.:: Scots Night In Wick ::.

Date: December 2011
Location: Wick, Caithness, Scotland
Photographer: Noel Donaldson
A FINE traditional Caithness concert has been a rare treat in recent years but variety certainly made a comeback at Wick's Norseman Hotel, on Wednesday night, hosted by the Wick Society. A full house enjoyed an evening of refreshing home-grown entertainment that used to be a regular occurrence before television got a grip, and as the inimitable compere, Harry Gray found unanimous agreement when he commented surely much better than sitting in the house, watching the box. It certainly was a grand nicht. The Wick Arion Choir set the scene with a selection of Scottish evergreen songs taking us west to the isles with the stirring Uist Tramping Song and the contrasting Dream Angus. That was followed by the traditional dances, the Highland Fling and Blue Bonnets from Sarah Harper, Megan Sutherland Katie Gunn and Beth Harper. Danielle Cabrelli delighted us with an old favourite, Wee Winkie and Kieron Sutherland took us on The Sunday School Picnic, in the Caithness dialect. Our native toungue was certainly not neglected as we also had recitation contributions fae Jenny Syvelbain, who not only recited the poems but composed them, one about a moose loose aboot, the house, from a child's viewpoint and the humorous tale of how a Caithness fermer outwitted the taxman. There was more humour in Ellie Harrold's Fidgety Bairn. Accordionist Adie Harper, added to the variety of the show, with some sparkling Scottish selections. Bar a break for tea, the St Andrew's Day concert in aid of Wick Heritage Centre, was a non-stop affair, songs from Louise Gunn, Isle of Mulla, and vocal trio Kerne Plowman, Megan Sutherland and Rachel Lyall who sang of the romance involved when Comin through the Rye. If Caithness nights are here to stay, and I hope they are, then there will be no shortage of talent, particularly from the younger generation. The show, woven together by Harry Gray who ensured continuity which intermittent snatches of humour. The night's entertainment finished with some community singing featurig some auld Scots favourites.