Thurso pub now a live music venue
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A POPULAR Thurso pub has become a fully fledged live music venue.
The Newmarket Bar in Traill Street is the only place in the county with live music four nights a week.
Owner Isla Mackay said local appreciation for live music and the success of other dedicated venues prompted the change.
“The audiences in Caithness are fantastic and we are really excited to be making this move,” she said.
“We looked at the how established small music venues such as Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh and Mad Hatters in Inverness operate, not offering day-time trade but opening purely to offer live music.
“We fully embrace this trend and are looking forward to attracting a range of high-quality acts to Caithness.”
The response from local music fans to the venue’s recent live programme has been excellent, and the reception they have given touring bands from across the UK has been fantastic, added Isla.
Over the past year the bar has become an established stop for touring bands looking to develop their audience with particular standouts being Inverness indie-rockers The Boosts, London-based singer-songwriter Jake Morley and Edinburgh hip-hop outfit Stanley Odd.
“Our show at the Newmarket Bar in Thurso was great,” said Stanley Odd front man Solareye.
“It was really cool to take the band that far north, and everyone at the venue and the crowd on the night made it a really worthwhile trip.”
A key factor in the move to a music venue was also the opportunity to give locally based artists the chance to shine.
The venue is already looking forward to getting the year off to a great start by welcoming The Hostiles for their debut show in Caithness on Saturday.
One of the hottest emerging prospects in the country, PAWS, will entertain on February 4, and The O’s from Texas, who recently scored the number two spot on the UK Americana Chart, will visit on March 3.
The venue is now open as follows, with live music on each night: Thursday to Saturday, from 8pm to 1am, and Sundays from 12pm to ?12am.
