what to look for, how to tell frogs and toads apart and how you can help them. Stephen Wiseman 01463 725561.

NEW CHARACTER AROUND TOWN...: HIGHLAND HOSPICE’S NEW MASCOT - BOBBY THE BEE! As part of Highland Hospice’s 25th Anniversary celebrations, the charity has enlisted a new recruit to its fundraising team. BOBBY THE BEE will be present at several of the Hospice’s fundraising events and cheque presentations and is hoping to meet as many Hospice supporters as possible during the busy spring and summer ahead. Bobby is great with children and adults alike and is never shy of being photographed. He was a natural choice of mascot for the Hospice because of the bee’s close association with the Hospice’s sunflower emblem. Joining Bobby later in spring will be hundreds of mini Bobbys who will feature on the Hospice’s new look collecting cans. These will replace the current Hospice hippos. Please be sure to pop your pennies into them, and do stop to say hello to Bobby when you see him out and about!

TUE 24 APR Charity

FRI 27 APR

THE TWO CUTHBERT GRANTS FROM STRATHSPEY - FUR TRADING AND FIGHTING IN THE CANADIAN NORTH WEST @ Elgin Museum, 7.30pm. A talk about fur trading and fighting in the Canadian north west by Dr Elizabeth Ritchie. £3/ 2.

SPECIALS

WHISKY TASTING EVENING @ Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, 7.30pm. TICKETS £12.50 TASTER, £5.00 PARTNER AVAILABLE FROM ELMA ON 01463 706302.

SAT 28 APR Annual

HIGHLAND ROCK GARDEN ANNUAL SPRING FLOWER SHOW @ Nairn Community Centre, 10.30am. Scottish Rock Garden National Show opens at Midday (approx..) 01320 366246. 01667 453476

MON 30 APR

CAPERCAILLIE @ RSPB Loch Garten Osprey Centre , 7.30pm. An illustrated talk by Tim Poole. The capercaillie is one of Scotland’s most iconic birds but has suffered population declines in its recent hisitory. The Cairngorms is now the most important area in Scotland for capercaillie, containing up to 75% of the total Scottish population. Come and find out what is being done to help this magnificent bird. £4.50.

SAT 05 MAY Charity

DINGWALL MODEL FAIR @ The Royal British Legion, Dingwall. Including at least 3 model railway layouts it will raise money for MFR Cash for Kids and Macmillan cancer relief.

April

cinema@ 01463 234 234 www.eden-court.co.uk

YOUNG ADULT

(15)

Director Jason Reitman I Starring Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt USA I 2011 I 93 mins I youngadultmovie.com

Hell-bent on reclaiming her high school sweetheart recently divorced, alcoholic teen fiction writer Mavis Gary returns to her hometown to relive her glory days. But when his inconveniently happy marriage gets in the way of her plans, she unwittingly strikes up a friendship with a former classmate who hasn’t quite gotten over high-school yet either. A smart, funny anti-rom-com from the writer/ director of Juno.

SUN 01 – THU 05 APR

THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (12A) Director John Madden I Starring Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Judi Dench UK I 2011 I 123 mins I thebestexoticmarigoldhotel.co.uk

An unconventional group of British retirees relocate to a seemingly luxurious life in India but on arrival they discover that the reality is somewhat less glamorous than they imagined. A Great British comedy featuring a top quality ensemble cast including Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith alongside Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson.

FRI 06 – THU 19 APR

RAMPART

(15)

Director Oren Moverman I Starring Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Steve Buscemi, Sigourney Weaver USA I 2011 I 108 mins I rampartmovie.com

Woody Harrelson gives a career best performance as ‘90s LAPD Officer Dave Brown in this tense study of corruption. Brown’s an old-school cop dedicated to doing “the people’s dirty work” and asserting his own code of justice. But when Internal Affairs begin to investigate the department-wide corruption of the Rampart Precint, he finds himself in a downward spiral as his past sins, and his refusal to change his ways, seal his fate. Co-written by James Ellroy.

FRI 13 – MON 16 APR

IN DARKNESS

(15)

Director Agnieszka Holland I Starring Robert Wieckiewicz, Benno Fürman Poland/Germany/Canada I 2011 I 143 mins (Polish, German and Yiddish with subtitles) sonyclassics.com/indarkness

Sewer worker and petty thief, Leopold, risks his own life trying to save a dozen Jewish refugees from inevitable death by hiding them for fourteen months in the labyrinth of sewers underneath the Nazi occupied city of Lvov. Based on the incredible true story of Leopold Socha. Nominated for this year’s Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

FRI 27 APR – THU 03 MAY Welcome to the Robertson Screens. At Robertson we’ve always been a keen supporter of the arts: from brass bands to theatre shows to music festivals and now cinema. We helped to redevelop Eden Court and we’re proud that we can continue to work in partnership with them by sponsoring the cinemas. We hope you enjoy your film. robertson.co.uk Robertson – Investing – Building – Caring

THE HUNGER GAMES (12A) thehungergamesmovie.com Director Gary Ross Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth

THE ARTIST

(PG)

weinsteinco.com/sites/the-artist Director Michel Hazanavicius Starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo

USA I 2012 I 142 mins In the ruins of what was once North America, the Hunger Games is a nationally televised event in which 24 “Tributes” must fight with one another until only one survivor remains.

France/Belgium I 2011 I 100 mins Back by popular demand, Michel Hazanavicius’ breathtaking love letter to the halcyon days of Tinseltown tops most critics top films of 2011 lists.

SUN 01 – THU 05 APR

FRI 06 – THU 12 APR

RED DOG (PG)

THE RAVEN (15)

reddogmovie.com Director Kriv Stenders Starring Josh Lucas, Rachel Taylor, Luke Ford Australia I 2011 I 92 mins Winner of the Audience Award at the 2011 Inverness Film Festival. Based on an incredible true story and the novella by Louis de Bernières. The old Australian legend of the Red Dog who united a disparate local community while roaming the Australian outback is one of the finest heart warmers in years. It will make you laugh and it will make you cry.

MON 01 – THU 05 APR

THE MUPPETS (U) disney.co.uk/muppets Director James Bobin Starring Amy Adams, Jason Segal, Kermit, Miss Piggy USA I 2011 I 109 mins With the Muppet Theatre under threat of closure, Kermit re-unites the old gang to stage the Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save their beloved theatre.

MON 02 – THU 12 APR

Winner of 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

theravenmovie.com Director James McTeigue Starring John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve USA/Hungary/Spain I 2012 I 111 mins A fictionalised story of Edgar Allan Poe’s last days, when a serial killer mimics the horrors in the author’s stories. Edgar joins Detective Emmett Fields in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the murderer as they attempt to solve the clues he leaves behind, before he gets the chance to kill again.

FRI 06 – THU 12 APR

ROMANTICS ANONYMOUS Director Jean-Pierre Ameris Starring Benoit Poelvoorde, Isabelle Carre France/Belgium I 2010 I 77 mins French with subtitles Jean-René runs a chocolate company, but his terminal timidness is causing it to fail. In need of a change, he hires the endearing yet equally shy Angélique. Sharing a passion for all things sugary and sweet, a charming romance ensues as they both face their fears and their feelings!

SUN 08 & THU 12 APR

THE ADOPTED

Director Noah Baumbach Starring Jeff Daniels, Laura Linney

Director Mélanie Laurent

LES ADOPTÉS (15)

Starring Marie Denarnaud, Denis Menochet France I 2011 I 99 mins I French with subtitles Inglorious Basterds Mélanie Laurent directs and stars in this heart-felt family drama. Sisters Marine and Lisa spend the bulk of their time together, but when new love interest Alex enters into Marie’s life he drives an emotional wedge between the girls that threatens their family structure.

TUE 03 APR

FRI 13 – WED 18 APR

MICHAEL (18)

JOURNEY 2 – THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (PG)

michaelfilm.com/en Director Markus Schleinzer Starring Michael Fuith, David Rauchenberger Austria I 2011 I 96 mins I German with subtitles A deceptively measured and chilling story about Michael, a seemingly normal salesman leading a quiet, suburban life. But Michael is keeping a young boy locked in a reinforced cell beneath his bungalow. This film is a captivating reminder of the day-to-day banality of evil.

FRI 06 – MON 09 APR

(12A)

blackgold-themovie.com Director Jean Jacques Annaud Starring Tahar Rahim, Antonio Banderas France/Italy/Qatar I 2011 I 130 mins The uneasy peace that exists between emirs Nesib and Amar relies on the agreement that neither can claim the no-man’s land called The Yellow Belt. But when a Texan man informs them that The Yellow Belt is rich in oil a scramble to exploit the riches beneath the forbidden zone begins.

