Inverness goes “bunkers” to welcome Golf fans
The Inverness Festivals’ team has revealed details of the entertainment being organised in the Highland capital to ensure that visitors to the Barclay’s Scottish Open Golf Championship at Castle Stuart get the warmest possible welcome when they arrive in the Highland Capital next week.
Speaking at a press conference held in Inverness Town House today (Wednesday), Inverness Festivals’ Chairman Councillor Roy Pedersen said “Naturally we decided to have a golf theme for our entertainment programme and we have had a lot of fun creating the first Inverness Bunkers Festival. We believe that Inverness will have the first imaginary city centre golf course in the world and the plan is that our entertainers will be performing in a number of entertainment bunkers which are being placed at various locations to challenge even the most experienced golf fan not to have a good time.
“With so many excellent cafes, pubs and restaurants determined to welcome our visitors with some real Highland hospitality next week we are not sure how many watering holes there are on our course but what we do know is that Inverness is determined to be above par whenever Castle Stuart plays host to a major championship.
“The entertainment bunkers will be open at a number of locations around Inverness city centre on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and we are inviting everybody to meet up at our imaginary club house at Inverness Castle for a finale show at 9pm each evening.
Falcon Square where there will be traditional music performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday lunch times commencing at 12:00 and two concerts featuring one hundred mile an hour jigs and reels by one of the Highland Capital’s most exciting new traditional bands Hoodja. The Hoodja concerts will start at 6pm on Thursday and Friday evenings and the band will also be performing at Mad Hatters in Church Street at 10pm for those who don’t get the chance to enjoy their early show.
“On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday we are appealing for all our city’s Salsa dancers to gather at 7.30pm in front of Eden Court Theatre to support the Orquestra Latina Del Norte (aka The Inverness Festivals Salsa Band) and dance the night away. We are especially looking forward to Saturday night when the Salsa fans will be mingling with the folk who are all dressed up to see the Abba tribute show over there. On Thursday Night the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society will be dancing over there and anyone who turns up in full Salsa costume will be expected to dance a Strip the Willow Latino Style by way of a punishment. Anyone wishing to see Cheerleading, Street Dance and Free Style Dance is asked to head for Inverness Castle where the Wildcats will be setting up camp at 7.30pm each evening to provide the entertainment before everybody meets at the Castle at 9pm.
“The plan is for us to create a very moveable feast of entertainment and if you can imagine the world’s worst golfer slicing the ball all over the Castle Stuart links and going from bunker to bunker, we will be asking many of our entertainers to wander all over the place as they go from bunker to bunker; so don’t be surprised if you find a show breaking out where you least expect it. We are expecting every shop, café, pub, hotel, restaurant and street in Inverness to be visited by the Bunkers performers at some point and we are going to do our very best to make Inverness one of the most popular stops on the European Golf Tour.
“The support that we have had from the community has been wonderful and we have heard of a number of groups who are organising their own events or arranging to come to Inverness in golf themed fancy dress. Special mention must also go to the villagers in Ardersier who have welcomed the Barclays Scottish Open Golf Championship with open arms and on Saturday evening have decided to create their own village bunker festival complete with a street market, performances by the Inverness Festivals Band and a Clarsach show in Ardersier Parish Church.”
The following performers will be appearing during the Inverness Bunkers Festival: The Inverness Festivals Band, Hoodja, Orquestra Latina Del Norte, Elizabeth Fraser Highland Dancers, Inverness Gaelic Choir, TMC Folk, Pro Sound, Highland Youth Pipes & Drums Band, Inverness Gaelic Choir, Inverness British Legion Pipe Band, Edith Macpherson Highland Dancers, Accordionist Matthew Maclennan, Wildcats Cheerleaders, Wildcats Freestyle Dancers, Wildcats Street Dancers and the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
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