Brandon looking at doing more online shows after success of Christmas and New Year concerts
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Caithness entertainer Brandon McPhee says he is looking forward to presenting further online concerts following the success of his two shows over the festive period.
The popular Wick-based accordionist and singer was joined by a number of other local musicians for events that were live-streamed just before Christmas and on Hogmanay – helping to make up for the lack of physical concerts as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions.
Each show ran for about an hour and a half and attracted audience members from as far away as Canada and New Zealand.
“We were really delighted that they were so successful," 24-year-old Brandon said.
"We had never done anything like that online before because most of our work is in a concert or theatre setting.
“We're looking seriously at doing a few more of them until it's safe to go back out and it's safe for people to come and listen live.
“That is the plan. That's what we'll be working towards."
Manson Grant was special guest at the Christmas concert on December 20. On Hogmanay, Brandon and his band were again joined by Manson as well as the North Coast Fiddlers and the Addie Harper Band, featuring some of Addie's pupils.
“We really enjoyed it and we're delighted with the feedback," Brandon said. "We're classing it as a success and just looking forward to the next one.”
Both shows were live-streamed from the former Francis Street Club in Wick, courtesy of the Dunnett family who now own the premises.
Brandon explained: “We took a lot of care with social distancing, we had one way in and another way out so nobody crossed paths, and just made it as safe as we possibly could. We tried to simulate what we would do at a normal theatre show.
“It took a long time to set up the stage but I think it turned out well. Thanks to the Dunnett family for the use of their premises.”
He added: “We were delighted with the amount of people that got in touch. We didn't know how it was going to work because it was a different thing altogether for us, a different thing for people watching, and we were delighted with the response.
"I would like to thank everyone who took the time to purchase a ticket.
"There were people watching from all around the world, as far as Canada and New Zealand. There were people from all over the UK as well as some places in Europe."
Brandon and his band have been busy recording with a view to releasing an album and some singles from it, while there is “possibly a DVD in the pipeline as well”.
Meanwhile, Brandon's TV show – Caithness Music's Brandon McPhee Hour – will be moving from Sky channel 376 to 365 from January 11.