FRI 13 – THU 19 APR

AWAY FROM HER (12A) Director Sarah Polley Starring Julie Christie, Michael Murphy Canada/UK/USA I 2006 I 109 mins

After over forty happily married years, soulmates Fiona and Grant must learn how to live with Fiona’s Alzheimer’s. Christie is brilliant in her Oscarnominated performance as the steely but brittle Fiona, a woman who knows her mind, and yet in the end cannot hold onto it. This screening will be presented by the Inverness Film Fans.

TUE 17 APR

LES EMOTIFS ANONYMES (12A)

THE SQUID AND THE WHALE (15) USA I 2005 I 80 mins Based on the true childhood experiences of Noah Baumbach and his brother, The Squid and the Whale tells the touching story of two young boys dealing with their parents’ divorce in Brooklyn in the 1980s. This screening will be presented by the Inverness Film Fans.

BLACK GOLD

THE IRON LADY

(12A)

theironladymovie.co.uk Director Phyllida Lloyd Starring Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent UK I 2011 I 104 mins A second chance to see Meryl Streep’s Oscar-winning performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. This intimate and unusual biopic examines the difficulties and consequences of breaking into a male-dominated political world. Also starring Jim Broadbent and Richard E. Grant.

FRI 20 – SUN 22 & THU 26 APR

PROGRAMMER’S CHOICE ONCE UPON A TIME IN ANATOLIA BIR ZAMANLAR ANADOLU'DA (15) nbcfilm.com/anatolia Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan Starring Muhammet Uzuner, Yilmaz Erdogan Turkey/Bosnia and Herzegovina I 2011 I 157 mins

themysteriousisland.com Director Brad Peyton Starring Dwayne Johnson, Michael Caine USA I 2012 I 94 mins An exciting follow-up to the worldwide hit Journey to the Centre of the Earth. The new journey begins when young adventurer Sean receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist – a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret.

SAT 14 & SUN 15 APR

Turkish with subtitles Nothing is what it seems in this thriller set in the dark Anatolian countryside. The police, the suspect and prosecutor are all searching for a brutally murdered corpse, only the suspect can’t remember where he buried it. As the night draws on the troubling secrets and hypocrisies of all involved are revealed.

FRI 20 – THU 26 APR

TRISHNA (15)

Director Michael Winterbottom

BEL AMI

(15)

belamifilm.com

Starring Freida Pinto, Riz Ahmed

Director Declan Donnellan, Nick Ormerod

UK I 2011 I 113 mins In this unique spin on Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles set against a contemporary Indian backdrop, Frieda Pinto stars as Trishna, a young woman seduced by the wealthy son of a property developer. From one of Britain’s most prolific filmmakers Michael Winterbottom, director of A Mighty Heart.

Starring Robert Pattinson, Christina Ricci Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas

FRI 20 – THU 26 APR

UK/France/Italy I 2012 I 102 mins In 1890s Paris, George Duroy, a young peniless ex-soldier seeks fortune and status. Discovering that power lies with the city’s most influential and wealthy women, he uses his wits and powers of seduction to rise from poverty to wealth. Adapted from Guy de Maupassant’s novel of the same name.

FRI 27 APR – THU 03 MAY

WE BOUGHT A ZOO (PG) weboughtazoo.com Director Cameron Crowe Starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson USA I 2011 I 123 mins Matt Damon stars in this inspiring true story, as a newly single dad who buys land in Southern California to give his family a much needed fresh start. Their perfect new home comes with one unique bonus feature… it’s very own zoo. With no experience, limited time and a shoestring budget, he and his children attempt to bring the zoo back to it’s once glorious state.

FRI 20 – THU 26 APR

THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA (12) Director John Huston Starring Richard Burton, Ava Gardner Deborah Kerr USA I 1964 I 117 mins Based on the 1961 play by Tennesse Williams, The Night of the Iguana, stars Richard Burton as Rev. Shannon, an alcoholic defrocked minister who scratches a living as a south-of-the-border tour guide.

There will be a 10 minute documentary about Scottish Ballet’s interpretation of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Names Desire screened prior to the film.

SAT 21 APR

INTO THE ABYSS – A TALE OF DEATH, A TALE OF LIFE (12A)

Director Werner Herzog Starring Werner Herzog Germany/Canada I 2011 I 107 mins In his fascinating exploration of a triple homicide case in Conroe, Texas, master filmmaker Werner Herzog probes the human psyche to explore why people kill – and why a state kills. As he's so often done before, Herzog's investigation unveils layers of humanity, making an enlightening trip out of ominous territory.

FRI 27 APR – THU 02 MAY

THE KID WITH A BIKE LE GAMIN AU VELO (12A) legaminauvelo-lefilm.com Director Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne Starring Thomas Doret, Cécile De France Belgium/France/Italy I 2011 I 87 mins French with subtitles Abandoned 12 year old Cyril is full of rage and has only one plan: to find the father who left him in a children’s home. By chance he meets a kind hairdresser who takes him under her wing, and offers the love he so desperately needs to calm his rage. The latest film from several times Cannes winners Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL italianfilmfestival.org.uk

THE JEWEL IL GIOIELLINO (15+) Director Andrea Molaioli Starring Toni Servillo, Remo Girone, Sarah Felberbaum

Italy/France I 2011 I 110 mins I Italian with subtitles

SUN 22 APR

18 YEARS LATER

DICIOTTO ANNI DOPO (15+) Director Edoardo Leo Starring Edoardo Leo, Marco Bonini

Italy I 2010 I 100 mins I Italian with subtitles

SUN 15 APR

SUMMER GAMES GIOCHI D'ESTATE (12+) Director Rolando Colla Starring Armando Condolucci, Fiorella Campanella

Switzerland I 2011 I 106 mins I Italian with subtitles Supported by the cultural services department of the Embassy of Switzerland.

THU 26 APR

20 CIGARETTES 20 SIGARETTE (15+) Director Aureliano Amadei Starring Carolina Crescentini, Vinicio Marchioni

Italy I 2010 I 94 mins I Italian with subtitles

FRI 27 APR – THU 03 MAY

THU 19 APR

THE VOW

THE IMMATURE IMMATURI (15+)

(12A)

thevow-movie.com Director Michael Sucsy Starring Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum USA/Brazil/France/Australia/UK I 2012 I 103 mins After a car accident leaves Paige with severe memory loss, her husband Leo endeavours to win her heart for a second time. Based on a true story, this The Notebook style tear-jerker shows how cruel, and of course, how wonderful love can be.

SAT 28 & SUN 29 APR

FRIENDS PREVIEW SCREENING SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN (12A tbc) fishingintheyemen.com Director Lasse Halström Voices Ewan McGregor, Kristin Scott Thomas UK I 2011 I 112 mins An exclusive chance for Eden Court Friends to see this film one week before it’s national release date. A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a visionary sheikh’s unusual and seemingly impossible dream – to bring the sport of fly-fishing to the desert. Inspirational comedy from the director of Chocolat.

Director Paolo Genovese Starring Ambra Angiolini, Raoul Bova

Italy I 2011 I 108 mins I Italian with subtitles

MON 16 APR Please note that the certificates given are from the Italian Film Festival, and are not BBFC certificates.

LATE NIGHT SCOTTISH CLASSICS

RESTLESS NATIVES

(PG)

Director Michael Hoffman Starring Vincent Friell, Joe Mullaney, Teri Lally UK I 1985 I 89 mins

SAT 07 APR

HIGHLANDER (15)

Director Russell Mulcahy Starring Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery USA/UK I 1986 I 116 mins

SAT 21 APRIL

Staff Pick TEAM AMERICA: WORLD POLICE (15)

An Adventure Film will be screened at 20.30. Please check website for details of the film.

Director Trey Parker Voices Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller USA/Germany I 2004 I 97 mins Sensible systems manager by day, fun family-man by night, Paul Munro’s cheeky side never lies far behind his crisp tie – this month he’s chosen Team America; “this film is Spitting Image meets Thunderbirds, and not for the faint of heart!”

