the strath
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  • 1960
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  • 1974
  • 1975
  • 1976
  • 1977
  • 1978
  • 1979
  • A-Z of artistes
1975

Jan 3               First appearance of REZ supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Jan 4               REZ supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Jan 2               Ziggy Stardust Disco Joss Street Hall Invergordon 9 p.m. –1.00 a.m.             40p

Jan 10              Shagra Girl supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Jan 11              Shagra Girl supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Jan 17              Kilroy supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Jan 18              Kilroy supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Jan 24             Hot Toddy (formerly Pat’r Four)

Supported by One Man Band Les Honeyman the man you have to see to believe and hear to understand why he has become one of Scotland’s most popular musical personalities

Jan 25             Hot Toddy supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Jan 31              Storey’s Alley supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Feb 1                Storey’s Alley supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Feb 7               Oktober supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Feb 8               Oktober supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Feb 14              Judas supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Feb 15              Judas supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

                        Strictly no jeans admitted – from now on this comment would be featured in all ads

Feb 21              Pyramid supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Feb 22             Pyramid supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

                        Strathpeffer Amateur Operatic Society Postponement of Die Fledermaus

Because of uncertainty as to the duration of the current public enquiry which recently opened in the Town Hall Dingwall the Strathpeffer Amateur Operatic Society had to take the decision to postpone their production of Die Fledermaus from 12 – 15 March. Any inconvenience to patrons is regretted and the production will now take place in the Town Hall Dingwall from 14 – 17 May 1975

Feb 28               Jymsaw supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco  

Mar 1                 Jymsaw supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Mar 7                Skeet’s Boliver supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Skeets Boliver were a Dundee-based band. Recently formed before their Pavilion appearance they continued playing until 1979, during which they moved to London and recorded three singles. Their lineup was: Michael Marra (vocals and bass), Chris Marra (guitar),Arlene Gowans (vocals), Stewart Ivins (guitar), Angus Foy (guitar) and Jonathan Ogilvie (drums). 

Mar 8               Skeet’s Boliver supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Mar 14             Hot Toddy (formerly Pat’R Four supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Mar 15             Hoy Toddy supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

It is with regret that due to ever increasing costs it is necessary for us to increase our admission charges                       Friday 70p       Saturday 50p

Mar 21             Jamie Band supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Mar 22             Jamie Band supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Mar 28             Grand Easter Dance

                        The Tears supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Mar 29             The Tears supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Apr 4               Rez Band supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Apr 5               Rez Band supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Apr 11              Jolson Band supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Apr 12             Jolson Band supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Apr 17             Scottish Pre-school Playgroup association Ross Shire branch

                        Fashion Show courtesy of Ray’s Dingwall

                        In the Spa Pavilion Strathpeffer on Thursday 17 April at 8pm

                        Admission 30p including coffee Bring and Buy Stall

Apr 18              First appearance of Rock Group

                        Mirage supported by the well-known New Country Sound plus 45 Overdrive Disco

Apr 19              Mirage

Apr 25             Jymsaw supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

Apr 26             Jymsaw supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

May 2              Harvest Band supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

May 3              Harvest Band supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

May 9              The Duck supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

May 10             The Duck supported by Ziggy Stardust Disco

May 16             Oktober supported by the Kinsmen

May 17             Oktober

May 23             First appearance of

                        Jenifer and Rocfloe supported by New Country Sound

May 24            Jenifer and Rocfloe

                        Every Monday Wednesday and Thursday from Monday 26 May

                        The Highland Cabaret Doors open 8.30 Commences 8.45

                        Argo Cameron – Johnny Bogan – Eck Wilson – Tain Scottish Broadcasting Band

                        Christine Fraser – Pipe Major Innes – Ben Wyvis Troupe of Highland Dancers

                        Admission 70p  (VAT included) Dancing to follow till 11

May 30            Sheigre (formerly Full House) supported by Capricorn Disco             70p

