Over the past year HI~Arts (the arts development agency for the Highlands and Islands) has been working with a number of outstanding songwriters, to promote their unique craft and record some of their original material. An industry sampler CD, the MIDAS Highland Songwriters Showcase, has just been completed and features twelve tracks from some of the most talented individuals in the Scottish Highlands.

To mark the end of the project and the completion of the recording sessions, HI~Arts is hosting a third Songwriters Showcase gig at the Ironworks Room 2 on Sunday May 15th, with a line-up of some of the artists featured on the CD.

The Ironworks line-up features Iain McLaughlin & the Outsiders, who in 2010 performed at Rockness, Wizard, Loopallu and goNORTH festivals. Iain also supported Glasvegas on their Highlands & Islands tour and has been announced for main stage at Belladrum this year. Sharing the bill is Dorec-a-belle, the new indie-folk quartet of Maryann Frew with Liza Mulholland, Imke Henderson and Bev Fraser. Maryann recently supported Abagail Grey in Inverness and performed a memorable set at the HI~Arts showcase last year.

Opening the show are Ashley Mackay with her band (Ben Hesling, Robin Abbot and Dickie Bills) and from Skye, Sarah Jane Thomson.

The Ironworks Room 2 is proving to be a superb venue in Inverness for the more up-close music events, and the HI~Arts Showcase will be no exception.

Doors open at 7.30pm with the first act on stage at 8.00pm. There is no cover charge, admission to the venue is for 14 and over, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

The MIDAS Highland Songwriters Showcase:
Iain McLaughlin & the Outsiders, Dorec-a-belle, Ashley Mackay, Sarah Jane Thomson
Inverness Ironworks Room 2, Sunday 15th May 2011 at 7.30pm
Web: www.ironworksvenue.com

Source: HI-Arts