Looking for the buzz

ANDREA MUIR finds out what drives Highland rock promoter ROB HICKS to keep on promoting gigs.

ROB HICKS is a promoter, engineer, and speedboat driver, if that’s what you call people who drive speedboats around the islands on the West Coast [doesn’t sound an unreasonable suggestion – Ed.].

It confuses his accountant that he still promotes bands in the Highlands – and he says that he’s certainly not in it for the money.  He says that the buzz for him is like a drug, and then adds that it’d have probably been cheaper if he’d taken drugs.

“It’s live music that does it for me,” he says. “Recorded music is great but seeing everyone enjoying themselves at a gig is fantastic.”

Rob is not a musician and maybe this fact helps him to focus on nurturing the careers of young talented bands.

“The best thing is seeing something you’ve created work. When you create ‘something happening’ – it’s like your baby – and hopefully, you don’t lose too much money.”

Born and brought up in Cornwall, Rob has made his home in the Highlands because it reminds him of Cornwall when he was a boy.

“It’s quiet and laid back, the pace of life much slower than other parts of the country.  My idea of a perfect evening is at home, with a glass of wine and good company.”

“I would also say that the standard of even the worst Highland bands now are equal to the best of a few years ago.”

THE IRONY is not lost on him as he has manoeuvred himself into a job where his phone never stops ringing, he has had nine hours sleep in five days, he does his day job from seven in the morning till six at night and then drives countless miles to gigs, and, he says, has no job security.

“Yeah, I suppose it is a bit mad.  But I like my mad weeks.  I’ve got a short attention span.  I don’t get bored ‘cos someone told me only boring people get bored, but I can be excited about one gig and then the phone will ring and I’ll get excited about the next one.  I’ve got things lined up until next July and they all excite me.”

Rob is equally excited about the state of live music at this time in the Highlands.

“I would definitely say that live music is going through a renaissance.  People go to watch and be part of something, it doesn’t matter what you look like, it’s not like going clubbing where you know everyone is looking at you.  The bands are the focus.

“I would also say that the standard of even the worst Highland bands now are equal to the best of a few years ago.  There are some incredible bands, and a gig culture is breeding, from me bringing in signed bands from the south, to bands organising their own gigs – which I don’t mind, really…”

He laughs and adds that he’s all for self-promotion.

‘What happens here is that bands get experience and are able to develop their craft before moving on to the bigger, more organised events.

‘There are opportunities in the Highlands that don’t exist elsewhere.  I don’t believe you have to go to Glasgow and Edinburgh.  The average audience in Inverness a few years ago would be about 40 or 50, but now an ‘ordinary’ gig can attract well over a hundred.  And events like Go North will continue to attract the A & R people that every band hopes will be watching them.”

So, if you’re in a band that you think is next big thing what should you do? 

Rob answers with an apologetic: “I can’t just go out and see bands on the off chance unfortunately, so, get together a demo, doesn’t matter if it’s a bit rough, then write to me with a bit about the band, the influences, the line up, and so on.  If I like what I hear then I’d try and arrange some gigs where the band can start out as support acts and take it from there.”
 

Find out more about Rob Hicks and his company Beyond Promotions at his website www.beyondit.net

© Andrea Muir, 2004