New Country and Western Club formed
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A Country and Western music fan has started up a new club in Sutherland in a bid to liven the county up.
The Sutherland Country and Western Music Club was officially formed earlier this month at a meeting attended by around 20 people.
President and founder is Brora man Alan Banks, a retired roofing contractor and pipefitter.
A life-long music fan, Alan has a particular penchant for Country and Western music and is a keen fan of local group The Jacks.
But his favourite group at the moment is up-and-coming young Thurso band Slange Ava in which his nephew, Keith Macleod, is lead singer.
Alan was prompted to start the new club after attending, for the first time, the annual Caithness Country and Western Music Festival, held recently in Halkirk.
"It was great entertainment suitable for all the family and, after coming home, I thought we could do with something like that here," he says.
"There is a lack of events in Sutherland, especially for the Country and Western fraternity. The place is just dead. Everywhere is so quiet, whereas there is a lot more happening up in Caithness or down in Ross-shire."
Alan put up a post on his Facebook page and things mushroomed rapidly from there.
He then formed a private group within his Facebook page as a forum to discuss and listen to music.
"I found a way of going into Youtube and then posting the link onto Facebook through my group," he explains.
"We have had people from America, Ireland, Australia and England contacting us and posting some of their own songs.
"There are now about 90 members of the group and last Saturday night I had over 200 contacts from people who posted messages and commented on songs."
Bowled over by the interest shown, Alan came off cyberspace and arranged the meeting at which the club was formed. Office-bearers are Alan as president, and Wendy Cameron, Brora, as secretary. A vice-president and treasurer have still to be appointed.
"It is amazing how things have taken off, from that initial Facebook post," Alan said.
The club has already identified four venues, two in Golspie and two in Brora, willing to host club events. it has also found a sponsor for their first dance which will be held on Saturday, 2nd July, at the Social Club in Brora. Slange Ava will be playing.
Meantime, they have started fundraising with a car treasure hunt planned to take place shortly.
"We plan to hold a dance very soon once everything gels together," said Alan. "One of our aims is to hold events in different places within Sutherland so everyone can enjoy the benefits of our efforts."
Anyone interested can join the club by paying an annual £10 subscription.
Subscriptions can be paid to Alan, secretary Wendy Cameron or club members Dan MacLeod and June Ritchie, both Brora.
For further information, contact Alan on 01408 621934 or email alan.banks@btinternet.com
