Saw Doctors and ELO veterans to play the Highlands this March
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HIT bands from the UK and Ireland will be represented by at least some of their members in the Highlands next month.
The Orchestra, featuring former members of ELO and The Electric Light Orchestra part II, will be reliving the hits of one of the biggest selling British acts of the ’70s, while Leo Moran and Anthony Thistlethwaite of The Saw Doctors will be doing their best to satisfy fans of the record-breaking Irish band while it takes a year long sabbatical.
Leo and ex-Waterboy Anto, have put together an acoustic show that includes different takes on well-known Saw Doctors’ songs, versions of lesser-known band songs, a few from Anto’s solo-albums and other songs written recently with Tuam songwriter Padraig Stevens.
The duo will be appearing throughout the Highlands and Islands with a string of dates this March, including Aviemore’s Old Bridge inn on Thursday 13th and The Ironworks in Inverness on Tuesday 18th March, as well as island dates on Mull, Lewis, Orkney and Shetland.
ELO veterans The Orchestra will be at The Ironworks on Sunday 2nd March.
Electric Light Orchestra began as a side project of Birmingham band The Move in 1970. ELO’s spectacular run of success in the ‘70s and ‘80s included numerous gold and platinum albums, Top Ten hits such as Sweet Talkin’ Woman, Mr Blue Sky, Don’t Bring Me Down and Telephone Line.
In the late 1980s ELO musicians Bev Bevan, Mik Kaminski, Kelly Groucutt and Lou Clark reconvened the group as ELO Part II with the blessing of former frontman/founder Jeff Lynne.
Following Bevan’s retirement in 2000, his position was filled by Philadelphia drummer Gordon Townsend, with the remaining members opting to continue as The Orchestra, with another line-up change forced on them nine years later by the sudden death of bassist/singer Kelly Groucutt. Veteran Glen Burtnik, formerly of Styx, was called in as replacement and remains with the band today.
March’s Inverness show is one of only three UK dates on the band’s current tour.
Tickets for both acts are on sale now.
