Beat the Drum, a title taken from the Runrig song "Pride of the Summer", will see a day-long programme of largely Highland talent performing at Borlum Farm on the outskirts of the village before the popular Celtic rock band take to the stage for the first live Scottish outing of songs from their latest album "Everything You See", recorded in the Highlands at Cromarty.

Preparations are already well under way for tomorrow's show, with workers not only assembling the 20-metre long stage and performance area, but putting together a temporary Bailey bridge which will link the village centre campsite with the concert venue itself.

Willie Cameron, of Loch Ness Marketing, a long-standing friend of Runrig who helped the band set up the Drumnadrochit concert, described the event as a "no brainer" in terms of the economic spin-offs to the area.

"It's undoubtedly a tremendous economic boost," he said.

"If you look at the other events in the area, the Elton John concert or RockNess, the hotels were full, the restaurants ran out of food, and the audiences were amazing."

Though the 15,000 fans who have bought tickets for the sell-out show were yet to start arriving, Mr Cameron said the village was already feeling the benefits.

"You have already got the employees assembling the stage and the security staff up there and they are coming into the village," he added. "Some of the restaurants last night had 140 covers, which is way above average."

Runrig's most famous lochside concert at Loch Lomond in 1991 led the way for other major acts, with Oasis and REM among the international names who have also performed at Loch Lomond and the first Live at Loch Lomond festival featuring Paul Oakenfield, Feeder, Supergrass and Calvin Harris earlier this month.

Mr Cameron agreed there was potential for other music events to follow in Runrig's wake, though the band themselves have made clear they do not intend Beat the Drum to become an annual event.

"The same as RockNess, Belladrum or Loopallu, you have got to get the first one under your belt and see if it is successful," he cautioned, but added that Loch Ness should have no difficulty in attracting international calibre artists.

"Loch Ness is an iconic location and I think it would attract any big name wanting to play there just to add it to their catalogue, either here or at RockNess," he said.

* For more information about the line-up and an interview with the band, see today's C2 section.

c.macleod@inverness-courier.co.uk

All content copyright 2007 Scottish Provincial Press Ltd.

For a start, the 17,000 people going to the sell-out event might be able to take the night home with them on a ground-breaking DVD which will feature one of the songs they have just heard, concert photos and footage from the day, as a unique souvenir, with 2000 copies to be pressed on the night.

Drummer Iain Bayne explained: “We think we’re the first band to do this. We were thinking what we could do and originally thought about putting together a special programme for the event, but a programme is just a programme, and we wondered what else would be memorable. So we decided this idea would be totally unique.

“There will be two photographers work. It will all go ahead, notwithstanding a power cut! But hopefully it will all go without a hitch. Of course, the song will come from the early part of the show and we’re not sure yet which one it will be – that will be up to the sound engineer.”

Iain who is a whisky fan also offered his services to help with another first for the band – creating a specially-selected, premium malt Runrig whisky.

“I had a few different ones put in front of me and in the end we chose a 20-year-old Macallan. There will be 500 bottles with certificates signed by the band for whisky collectors, just to give people something a wee bit different.”

But the Loch Ness show at Borlum is special for the band: “We have wanted to do a big outdoor show in the Highlands for a while and with this being the Highland Year of Culture it seemed an ideal way to showcase the album which was recorded in the Highlands.”

The bill includes everyone from Wolfstone and fast-rising traditional artist Julie Fowlis to Nova Scotians Great Big Sea.

“We wanted to make it as diverse a cross-section of Highland and Scottish music as we could,” said Iain. “We’ve also got The Vatersay Boys, Aberfeldy and on just before us, The Red Hot Chili Pipers. The connection with Wolfstone goes back to when they supported us at Loch Lomond in 1991. They have had their journey and we have had ours, but we’re both still here!”

The event can only be licensed for 17,000 which is well short of what Iain recalls as their largest audience so far, 180,000 at a festival. It means that many fans may have missed out.

Iain said: “We just wish we had been given a licence for more.”

There has been a lot to do to get the site ready: “The promoters have done a brilliant job, building gates and a bridge that will come down after the show, to make sure people are not having to cross the road to get to us.”

But those who miss the show might want to pop into the Runrig exhibition currently open on North Uist, but set to tour. It recalls the history of the band and features the Runrig CD that survived the space shuttle disaster.

It’s 10 years since Bruce Guthro joined the band to replace singer Donnie Munro who left to seek a new career in politics. Pete Wishart left a few years later to become an SNP MP.

Iain laughed: “We’ve got it written into the contracts now that no-one can leave to go into politics.

“When Donnie left, people thought it was the end for Runrig. But we’re now in a strong position – maybe even stronger than before. Bruce was an absolute find. The chemistry is there. Nobody can stand still and we all enjoy new ideas and new challenges.”

Iain admitted that in the UK older band members can get a tough time in the music business: “The core thing is that we all still love the music and we still like to be challenged. There are people who have the attitude 'Isn’t it time to get the baffies on?’. But you wouldn’t say that to a plumber in his 40s, 'It’s time you stopped fitting kitchen sinks”. And I think it can be a problem in the UK. We’re still pulling 17,000 to a field near Loch Ness!”

But Iain who is a keen golfer perhaps put his rock career second when he headed out last week to play golf, one of his favourite hobbies.

“I was playing on the 15th the other day and these two boys were watching and shouted to me 'You’re all ready for the 18th?’

“And I said 'Yes, I’m looking forward to getting there!’.

“But they went 'No, the 18th, next week.’ They meant the Loch Ness date!”

* Beat The Drum on Saturday is sold out.

 

m.chrystall@highland-news.co.uk