THU 19 APR

THU 26 APR

THU 12 APR

APRIL ADVENTURE FILMS (12A tbc)

Eden Court, Bishops Road, Inverness IV3 5SA Box Office 01463 234 234 Administration 01463 239 841

APRIL

Sun 08 11.30 The Muppets 13.30 The Raven 14.00 The Muppets 17.00 The Artist 17.15 Michael 19.30 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 19.45 Romantics Anonymous

Sun 01 14.00 The Hunger Games 17.00 The Hunger Games 17.30 Young Adult 19.45 The Hunger Games 20.00 Red Dog Mon 02 14.00 The Hunger Games 14.30 The Muppets 17.15 The Hunger Games 18.15 Red Dog 19.45 The Hunger Games 20.15 Young Adult Tue 03 11.30 Red Dog 14.00 The Hunger Games 14.30 The Muppets 17.00 The Muppets 19.15 The Hunger Games 19.30 The Squid And The Whale Wed 04 11.00 The Muppets 11.30 The Hunger Games Dream & Scream 14.00 Young Adult 17.00 The Hunger Games 17.30 The Muppets 19.15 The Hunger Games 19.45 Red Dog

Sat 07 11.30 14.00 17.30 17.45 19.45 20.15 22.00

Tue 10 11.00 The Muppets 11.30 The Raven 14.00 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 17.00 The Muppets 19.15 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 19.45 The Artist Wed 11 11.30 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 14.00 The Muppets 18.00 The Artist 18.15 The Raven 20.15 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Subtitled 20.30 The Artist

Thu 05 11.30 Young Adult Dream & Scream 13.30 The Hunger Games 14.00 Red Dog 17.00 The Hunger Games 18.00 Red Dog 19.45 The Hunger Games 20.00 Young Adult Fri 06 14.00 18.00 18.15 20.15 20.30

Mon 09 11.30 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Friends Coffee Morning 14.00 The Muppets 18.00 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 18.15 Michael 20.15 The Raven 20.30 The Artist

Thu 12 11.30 The Artist 14.00 The Muppets 14.15 The Raven 18.00 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 18.15 Romantics Anonymous 20.15 The Artist 20.30 Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Friends Preview Screening

Fri 13 18.00 18.15 20.15 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 20.30 Michael Sat 14 11.30 The Muppets The Muppets Subtitled 13.30 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 14.00 Michael The Raven 17.30 The Artist 17.45 Restless Natives 20.15 20.30 The Muppets The Artist The Raven

Rampart The Adopted

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Black Gold

Journey 2 – The Mysterious Island

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Journey 2 – The Mysterious Island Black Gold

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Rampart The Adopted

TICKET PRICES

Sun 15 11.30 Journey 2 – The Mysterious Island 13.30 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 14.00 The Adopted 16.00 Journey 2 – The Mysterious Island Subtitled 17.00 Rampart 19.00 Black Gold 19.30 15–18 Years Later

Mon 23 18.00 We Bought A Zoo Subtitled 19.45 Once Upon A Time In Anatolia 20.30 Trishna Tue 24 18.00 Trishna 20.15 Once Upon A Time In Anatolia Wed 25 19.30 Trishna 19.45 We Bought A Zoo

Mon 16 18.00 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Thu 26 18.15 The Adopted 11.00 We Bought A Zoo 20.30 The Immature Dream & Scream 20.45 Rampart 11.30 The Iron Lady 14.00 We Bought A Zoo Tue 17 18.00 Trishna 11.30 Black Gold 19.15 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 18.15 Summer Games 20.15 Team America Staff Pick 19.45 Away From Her 20.30 Once Upon A Time In Anatolia Wed 18 11.30 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Fri 27 18.00 In Darkness 19.15 Black Gold 18.15 Bel Ami 19.45 The Adopted 20.30 Into The Abyss Thu 19 20.45 The Kid With A Bike 14.00 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Sat 28 18.00 20 Cigarettes 18.15 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 14.00 Into The Abyss 18.00 The Kid With A Bike 20.30 April Adventure Films 18.15 The Vow 20.45 Black Gold 20.00 In Darkness Fri 20 20.30 Bel Ami 18.00 We Bought A Zoo Sun 29 18.15 The Iron Lady 20.30 Once Upon A Time In Anatolia 13.30 The Vow 20.45 Trishna 14.00 The Kid With A Bike 17.00 In Darkness Sat 21 17.15 Bel Ami 14.00 The Night Of The Iguana 19.45 Into The Abyss 17.15 The Iron Lady 17.30 Once Upon A Time In Anatolia 20.00 The Vow 19.45 Trishna 20.30 We Bought A Zoo Mon 30 22.00 Highlander 18.00 The Kid With A Bike 18.15 Into The Abyss Sun 22 20.00 In Darkness 13.30 We Bought A Zoo 20.30 Bel Ami 14.00 The Iron Lady 16.45 The Jewel 17.00 Trishna 19.15 Once Upon A Time In Anatolia 19.30 The Iron Lady

FRIENDS SCREENINGS exclusive screenings for Eden Court Friends. Friends Coffee Morning – MON 09 11.30 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (12A) Film starts 11.30am – Coffee served from 10.30am

All Tickets pre 5.00pm

£6.00

Adults (over 18)

£7.00 (Fri & Sat £7.50)

Friends Preview Screening – THU 12 20.30 20.30 Salmon Fishing In The Yemen (15A tbc) Film starts 20.30pm – Coffee served from 19.30pm DREAM AND SCREAM Bring your baby to one of our Dream And Scream screenings, specially for parents and carers of new babies aged 0–12 months. Look out for ‘Dream & Scream’ on individual screenings

Adult Concession

£6.50 (Fri & Sat £7.00)

Under 18’s & Students

£5.00 at all times

Eden Court Friends

£1.00 off

AUDIO DESCRIBED & SUBTITLED FILMS Eden Court offers a range of accessible film screenings. Look out for the (AD) for Audio Described, and (S) for subtitled screenings.

SUPPORTED BY

Eden Court Highlands (trading as Eden Court) is a company registered in Scotland (company number SC63216) and a charity registered with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (registered number SCO08237)

SPORT ATHLETIC

BALL

COMBAT

EXTREME

RACING

And… Breathe. Plenty of opportunities this month to get active just like you promised yourself when you woke up with a hangover after Hogmanay. And, importantly you get to do it all for a good cause, which is as good a motivation as any. Closest to home is the BLACK ISLE CYCLE CHALLENGE [1] (SAT 28 APR) raising money for the Highland Hospice. Beginning and finishing at the Resolis Memorial Hall on the Black Isle, there’s a choice of four routes: the 6 Mile Family Trail, 15 Mile Mini Challenge, 20 Mile Road Challenge or, for the really committed, the on and off road 26 Mile Marathon Challenge. Anyone can take part so challenge your mates and colleagues or make it a day out for the family. Once you return from your cycle challenge you can recuperate by digging into the refreshments, cakes and BBQ provided. For more details and to register go to www.highlandhospice.org/bicc Apparently there’s a whopping great national park round here called the Cairngorms or some such and it’s the focus of a whole heap of events in the forthcoming month, kicking off with one of the last chances of the year to take in the slopes at the VANS DAWN OF THE SHRED [2] (CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN, SAT 07 APR). Now in its fifth year it’s one of the highlights of the snowboarding calendar attracting an impressive roster of competitors after the £1000 purse and host of other prizes. Plus, of course the legendary partying after the sun goes down. Check out highlights of last year’s event at http://tinyurl.com/7heghqh If you’d prefer to spend your time in the area running rather than throwing 360s, you’ll be well served by THE GLENLIVET 10K ROAD RACE [3] (GLENLIVET DISTILLERY, SUN 15 APR) - passing through some of the most stunningly beautiful landscape in the world following quiet country lanes that meander around the legendary River Livet. If you’re in the area and have got the taste for fresh air and fun, you might want to make a visit to THE BALLATER BIKE FESTIVAL (CYCLEHIGHLANDS, BALLATER, SAT 21/SUN 22 APR) which attracts the world’s top bike manufacturers for a weekend of testing, guided rides and more. The weekend includes an all day BBQ and free physio tent on Saturday with an evening slide show hosted by some big names from the world of mountain biking. Sunday features guided rides out to some of Ballater’s classic trails.

INVERNESS VOLLEYBALL CLUB @ Hilton Community Centre, Oldtown Road.. EVERY TUESDAY during school term time. Mixed volleyball for anyone aged over 16. All welcome.

WED 28 MAR Athletics

LGBT RUNNING WITH JOG SCOTLAND @ Covered Ramp Of Inverness Leisure, 6.30pm.

