Mànran's Wick show under threat over low ticket sales
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"Use it or lose it" is the message to music fans in Caithness as a promoter admitted ticket sales for Mànran’s show in Wick next month were very slow.
The Scottish supergroup were scheduled to play the Waterfront in December but the show was rearranged for May 5 due to low ticket sales for the winter gig.
The band, which plays a unique blend of traditional music, have played on BBC1’s Hogmanay show and alongside Lewis Capaldi – yet there appears to be diminishing demand for the live scene in the far north.
Chris Boxall, of Highland Castle Entertainment which is organising the show, said: “I have worked in music for years, and the music scene in Caithness used to be well attended, but it has dropped dramatically.
“We need people supporting live music, otherwise it will die a death. It really is a case of use it or lose it.”
Mànran have been at the forefront of the Scottish traditional music scene for over a decade. The Wick date is part of an extensive tour taking in venues in the UK and Europe.
Ian Sinclair, a stalwart of the Caithness music scene and a passionate advocate of live music, said: "I would encourage people to go along and see Mànran. They are a highly professional, modern traditional band.They are good to listen to and dance to. The Waterfront will be a good venue for them provided they get a good crowd."
He added: "If live music is not supported it will die a death."
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Mr Sinclair, who has played with numerous groups over the years and is the driving force behind the successful Live Jive music afternoons in the Park Hotel in Thurso, pointed out that Gary Innes of Mànran – who also presents the Take the Floor programme on BBC Radio Scotland – took part in the traditional music course at North Highland College in Thurso, which was taught by Bobby Coghill and Addie Harper.
He described him as "an outstanding accordion player" and added: "It's great to see somebody who did that course doing well."
However, Highland Castle Entertainment, based in Invergordon, says only 40 tickets out of a 1000 capacity have been sold. They are now encouraging people to come along and support the event, so that they can keep bringing class-acts to the far north.
Mr Boxall added: “We are a small business, and it costs money to bring acts like this up to the area. We want to keep being able to provide locals with the entertainment that they deserve."