May 31             Sheigre supported by Capricorn Disco                                                50p

June 6             After a tour of Norway meet

                        Nessie supported by New Country Sound

June 7             Nessie

June 13           The return of Hot Toddy supported by New Country Sound

June 14            Hot Toddy

June 20           The return of the Rez Band

June 21            Rez Band

June 27            Stroller Pop Group

June 28            Stroller Pop Group

July 4              Grind with female vocalist supported by New Country Sound

July 5              Grind with female vocalist

July 11             The Bandits supported by the Kinsmen

July 12             The Bandits supported by the Kinsmen

July 18             Dineheart supported by New Country Sound

July 19             Dineheart supported by New Country Sound

July 18             Don’t miss Scotland’s longest running Summer Show

                       The Highland Cabaret

                        Every Monday Wednesday and Thursday

                        Doors open 8.30 Commences 8.45

                        Argo Cameron – Johnny Bogan – Eck Wilson – Tain Scottish Broadcasting Band

                        Christine Fraser – Pipe Major Innes – Ben Wyvis Troupe of Highland Dancers

                        Admission 70p  (VAT included) Dancing to follow till 11

July 25             Rock and roll group Stax

July 26             Stax

Aug 1                Kapone Group supported by the Kinsmen

Aug 2                Kapone

Aug 8               Rez

Aug 9               Grand Games Dance

                        Tain Scottish Dance Band (complete with picture) supported by Rez

Aug 8               Highland Dancing competition in the Pavilion Ballroom, Strathpeffer

                        Thursday 14 August 9.30.a.m. – 6.00 p.m.

                        The Finals of this competition and presentation of trophies will take place at

                        The end of the Highland Cabaret on 14 August

                        Don’t miss Scotland’s longest running Summer Show

                        The Highland Cabaret

                        Every Monday Wednesday and Thursday

                        Doors open 8.30 Commences 8.45

                        Argo Cameron – Johnny Bogan – Eck Wilson – Tain Scottish Broadcasting Band

                        Christine Fraser – Pipe Major Innes – Ben Wyvis Troupe of Highland Dancers

                        Admission 70p  (VAT included) Dancing to follow till 11

Aug 15             Badger supported by New Country Sound

Aug 16             Badger

Aug 22             Johnny’s Rocco’s Rock n Roll Show supported by New Country Sound

Aug 23             Johnny Rocco’s Rock n Roll Show

Aug 29             Duck supported by the Kinsmen

Aug 30             Duck

                        Appearing next week Ayrshire’s TV Radio and recording Show group

                        Tommy Trousdale and the Sundowners

Sep 5               Tommy Trousdale and the Sundowners

Sep 6               Tommy Trousdale and the Sundowners

Sep 12             Kress Show Group supported by New Country Sound

Sep 13             Kress

Sep 19             Hot Toddy

Sep 20             Hot Toddy

Sep 26             Rainbow Show Group supported by New Country Sound

Sep 27             Regret no dance due to private function but don’t miss Peter Johnstone Folk

                        In the Toddy Bowl 9 – 11.30

Oct 3               Paper missing no surviving copies

Oct 4              

Oct 10             Ma-mu-lu supported by the Kinsmen

Oct 11              Ma-mu-lu

Oct 17             Dinehart supported by New Country Sound

Oct 18             Dinehart

Oct 24             Smoke Rock n Roll Group supported by the Kinsmen

Oct 25             Smoke

Oct 31             Proof File along with Disco

Nov 1               Proof File

Nov 7               The Tattoo supported by the Original Country Sound 
The band was named simply 'Tattoo' but were advertised as 'The Tattoo'.

Nov 8               The Tattoo
           
Stuart Adamson was at school at the time he started his first-ever group, called ‘Tattoo’. He started the band up with Willie Simpson who ended up being the bass player in ‘The Skids’. Stuart would also go on to be in ‘The Skids’ and ‘Big Country’.