SAT 31 MAR Outdoor/Wintersports

SCOTTISH FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS @ Cairngorm Mountain. Cairngormmountain.co.uk. Team/Football

FOOTBALL: ROSS CO V RAITH ROVERS ELGIN V STRANRAER COVE RANGERS V CLACHNACUDDIN FORMARTINE UTD V BUCKIE TH FORRES MECH. V BRORA RANGERS HUNTLY V DEVERONVALE INVERURIE LOCO WORKS V WICK ACADEMY KEITH V FORT WILLIAM LOSSIEMOUTH V NAIRN CO ROTHES V FRASERBURGH STRATHSPEY THISTLE V TURRIFF UTD

SUN 01 APR Athletics

INVERNESS CT V HIBERNIAN

TUE 03 APR Team

INVERNESS VOLLEYBALL CLUB see 27 Mar

SAT 07 APR Outdoor/Wintersports

VANS DAWN OF THE SHRED @ Cairngorm Mountain. Cairngormmountain. co.uk see feature Team/Football

FOOTBALL: ALLOA V ELGIN ST JOHNSTONE V INVERNESS CT LIVINGSTON V ROSS COUNTY

TUE 10 APR Team

INVERNESS VOLLEYBALL CLUB see 27 Mar

WED 11 APR Team/Football

FOOTBALL: AYR V ROSS COUNTY

SAT 14 APR Outdoor

HIGHLANDER MOUNTAIN MARATHON @ Kinlochewe. Handsonevents.co.uk. ALSO ON SUN 15 APRIL

OTHER SPORT PICK: OLYMPIC TORCH TEST EVENT @ Secret Highland Venue, Sun 01 Apr, 11.59am Not long now until the Olympics start and the test events for cycling, swimming and diving have shown everything to be tickety boo. All that’s left now is to get the peripherals in order like the opening and closing ceremony and much trumpeted Olympic Torch Relay. The torch will be coming through the Highlands in early June to coincide with RockNess, but before that the organisers are going to be making sure the swishily designed flame carrier actually works. With that in mind, they’re going to be spending 01 Apr in an as yet undisclosed location (rumoured to be near Ullapool, but chosen because of high winds) testing various fuel sources ranging from lighter fluid to Buckfast to anything picked up from the beach at Dounreay. There’ll be a pair of free tickets to the Men’s 100m final up for grabs for anyone dressed as a famous Olympian according to organiser AVRIL DUPER.

TUE 17 APR Team

INVERNESS VOLLEYBALL CLUB see 27 Mar

SAT 21 APR Athletics

SATURDAY AND MORAY SCHOOLS LEAGUE @ Lossie Forest, 10.15am. Moravian Orienteering Event. moravianorienteering.org. Outdoor

THE BALLATER BIKE FESTIVAL @ Cyclehighlands, Ballater, 10am. The Ballater Bike festival brings some of the worlds top bike manufacturers to stunning Royal Deeside for a weekend of testing, guided rides and much more. The weekend includes an all day BBQ and free physio tent on Saturday with an evening slide show hosted by some big names from the world of mountain biking. Sunday features guided rides out to some of Ballater’s classic trails. FREE EVENT. See main feature Team/Football

FOOTBALL: MORTON V ROSS COUNTY BERWICK V ELGIN @ Berwick

SUN 22 APR Athletics

FYVIE CASTLE AND LAKE 5K AND 2.5K FUN RUN @ Fyvie Castle, Near Turriff. 5K - Start Time 10.45am - entry £8/£10 2.5K - Start Time 10am - entry £5 No entries on the day. fyvieparents.info. Outdoor

THE BALLATER BIKE FESTIVAL @ Cyclehighlands, Ballater, 10am. See Sat 21

TUE 24 APR Team

INVERNESS VOLLEYBALL CLUB see 27 Mar

SAT 28 APR Athletics

MAGGIE’S MONSTER BIKE & HIKE 2012 @ Fort William To Inverness. 24-hour fundraising team challenge. The event goes from Fort William through to Inverness covering 73 miles along the Great Glen Way. If you have any questions related to Maggie’s Monster Bike and Hike, please email monster@maggiescentres. org or call 0300 123 1801. See main feature

SPORT

TUE 27 MAR Team

Other Team/Football

FOOTBALL: ROSS COUNTY V DUNDEE ELGIN V ANNAN ATHLETIC

SUN 15 APR

BLACK ISLE CYCLE CHALLENGE @ Resolis Memorial Hall. This year’s Black Isle Cycle Challenge features routes for all abilities. highlandhospice.org.

Athletics

LOCHABER MARATHON @ Fort William Shinty Field. The Lochaber Marathon, running alongside Loch Eil,has to be one of the most scenic races in the UK. It is also very flat and offers a good chance for a PB. The marathon starts from Fort William Shinty Field, next to Nevis Centre. lochaberac.co.uk. THE GLENLIVET 10K ROAD RACE @ Glenlivet Distillery. Based at the iconic Glenlivet Distillery in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park this 10km road race passes through some of the most stunningly beautiful landscape in the world.

Team/Football

FOOTBALL: ROSS COUNTY V HAMILTON ELGIN V MONTROSE

SUN 29 APR Athletics

MAGGIE’S MONSTER BIKE & HIKE 2012 See Sat 28 & main feature

TUE 01 MAY Team

INVERNESS VOLLEYBALL CLUB see 27 Mar

THEATRE CABARET

COMEDY

DANCE

DRAMA

MUSICAL

The Scottish Play(s) While Scottish stand-up takes in a whole swathe of self-expression, from the raconteurial banter of Billy Connolly to the misanthropic spleen of Frankie Boyle and most recently the something-for everybody routines of housewives’ favourite Kevin Bridges, when it comes to ensemble comedy and sitcoms, they all seem connected by a certain peculiarly Scottish whimsy. So, despite the different settings, Still Game isn’t really all that different from Gary Tank Commander and Burnistoun a close relative of C4’s 80’s sketch show Absolutely. While they’re roaring successes here in Scotland, they never seem to really translate in the wider world, making them all the more cherished by the people here. Even the extraordinary Limmy’s Show meets with bafflement south of the border. And this month provides an excellent opportunity to see just what we mean, as there are several shows possessed of the aforementioned ‘Scottish Comedy spirit’, spanning the years, but all somehow tapping into the same psyche. THE STEAMIE [1] (EDEN COURT EMPIRE 16–21 APR) was written by Rab C. Nesbitt actor TONY ROPER and first performed back in 1987. To celebrate its Silver Jubilee, it’s back on tour giving us a view of life among a group of 1950s women washing their clothes in a Glasgow public washhouse - the “steamie” of the title. Roper himself is directing this production and even half a century after its original setting, the characters and their concerns resonate just as strongly. The title of STICK GRANNY ON THE ROOF RACK [2] (EDEN COURT ONETOUCH, THU 26 APR) makes no bones about its irreverent approach and again it’s proved a huge success, this time for the ace MsFits company and writer Rona Munro. In a tour de force performance FIONA KNOWLES takes on the roles of three generations of a family during a holiday financed by a scratch card win. All sorts of misadventures ensue and the laughs are guaranteed. There are more travel-related high jinks in PASSING PLACES [3] (EDEN COURT EMPIRE MON 30 APR), presented by the NPL Theatre Company. Telling the story of two lads from Motherwell trying to escape their dead end lives by “borrowing” a clapped out Lada and a surfboard belonging to their psychopathic boss. Making their way to Thurso for the waves, they meet beautiful girls, strange characters and hippy travellers leading to late night whisky fuelled, philosophical discussions and romantic encounters.

P40–43 FOR

CABARET

COMEDY

DANCE

DRAMA

MUSICALS

COMING SOON TO INVERNESS AREA GANG SHOW

THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE

Wed 11 – Sat 14 Apr

drama Wed 04 Apr

THE KILMARNOCK EDITION music Fri 06 Apr

SCIENCE MUSEUM LIVE! explosive family fun! Sun 15 Apr

THE DUPLETS

harp and song duo Sat 21 Apr

Box Office: 01463

SPIERS & BODEN founding members of Bellowhead Sun 15 Apr

THE CAMPBELLS OF GREEPE & SPECIAL GUESTS music Thu 26 Apr

234234

www.eden-court.co.uk

THE STEAMIE

25th Anniversary Tour Mon 16 – Sat 21 Apr

PASSING PLACES drama Mon 30 Apr

www.facebook.com/edencourttheatre www.twitter.com/edencourt

TONY LAW @ Eden Court One Touch, 7.30pm. Half Canadian, half Trinidadian, Law’s laid back acid casualty persona unfurls into some tremendously acerbic comedy. Excellent stuff. 01463 234 234

WED 28 MAR Other

AN EVENING OF GASTRONOMY WITH CLAIRE MACDONALD @ Eden Court Empire, 7.45pm. Celebrate the best of our foods from the Highlands, in aid of Marie Curie. 01463 234 234

FRI 30 MAR Comedy

PHIL COOL @ The Ironworks, 7pm A ubiquitous presence on TV in the eighties, Cool’s comedy might not have aged particularly well, but he’s still possessed of an extraordinary rubber fizzog that has to be seen to be believed. There’s something of the Lee Evans to him, though rather less annoyingly hyper.£15. 0871 789 4173 Musical/Opera

BBC SSO @ Eden Court Empire, 8pm To be recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio 3. 01463 234 234

SAT 31 MAR Comedy

DOUG STANHOPE @ Eden Court Empire, Sat 31 Mar Ricky Gervais recently said “Doug Stanhope might be the most important stand up working today” while The Times settled for “a visionary douchebag”. That pretty much captures the skilfully delivered vitriol that’s had the American Stanhope compared to Lenny Bruce, Sam Kinison and even Bill Hicks. He’s not quite that good, but certainly a league above most of his peers, as evidenced on his latest DVD, the perkily titled Before Turning the Gun on Himself released on Roadrunner Comedy, the sister label to Roadrunner Records, home to bands like Slipknot and Rob Zombie. His material is not only gloriously corrosive, but also fuelled by a rare intelligence, like Stewart Lee and Jerry Sadowitz trapped inside the same skull. Unequivocally recommended and the sort of performer you’ll be telling people about for years to come.

