JOHN OTWAY, one of music’s best loved entertainers, a true maverick and the self-styled Greatest Rock ’n ’Roll failure, has been to most places.
Of course he’s played Scotland himself many times being a regular at the Edinburgh Festival not least. Remarkably, however, he has never ventured across the border with his band … but that is all about to change.
At the end of September John takes his four strong band, along with stalwart roadie Deadly, on a small road trip of the Highlands and bylands.
It isn’t the first time the group of 20+ years have ventured into territories new. They have travelled to Europe previously and their new album, ‘Montserrat’, was recorded on the Caribbean island of the same name.
They were joined there, as in Cannes for the film festival launch of the much lauded John Otway documentary, by more than 40 die-hard fans. Only last year, a trip to Barcelona and surrounds took place and, again, the fans tagged along.
Scotland will be no exception. Performing four gigs over as many nights (see below), the Otway band will be joined by a host of regular supporters on a specially commissioned coach destined to whizz them between venue and hotel and on. As a bonus they’re also going to visit the Royal Lochnagar Distillery.
“I’m really looking forward to it” said Otway. “It’s always great to have the fans with you and I’m hoping the locals will enjoy the mayhem just as much. The band are all excellent players of course and, I like to think, I bring something rather unusual to the proceedings myself.
“All in all it should be a series of cracking gigs…I can’t wait to smell the heather, pat the sheep, admire the views and last, but most importantly, take a coach load of Otway fans to a whiskey distillery.”
Tickets are priced £15 – £20 (subject to booking fee) and are available now from all venues as well as from John Otway’s official site, www.johnotway.com .
September
26 Voodoo Rooms Edinburgh 7.30pm
27 Hootenanny Inverness 7.30pm
28 Back Stage, Green Hotel Kinross 7pm
29 The Ferry Glasgow 8pm (doors)
Pictures: Judy Totton
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