 Willie Simpson and Stuart used to go to be high school together and were really good friends. They used to run a local disco, charging 25p for entry and used all the money for buying more equipment for the group. They played gigs in all the local pubs and clubs and dance halls in the Fife area. They usually got around £25-£36 per gig but it could on occasions be a bit more. They were keen to play further afield and had been round all the agents trying to get gigs outside the Fife area. They eventually got a gig in Brechin, which went really well. As they were packing away the gear and said “I've got you two nights at the Strathpeffer Spa Pavilion, which is about 100 miles further north than Brechin and you’ll get £60 per night plus digs thrown in on the Saturday night”.

So they played at the Pavilion, Strathpeffer. They recall the gig was on a Saturday night (actually it was a Friday) and went well. They played in the same hall where the Beatles once played (no, The Beatles were only visiting after a poorly attended gig at the Town hall in Dingwall finished early) on the first Scottish tour as part of a backing group for some singer or other (this was in January 1963 whereas Johnny Gentle’s Tour was in 1960). They remembered that the big hall held about 1500 people ( more probably around 800) and recall they had really grotty old rooms upstairs with dog- and flea-infested beds, which was meant to be the group's accommodation. All of the beds were in one room and they got £60 a night, which was great. They kept the bar open for the locals after hours, so “ … we went down there buying a huge crate of beer, we all got very drunk that night and we had a big fight in one of the bedrooms and Willie fell on a pint tumbler and gashed his arm right to the bone, so we had to take him to the nearest hospital which was the Ross Memorial Hospital in Dingwall at 3 o'clock in the morning”. The next day Stuart realised that Willie wasn't able to play, but it didn't really matter as there had only (only?) been about 800 people in the hall the night before. They didn't know at the time that they would get the same money for a Sunday (Saturday) night. But it was "just a dodge for the promoter" and there was only about six people in the cavern of a place and no one was interested in what they were playing. They just managed to take breaks during songs and went to the bar, but they had good memories.

Information sourced, with grateful thanks,  from http://www.stuart-adamson.co.uk/information/tattoo/


Unknown to them they were the last band to play a Saturday night dance at the Pavilion. From the following week Saturday night dances were cancelled. (Nothing to do with the early morning visit to the Ross Memorial?). It was obvious from the band's comments, even allowing for some exaggeration, that Saturday attendances had dwindled to a handful of paying customers, which wouldn't have covered the performers' fees.
They were to reappear the following month to play for the Christmas Eve Dance, supported by New Country Sound.

Picture
Nov 14             Hot Toddy                   70p

                        Saturday dances cancelled till further notice

Nov 15             Toddy Bowl 8.30 – 11.30          Alan Campbell Country Western

Nov 21             Three Birds Pop group

Nov 28             Two band attraction

                        Transit Pop Group supported by New Country Sound

                        Free transport Beauly 9, Tain 8.30, Invergordon 9.30,

Dec 5               Jigsaw Pop Group


Jigsaw had signed a new deal with independent UK label Splash and their first single for their new label, was called 'Sky High'. It was recorded for the film 'The man from Hong Kong' a 1975 martial-arts action movie starring George Lazenby. Reaction to the song was good, especially from Radio Luxembourg and  "Sky High" subsequently made the UK Top 10 in November just weeks before their appearance at the Pavilion. It was released in the US and was a hit there, going to #3 on the Billboard 100. The song also charted all over the world and was #1 in Japan.

Dec 12              Capricorn

                        Toddy Bowl over 20s

Dec 19             Firebird Pop Group                              80p

                        Complete festive programme at the Pavilion Ballroom, Strathpeffer

Dec 24             Christmas Eve Dance

                        with Tattoo supported by Country and western New Country Sound

                        Balloons           Streamers       Hats galore

9.30 – 1.30       Admission 80p             A night to remember

Dec 26            Boxing Night Dance with the ever popular Rez Band supported by New Country Sound     80p

Dec 27            Entertainment at The Toddy Bowl with Peter Johnstone Folk


 updated on 15th July 2020     contact: craigvar@talk21.com         © arthur scott