Dance

AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE @ Strathpeffer Pavilion, 8pm. Last year’s Burlesque night showed the Pavilion stealing a march on everyone else by putting on the type of performance that’s taken the rest of the country by storm. And this time round you can expect more of the same as “corsets, killer heels, stockings aplenty, sultry vocals, mischief, magic, frivolity and fun collide.” Now that is exactly what we always like from an evening. Not to be missed. Tickets £19.50 (conc. £18) now online from Booth Scotland and Ticketweb, also via Ticketweb 24-hr hotline 08444 771000, from June’s Card Shop Dingwall and Pavilion 01997 420124 Over 18s only. 01997 420124

MON 02 APR Musical/Opera

AN EVENING WITH WILLARD WHITE: ROBESON RE-EXPLORED @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm. Sir Willard explores more of the repertoire and life story of this important icon of the last century. 01463 234 234

WED 04 APR Drama

THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE @ Eden Court One Touch, 8pm. Directed by Alison Peebles Designed by Kenny Miller On the 27th December 1936 in a penthouse suite high above the streets of New York a meeting took place between a young, beautiful and very much in demand actor, John Gielgud, and the playwright Edward Sheldon. 01463 234 234

THEATRE PICK: Comedy

THE WEE MAN PRESENTS: NEDATOR @ Ironworks, Fri 06 Apr There’s some determinedly Scottish behaviour going on here. Let the YouTube sensation himself explain what the story of the show is all about. “It’s an action-packed comedy adventure of fighting men pitted against an unseen enemy - a force more powerful than their fiercest weapons or insults. Recruited by General Bratchpiece to rescue his mate Tam’s case of Buckfast which has been stolen by a bunch of wee dicks on Lenzie Moss, The Wee Man and his cracked squad of Commandos encounter an enemy unimaginably more deadly than any on Earth or Glasgow or Lenzie… because the Nedator is from Kilmarnock.” Should attract an, er, interesting audience.

SAT 07 APR

CRAIG HILL: BLOWN BY A FAN…! @ Eden Court One Touch, 7.30pm Scotland’s favourite kilted treasure puts the wind in your willows! After his last smash-hit, tour that sold out throughout the UK and in Australia, South-east Asia, South Africa and even in Switzerland. 01463 234 234

SUN 08 APR

GILDED BALLOON COMEDY CIRCUIT @ Eden Court One Touch, 8pm. Gilded Balloon has been at the cutting edge of new comedy talent at the Edinburgh Fringe for over 25 years. 01463 234 234

WED 11 APR Drama

INVERNESS AREA GANG SHOW @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm. For nearly 30 years, Inverness Area Gang Show has been raising the roof of Eden Court with its colourful, vibrant and exciting biennial production. 01463 234 234

THU 12 APR

INVERNESS AREA GANG SHOW @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm as Wed 06

FRI 13 APR Dance/Contempoary

AN EVENING OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE 2 @ Universal Hall, Findhorn, 8pm. Presented as part of Bodysurf Scotland’s dance platforms this show brings three inspiring and compelling dance solos from three riveting international artists: Benno Voorham, Rosalind Masson plus a special guest. The Masson piece, The Oceans are Drowning, was inspired by current environmental issues surrounding the melting of the polar ice-caps. Drama

INVERNESS AREA GANG SHOW @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm as Wed 06

SAT 14 APR Comedy

PHIL KAY @ Universal Hall, Findhorn, 8pm. Catch Phil on home turf – he lived in Findhorn for Years — for a show that’s bound to be delightfully unhinged. After twenty-two Edinburgh festivals and eighteen Glastonburys, Phil is still breaking ground as a highly emotive touchy-feely, come-off-the-stage-and-cuddleyou type of comedian. He’ll talk of living in England and hanging out with his 3-year-old kid, Lion. He’s got a great Tiger Woods routine, one about buying machetes in a Venezuelan supermarket, and even more about Olympic hoovering and being rubbish on the TV show “QI” — twice.

THEATRE

MON 26 MAR Comedy

Drama

INVERNESS AREA GANG SHOW @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm as Wed 06

SUN 15 APR Other

SCIENCE LIVE @ Eden Court Empire, 4pm Unleash your inner Einstein - explosive fun for all the family! Experience spectacular science, dangerous demonstrations and extraordinary experiments as the Science Museum takes to the stage with a fantastic live show to blow your mind and challenge your brain! FREE teachers’ resource pack available to download at: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/liveontour. 01463 234 234

MON 16 APR Drama

THE STEAMIE @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm. It’s Hogmanay in a Glasgow wash house, and the girls need to get their washing done before the bells. 01463 234 234

TUE 17 APR

THE STEAMIE @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm. As Mon 16 Apr Musical/Opera

SCOTTISH ENSEMBLE WITH VIOLINIST JONATHAN MORTON @ Eden Court One Touch, 8pm. Ligeti: Ramifications,Webern: Five Movements for Orchestra Op 5 Debussy:String Quartet in G minor Op 10,Bruckner:Adagio from String Quintet in F major, Mendellsohn and Bach.

HI-DE-HI! @ Florians Theatre, Bught Drive, Inverness, 7.30pm. By Paul Carpenter.

THU 26 APR

HI-DE-HI! @ Florians Theatre, Bught Drive, Inverness, 7.30pm. By Paul Carpenter. Drama

STICK GRANNY ON THE ROOF RACK @ Eden Court One Touch, 7.30pm. A comedy drama by multi award winning playwright Rona Munro. performed by award winning actress Fiona Knowles. 01463 234 234 See feature

FRI 27 APR Comedy/Drama

HI-DE-HI! @ Florians Theatre, Bught Drive, Inverness, 7.30pm. By Paul Carpenter.

SAT 28 APR Comedy

PRITCHARD VS. DAINTON LIVE SHOW @ The Ironworks, 8pm. Dirty Sanchez boys engaging in all sorts of painful tomfoolery for them that approve of such things. pritchardvsdainton.co.uk/. 0871 789 4173

WED 18 APR Comedy

ANDREW LAWRENCE - THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN COMEDY TOUR @ Eden Court One Touch, 8pm. Maybe you’ve heard his Radio 4 series ‘What To Do If You’re Not Like Everybody Else’. Probably you’ve never heard of Andrew Lawrence at all. How remiss of you. Join him as he embarks on his latest UK standup tour. www.andrewlawrencecomedy.co.uk for details. 01463 234 234 Drama

THE STEAMIE @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm. As Mon 16 Apr

THU 19 APR

THE STEAMIE @ Eden Court Empire, 1.30pm, 7.30pm. It’s Hogmanay in a Glasgow wash house, and the girls need to get their washing done before the bells. 01463 234 234

FRI 20 APR

THE STEAMIE @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm. As Mon 16 Apr

SAT 21 APR Comedy

STICK GRANNY ON THE ROOF-RACK @ Royal British Legion, Buckie. Fiona Knowles plays three generations of a family on a holiday of a lifetime. msfits.co.uk.

Comedy/Drama

HI-DE-HI! @ Florians Theatre, Bught Drive, Inverness, 7.30pm. By Paul Carpenter. Other

VARIETY EVENING @ Strathpeffer Community Centre, 7pm.

