East Grange Loft

Location:  Kinloss, Forres, Moray
Capacity:  Upstairs (Music Venue) – 150 standing, 100 seated; Downstairs (Bistro) – 30-35
Programme:  Live Music, Comedy, Bistro
 

Director’s Statement

The idea behind the Loft was to have a party… The gist was: “let’s have a couple of bands a year, put a stage at one end and a bar at the other and have a party in the middle….” It was never meant to be what it has become, Moray’s only dedicated live entertainment venue. We still have the stage and the bar and hopefully the party in the middle, but an awful lot more of them.

The Loft also had to be open to all ages at all times. There are few places that allow whole families to come and spend an evening together. So it was licensed in such a way that The Loft is open to all, and it has been known for the audience age to range from 8 to 80 in the same evening!

Our general remit is original music only (occasionally it deviates, but not often!). We’ve also become a great place for private parties with weddings, birthdays and the like. Having said that we still manage more than 50 live gigs a year, with music genre‘s ranging from Scottish Traditional to Punk Rock with everything in between. Comedy & drama is also featured with acts such as Ross Noble & Bob Doolally and “Death of an Accordionist”

We also run a successful session night (1st Wed of the month) and Open Mic night (3rd Wed of the month). As a result of this a group of likeminded individuals have got together to create LAMA (the Loft Arts & Music Association) which will hopefully get funding to take in other less commercially viable acts and organise workshops etc.

The opening of the Bistro last year has also introduced more people to the ethos behind the Loft and people who would never normally come to see a gig now come and have dinner and go upstairs to the music afterwards. Hopefully this combination will improve audience numbers for all types of music.

Our aim is to provide the best entertainment possible, to all ages at all times and to introduce people to great acts that they would not likely see outside Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Glasgow. Hopefully we are achieving this and regardless of whether you know who the act is, you are assured that it will be worth coming to see.

See you at The Loft

Grigor Butler

Grigor faces up to Arts Journal’s rigorous questioning

When was the venue established?

It opened on 3 May, 2002
 
What famous names have taken to the stage?

The Levellers, Grim Northern Social, Eduardo Niebla, Cosmic Rough Riders, Biffy Clyro, Croft No.5, The Casbah Club, Slam, JJ Gilmour, Sherman Robertson, Ross Noble, Dogs Die in Hot Cars, Session A9, Burach, Ivan Drever, Martin Stevenson, Colcannon, Flook, Bluesmove, Lightnin’ Willie & The Poorboys, The Nightporters, Jim Hunter, Andy White, Tam White, Justin Curry, The Coal Porters and many more …

What are your big ideas for the future of the venue?

To improve the PA and facilities. We’ve got a big shed next door which holds 400 people, so hopefully we can afford to get bigger bands into the area. Possibly hold an outdoor festival.

Does the venue have a ghost? 

Not yet!

What was your worst disaster as director?

There are many…..booking expensive acts the same weekend that Mike Scott did three gigs at the Universal Hall!…booking acts the first week of the school holidays and wondering why nobody has turned up…

And what was your biggest triumph?

Getting the Loft open in the first place. It made the last three hours of a home improvement program look really relaxed! Thanks to my friends (and Moray Fire office, building control & licensing board) for last minute help without whom the Loft would not exist. Also getting the Casbah Club with members of Big Country & Bruce Foxton (from The Jam) here and not losing toooooo much money!

If you could have any artist in the world for a one-off special, who would it be, and why?

Sting, for his huge variety of music over the last 25 years and seems to be a nice person as well, or Billy Connelly coz he’s funny. They would also definitely put the Loft on the map!

Why should people look forward to visiting your venue?

It’s a carry on and a laugh and no conventional formalities are adhered to. The Acts all have to mix in with the audience and it’s all very laid back and relaxed (apart from me running around fixing things and making it all work!)

© HI~Arts, 2004