SUN 29 APR Comedy

GILDED BALLOON – EARLY EVENING COMEDY SHOW @ Hootananny. 01463 233 651 The legendary Edinburgh comedy club put on their first comedy night at Hoots. This will act as a precursor to the all new Inverness Comedy Festival, HAPPYNESS, they’re organising for late May - featuring some great names at both Hootnanny and Eden Court. More next month! Other

AN EVENING OF MEDIUMSHIP WITH TV PSYCHIC TONY STOCKWELL @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm. An Evening of Mediumship For those with an interest in mediumship, the name of Tony Stockwell will certainly need no introduction. 01463 234 234

MON 30 APR Drama

Drama

THE STEAMIE @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm. As Mon 16 Apr

TUE 24 APR Comedy/Drama

HI-DE-HI! @ Florians Theatre, Bught Drive, Inverness, 7.30pm. By Paul Carpenter.

WED 25 APR Comedy

SARAH MILLICAN : THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLICAN @ Eden Court Empire, 8pm. Observational and self deprecating gags from the ubiquitous Ms Milligan. 01463 234 234

Comedy/Drama

PASSING PLACES @ Eden Court Empire, 7.30pm. Alex and Brian are two local lads, desperate to leave their mundane lives and dead end jobs in Motherwell so they hit the road and head north for Thurso, where the surf is up all year round. 01463 234 234 See feature

WED 02 MAY & THU 03 & FRI 04

THE CAPTAIN’S COLLECTION @ Eden Court One Touch, 8pm. Dogstar Theatre: Captain Simon Fraser attempts to win fame by publishing his Highland music. 01463 234 234

COMING NEXT MONTH: Comedy

BREAKIN’ CONVENTION 2012 @ Eden Court, Tue 22 May Simply everybody is going to be spinning on their heads, body popping and quite possibly doing the Electric Boogaloo when Breakin’ Convention comes to Eden Court. Now in its ninth year, this Sadler’s Wells production is only making TWO Scottish appearances, so expect fans of hip hop and street dance to be flocking to check out the acts curated by eminent hip hop theatre artist JONZI D. Alongside performances from local crews, Breakin’ Convention features stunning performances from CLASH 66 (France & Korea) bringing a sublime duet that’ll leave you open mouthed, as, we expect, will the double world champions VAGABOND CREW (France). MC and dancer TONY MILLS, who’ll be helming proceedings is actually originally from Orkney and trained to be a vet (“I can still find the lymph node on a cat”), before falling in love with dance. He also performed up here recently in Curious Seed’s Push and was keen to tell us that Breakin’ Convention is going to be pretty special. “Obviously groups like Diversity have brought a widespread, mainstream popularity to street dance, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Hopefully there’ll be a young crowd coming to it from the hip hop side of things, but it should also appeal to people who are into ballet and ‘conventional’ modern dance.” There’s much more to the event than just the performers though, with live DJ demos, workshops, a graffiti wall and other delights still to be announced. MORE NEXT MONTH.

WIN TICKETS !! Are you an aspiring B-Boy or Girl? Do you want 2 free tickets to the Breakin’ Convention? Send us a picture of you doing your best Breakin’ freeze (that’s a cool Hip-Hop pose, by the way) and not only will we put the best photo in next months ICA, the winner will also win 2 free tickets for 22 May. >>> ENTRIES BY MONDAY 09 APRIL <<<

SEND YOUR BEST SHOT - VIA TEXT 07786 206955 keyword ‘FREEZE’; OR VIA EMAIL win@icanow.com

World Premiere Tour

9â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12 May 2012

Box Office 01463 234 234* Book Online www.eden-court.co.uk* *Booking fee. Production suitable for age 12+ Registered in Scotland No. SC065497. Scottish Charity No. SC008037 AW Conqueror Typeface created by Jean Francois Porchez, distributed by Arjowiggins.

music web

WHILE WE WERE SLEEPING So the Belladrum lineup was announced last month just after we got our printing machine into motion, and being short of a ﬂux capacitator, we couldn’t give you the low down, so here’s whats been announced... ------------------------------------------Travis To KIll A King The Wombats Nina Nesbitt Beverley Knight Stanley Odd Frightened Rabbit Fatherson We Are Scientists Slow Club The Dangleberries Fink James Mackenzie Ian MCLaughlin Treacherous Orchestra The Outsiders Juan Zelada Whisky River band Ryan Keen The Red Kites Bastille

WHATSONINVERNESS . COM

So over the next month or so you’ll notice that our online presence is about to change quite considerably. Its taken time to get right, and once its all online, it really will be the only place to see whats on when in and around the whole area – making your summer this year and years to come completely packed of events and things to go and do. Anyway have a little trip over to whatsoninverness.com and pop in your details to hear ﬁrst when its online, your might even get a beta invite! You can also add us to your social feeds just look out for whatsoninverness

WEAREALLOUTSIDERS A new monthly club night on the last Friday of each month between April and September which will feature a live set from Iain McLaughlin & The Outsiders + a special guest band and a DJ set from Iain and co - their live set will vary each month with some new songs, covers and different versions of older material being tried out. The night is inﬂuenced by the Detroit 60’s scene and acts such as The Stooges and MC5 with a dirty rock n roll ﬂavour getting a 21st century twist.

» FRI 27 APRIL - WEAREALLOUTSIDERS « + SPECIAL GUESTS WECAMEFROMWOLVES

ica property sponsored by HSPC 01463 231173

cool interiors

Spin with Style... OVUM WASHING MACHINE by Adrian Larripa The electric washing machine has been around for over 100 years and became a common household appliance in the 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Since that time innovations in the washing department have focused on giving us whiter whites, cooler washes, better results but not much has has changed about the basic cubic design. While the Ovum Washing Machine may not be able to squeeze so neatly into your utility room it is such an exquisite design it demands to be centre stage anyway.

Designer Adrian Larripa may have cared more about aesthetics than practicalities while designing this beauty but there has to be room for more beauty in the world. Inspired by the smooth form of a river pebble, giving us the sense of natural beauty and embodying the idea of stream water freshness. It has an elegant design, narrow at the back and broadening towards the front to an ocular opening with an intuitive digital interface.

The Ovum may signal a move towards more innovation on the design front for what must be our most taken-for-granted appliance.

HSPC | 30 Queensgate Inverness | www.hspc.co.uk | 01463 231173

property property

Contemporary metal outdoor furniture

ica property is sponsored by HSPC - the Property Professionals

Award winning blacksmith and designer Alex Moore has been original on a Variable Tracker product that’s rosecreating markedly within the next two Looking Ahead

metalwork for over 12linked years to now and has supplied pieces for public buildings it. (Sources: Moneyfacts & Bank of or five years, would your monthly With HSPC Mortgage Services and private residencesEngland, throughout pieces finances be able for to cope or would Mar 2012)the uk. Not to mention numerous With lots of external influences, you struggle massively? meda-winning gardens for Chelsea Show gardens. Interest rate furniture rises without a Base quite apart fromContemporary what may occur on metal outdoor Together with histowifeRate Kim rise? he runs Moore Designs - a venture which A good number of existing It may bespecialises fine now, but much can the domestic front, it’s not easy Award winning blacksmith and Moore has been creating original dealsoutdoor will designer come to Alex an end in 2012, happen say, the next five years. inpan exciting contemporary furniture. Working exclusively in over, metal, they see how 2012 will out... metalwork for over 12 years now and has supplied pieces for public buildings with borrowers then reverting to Think back to different it was in provide functional works of art for your garden with the added benefit how being There are various views on how the and private residences throughout the uk. Not to mention numerous pieces for their Lender’s Standard Variable 2007. that they require no maintenance - you can just sit back and enjoy them. A piece Eurozone crisis meda-winning will impact upon (SVR). Overall, it’s possible gardens for Chelsea Show gardens. Nest seat that – whichAttruly brings that Alex’sRate unique style is The the outset art of to the year Gordon the UK and how it exemplifies will affect the at least 3.5m borrowers may now be life in your garden. The swirls of metal which lovingly cocoon you in your own Together with his wife Kim he runs Moore Designs a venture which specialises Brown was still hoping one day to environment for mortgage lending. sitting on an SVR! private escape from the also frame littleWorking captionsexclusively of your garden for you to world become Prime Minister and noin exciting contemporary outdoor furniture. in metal, they What is known, enjoy. is that we currently And may have already fallen one away had an iPhone. of all - it’s big enough for two, the perfect way wile a summer provideBest functional works ofsome art for your garden with thetoadded benefit being Facebook had have on offer some of the lowest victim to Lenders raising their SVRs, only just been offered to the wider afternoon. that they require no maintenance - you can just sit back and enjoy them. A piece average Fixed and Variable Tracker whilst art thetolong-established that Alex’sdespite unique the styleBase is TheRate Nestremaining seat – whichpublic, truly brings rate mortgage dealsexemplifies since records stable, with a number of SVRs now Woolworths was on every High life inbe your garden. swirls of metal which lovingly cocoon you in your own began. Which could great news Thewell north of 4%. (Source: Moneyfacts, Mar Street. Finally, landing a job at private escape from the2012 world also frame little captions of your garden for you to for those that want to remortgage. Lehman Brothers would have been enjoy.the BestBank of all - of it’s big enough for two, the perfect way to wile away summer Alternatively, with a cause fora celebration! Planning ahead England Base Rate sitting at 0.5% afternoon. That’s why it makes sense to consider No one knows if the next five years (at the time of writing), it could be this scenario. If your interest rate will follow a similar path of massive equally good for those who remain

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HSPC | 30 Queensgate Inverness | www.hspc.co.uk | 01463 231173

property property

ica property sponsored by HSPC 01463 231173 change, but you need to be mindful of what you and your family’s needs may be over this period of time.

Your next move You may be tempted by the current crop of deals on offer. Although there’s no guarantee that they’ll be around into the longer-term.

Particularly as there has been some upward movement in the money markets which may result in more expensive deals, as the LIBOR and SWAP rates are a better determinant on future mortgage rates. SWAP relates to the cost of obtaining fixed term funding on the money markets and impacts upon Fixed rate deals, with LIBOR (the cost of floating rate funding) affecting Variable Trackers.

Even the Bank of England has

intimated that Lenders may now pass onto household and corporate borrowers their higher cost of funding. (Source: Bank of England, Financial Stability Report, Dec 2011)

Attitude to risk The bigger margin currently applied by Lenders for Fixed rates means that borrowers willing to take a gamble on rates rising slowly may be tempted by Variable Tracker rate mortgages, that will look better value at the outset. And there may be the option with some products to switch to a ‘Fix’ at a later date (subject to rates at that time).

Alternatively, the possibility of obtaining a ‘decent’ Fixed rate may deliver the security needed to help see you though the next few years, especially if you feel rates may start

to rise by a sizeable amount.

Of course, there are a whole host of issues that would also need to be considered before you opted for any new mortgage deal, so do get in touch and we can then identify the best route forward. This may well be to continue to remain with your current deal. But it is important to reassess, just to see if a new strategy may now work better for you.

You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage.

Please contact Norman Fell for further information. Tel: 01463231232 Email info@hspcmortgages.co.uk

HSPC | 30 Queensgate Inverness | www.hspc.co.uk | 01463 231173

65 47

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EATING OUT

River View Café & Restaurant 10 Bank Street, Inverness The River Café is one of the world’s greatest restaurants, with an influential, groundbreaking style of cooking, countless awards and even a range of bestselling cookbooks, drawing customers from all over the world to its prime riverside location. Alas, the river in question is the Thames in London and the River Café referred to, the jewel in the crown of the culinary empire created by Ruth Rogers and the late, great, Rose Gray. That said, Inverness does have something of a gem in the form of the similarly named River View Café & Restaurant, with an arguably even more impressive setting, barely yards from the Ness. That said, you might not be able to call to mind just which establishment it is thanks to the plethora of places in town trading under variations of River/Water/ Front/Side monikers, but this one’s close to the city centre side of Greig

01463 714884

St Bridge, close to the cheekily named (and logo-ed) Ness Café. It’s been there for years and, until recently gave off the air of an unprepossessing, chintzy tea room, an image so firmly implanted in the consciousness that few might have noticed its reinvention as a smart, modern dining joint showing off, as we find, some pretty impressive cooking. Our decision to visit was a last minute one, so we turned up at towards the end of lunch service, finding an elegantly designed place with a clientele, curiously consisting entirely of women, ranging from young ladies who lunch to an older group gleefully partaking of a great value menu and welcoming atmosphere, to the extent that when the weather turned from sunshine to apocalyptic rain in a matter of minutes, they were happy to settle in for coffees and a bit more of a blether.

If there’s a common failing in many of the area’s restaurants, it’s a lack of focus on achieving a balance between good cooking and an economically sustainable way of operating. Far too often you see a ridiculously long menu, invariably a sign of a lack of confidence in the skills of the cook and ethos that if you throw enough options at the customer they’re sure to like the look of something. The result is a lack of care in the cuisine and inevitable wastage, meaning that everyone ends up a loser. At River Cafe, the lunchtime menu is admirably concise, with just three choices for each course and competitive pricing at £7.99 for two courses or £9.99 for three. And, glory be, the emphasis is not on piling plates as high as possible with any old cheap nonsense, but using excellent ingredients and trusting the customer to understand that “value” can

ART FILM

Woodland Gardens & Riverside Location Sunday Carvery New Lunch, Restaurant & Bar Evening Menus Pre Theatre Menu Morning Coffee & Afternoon Teas Under New Management

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The Maple Court Hotel, 12 Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5SQ www.maplecourthotel.co.uk ~ Tel 01463 230330

SPECIALS SPORT THEATRE BACK

Bar & Restaurant

(Now re-opened & refurbished)

ART

The Waterfront 2 courses £10 • 3 courses £12.95

Pick & Mix for 2 People

FILM

Fabulous New Menu! Easter Sunday Lunch

Every Friday Night - Only £28 (including bottle of wine)

KIDS

Live Music

Fri 6 Apr • Kevin Fraser Sat 21 Apr • Schiehallion Fri 11 May • Kevin Fraser Sat 19 May • Schiehallion

FREE

Starter OR Dessert with any Main Course during April*.

Mercure Inverness Hotel 31 Church St, Inverness 01463 235 181 mercure.com ( Formerly Ramada Jarvis )

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*from the Brasserie evening menu, only WITH this voucher.

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01463 233870 70-71, Huntly St • Inverness • IV3 5JN

MUSIC

Traditional Folk Night every Thursday with Kenny Jamieson from Schiehallion

be determined by lovely tasting with my pork), in a deftly made food not whether you’re served tomato and chilli sauce. Really, something bigger than your head. really good cooking.

A case in point was my starter of Smoked Chicken Salad. Our friendly waitress (cheerful and helpful throughout even when my companion turned into a stuttering ball of embarrassment on ordering a bottle of Sheepshagger Gold beer) advised us that the chicken would be taking the place of the advertised Smoked Duck, showing that the people in the kitchen are quite capable of adapting smartly when demand outstrips supply. What was served did, admittedly stretch the concept of salad, being merely three thin slices of chicken and a thimbleful of leaves artfully surrounded by a drizzle of reduced port glaze. I can well imagine the quantity-over-quality faction harrumphing in outrage at such a thing but they’d be missing out on a sublimely assured balance of flavours. The result was a memorable dish that allowed the kitchen to come in on budget with quiet panache. My companion’s Melted Goats Cheese salad was equally small-but-perfectly-formed and pronounced another success. For my main I had Pork Loin On Mash (the last one left, showing again what a tight ship is being run in terms of supplies) which was again beautifully cooked and presented, the succulent pork and buttery mash perfectly set off by the intense reduced sauce that accompanied it. A deceptively simple dish, but one prepared with much care and skill. My companion’s Mixed Fish Linguine was just as impressive. Fresh, possibly homemade, pasta with salmon, prawns and scallops (which he having an aversion to, I found to go rather tremendously

There’s a large selection of puddings available from a blackboard on the back wall, but we went for the ones on the set menu and again weren’t disappointed. My Baileys

& White Chocolate Cheesecake

and my companion’s Strawberry & Shortbread Tower were both topped with impressive globes of sugar work and tasted every bit as good as they looked. A lovely lunch then, in fine surroundings, with friendly staff and, most importantly, top notch cooking. All for under a tenner a head. What’s not to like? Keeping to the cafe remit of their name, there’s also High Tea available later in the afternoon, where Beef Olives and Lasagne supplement the tea, toast, cakes and homemade shortbread business. And, in the evening a slightly more extensive menu looked enticing. The name may not set it apart from the crowd - but there’s much, much more going on here than just a restaurant that happens to be next to river. Perhaps it has got something in common with its distant London relative after all... Price for 2 (exc drinks): £19.90 ICA RATING 1: Exterior/Location............................ 9 2: Interior/Atmosphere........................ 9 3: Staff–Appearance........................... 9 4: Staff–Helpfulness........................... 9 5: Speed Of Service........................... 9 6: Food–Presentation......................... 9 7: Food–Quality.................................. 9 8: Food–Value.................................... 9 9: Menu–Range/Balance/Clarity......... 9 10: Toilets–Appearance/Cleanliness... 9 TOTAL: 90%

Making The Most Of You:

fashion

BLACK MILK CLOTHING Black Milk is a clothing company founded 3 yrs ago in Brisbane, Australia by JAMES LILLIS. Now, just a short while later, it has become one of the fastest growing online shops and James is one of the worlds hottest designers. Back in 2009, broke, bored and cold, he decided to buy an old sewing machine and some nylon - all he could afford after the machine – to make himself a shirt. It was terrible, yet he wore it constantly - and from that point on he was hooked. Spare cash became sparkly or stretchy fabrics as he experimented. The real turning point for James came when a model friend of his for whom he had made a pair of leggings - requiring about ten re-cuts to finally fit - asked if she could BUY them. That convinced him to start a business. He had a vision to make clothes out of patterned stretch fabric – leggings, catsuits, swimsuits, dresses etc... and after an unsuccessful spell of trying to get his clothes into shops he decided to simply sell them online – and women went mad for them. Each and every design is still done by James but he no longer has to sit up late at night sewing them himself as he now now employs a team of people to help him with the ever increasing orders. The online shop is so successful that they have had to shut down twice recently with demand way outstripping production at a rate that Black Milk could never have predicted. Selling more pairs of the latest design leggings in 1 minute than they had sold of everything else in the previous 2 months. They have addressed this problem in recent times but still you have to be quick if you want to get your hands on the latest designs. The leggings are their biggest sellers, and it’s not hard to see why people want to get their hands on these eye-catching pieces. At about £50 per pair they are reasonably priced too, for designer wear. You’ll find a ‘swap shop’ Facebook page for the leggings and they have great re-sale value on ebay too.

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ter gis ! e R ow N

DENTAL TREATMENT AVAILABLE FILM

to receive your registration pack, send us your contact details via:

KIDS

text

07 949 949 688

thekeep@mydentist.org.uk

post

The Keep Dental Practice 2 Castle Wynd Inverness IV2 3EB

Ditch the dental direct debit & simply pay as you go!

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High Street location No registration criteria

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SPECIALS SPORT THEATRE BACK

ART FILM New ‘Celebrity Workout’ Results Guaranteed !!!

SPECIALS SPORT THEATRE BACK

The precision of Pilates, moves, grace & technique of Ballet, the alignment of yoga, the strength of sports conditioning make up a typical Barre workout. The BARRE CONCEPT CLASS includes: Warm Up - The Barre Workout - Resistance Training (weights) - Floor section (Pilates, Yoga components, Abdominals section) - Stretch Dingwall Town Hall • Thursday • 6pm Inverness Charleston Academy • Friday • 6.30pm www.natalliasfitness.co.uk • mob: 07881 814362 info@natalliasfitness.co.uk Natallia’s Fitness

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The Latest Fitness Trend Sweeping The Nation The Very First Barre Concept Classes In Scotland!

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health

Making The Most Of You:

KEEP CALM AND KEEP FIT

FILM KIDS MUSIC SPECIALS SPORT THEATRE BACK

TAI CHI: There is no doubt that a bit of exercise is good for everyone no matter what your age or physical condition. However, pounding the pavements, or pumping weights at the gym isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for everyone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and this is where the gentle art of Tai Chi has emerged as a popular regime which can be applied to people of various fitness levels and offers many health benefits. The regular practice of Tai Chi integrates body, mind and spirit and is specifically designed to improve health. The turning and stretching in each of the movements contributes to better balance and posture, increased strength and flexibility, can benefit the muscular, skeletal and circulatory systems, and offers a wide range of health improvements with a soothing effect on the mind. Physical health: Researchers have found that intensive Tai Chi practice shows some favourable effects on the promotion of balance control, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and has shown to reduce the risk of falls in both healthy elderly patients, and those recovering from chronic illnesses. Stress and mental health: A study done in the US in 2010 reinforced the beneficial association between Tai Chi practice and psychological health with its findings showing significantly increased psychological well being, including reduction of stress, anxiety and depression in those who regularly practised the discipline. With both beginners and advanced classes being held in and around the Highlands everyone can get involved and find a new way to exercise, reduce stress and relax all at the same time. Nice.

the ica wall. Get your wallpaper paste out and come & paste up a ‘poster’ on our flyposting wall. A single space costs from just £49 AND THAT NOW GOES IN 67,000 MAGAZINES!!

Social Media for the Anti-Social ! Troubled by Twitter? Frustrated by Facebook? Or simply feel its not for you and a waste of time? Find out how Social Media can work for your business You Need: An open mind and a sense of humour You Don’t Need: To be ‘techy’ or a ‘geek’ Thu 12 April, 7pm • Tulloch Castle Hotel, Dingwall £25 inc tea/coffee • to book contact: Dingwall Business Association: 01349 862346 or email: dba.biz@hotmail.co.uk Project funded by the Highland Council & Leader

PHONE 01463 715125 TODAY!!

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surfing... blog.ayetunes.org.uk

Excellently named blog about new Scottish music.

popfessions.tumblr.com

Why pop is important to you.

biblioklept.org

Fine literary/cultural blog.

tinyurl.com/46slwkd

1811 Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue. It’s all sparrow-mouthed tuft hunters and squeeze-crab supouches.

tinyurl.com/852n7ng

The spookiness of abandoned asylums.

encyclopedia-titanica.org

On the 100th anniversary, an extraordinary source of info about passengers and crew.

redsquirrelsofthehighlands.co.uk Where to see those cute little Tufties.

thepotholegardener.com

Fancy a bit of guerrilla gardening?

streetartutopia.com

We can’t get enough street art.

perioddramaking.blogspot.com

For fans of period drama. Dressing up, not drama about periods.

the back end

SANDWICH SOLUTIONS

I have a friend who likes to work out exactly how much each mouthful of a cup of coffeeshop coffee costs and the price per bite of a hamburger. He uses this information to decide which size of coffee to have and to calculate the best deals in McDonald’s. I have until now always taken pride in my own recklessness regarding such matters, if I want a gargantuan latte then I’ll have a gargantuan latte – whatever the cost per millilitre, likewise in the extremely unlikely event that I want a burger I’ll simply order by size, shape and taste with scant regard to the price. You’ll have noticed the phrase ‘have until now’ in the last sentence and be thinking “ah”, as well you might. It’s no secret that I like to have a sandwich of an evening, when I’m at work, it keeps me going until dinner. Until a few weeks ago I’d simply go into a shop, preferably one which sells sandwiches, to avoid disappointment, and buy a sandwich. My choice would be based on whatever

footballists.wordpress.com

Footie fans in the world’s shirts snapped in Montreal.

optillusions.tumblr.com

Magnificent pastiche of optical illusions.

nevworldwonders.com

Scottish ex-oil worker travelling the globe in search of seven new world wonders.

meansheets.com

The Museum of Movie Posters.

gaztronomic.blogspot.com

Impressively creative food blog with South Asian and French influences.

thecomposites.tumblr.com Marla Singer, Fight Club

Using law enforcement software to create images of book characters from descriptions.

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ken kelman

flavour I fancied and what limited selection there was left at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, it would usually be chicken and something - the something being most likely sweetcorn or stuffing. One afternoon after a morning when a bank statement had arrived in the post, I found myself for the first time taking the price of the sandwich into account. That was when I noticed an awful truth – I’d been cheerfully paying 75 pence more for a chicken and sweetcorn

BOOK 4 IG:LU GIG (see P19)

sandwich compared to chicken alone. Looking at the thickness of the fillings and gauging the respective weights in my hand it seemed there was no real difference between the chicken and chicken-sweetcorn options meaning that for every piece of corn added during the manufacturing process a similarly size and weight of chicken had been removed. This means that the sweetcorn was costing 75p more than the equivalent amount of chicken! To work out the actual price per gram would involve buying one of each sandwich, carefully separating the constituent ingredients, weighing same with a fairly accurate scale, finding the wholesale cost of sandwich-grade chicken and doing some sort of mathematical calculation based on numbers and stuff. I haven’t done this and don’t intend to, for one thing it’d be a very sticky messy exercise and for another I’m not sure I want to know that the sweetcorn in my lunch costs more than cocaine. I have, however, come up with a pragmatic solution to the crisis, a brief search of price comparison sites on-line has lead me to a supplier of grade-A tinned sweetcorn at only 58p a can. Each can contains 198 grammes - more than enough for around 30 sandwiches, I reckon. There is one problem though, after only a few days in a desk drawer the corn does begin to smell anything but sweet.

WIN GIG TICKETS (see P20)

KEN

ROAD POLL (see P05)

w festival for Inver e n d n nes a r b s

23 - 28 May

gigs at Eden

2012

Court & Hoo

tananny BILL BAILEY | ARDAL O’H ANLON DYLAN MOR AN | FRED MACAU BRUCE MORTON LAY | DAVEY CONNOR & MANY, MA NY MORE !

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