Scotland’s 18-legged ska band invites fans who remember 1997 dockers’ benefit performance to party in Moniaive
Mighty Scottish ska band The Amphetameanies will kick off a superb new season of musical delights in Moniaive with their 20th birthday celebratory gig.
On that first night, a pub pipedream became a runaway reality, and by 1999, the ‘Meanies” were opening the main stage of T in the Park with a set of their own songs, while no less than Joe Strummer standing in the wings cheering them on.
And on Saturday 13 May they are inviting fans and all lovers of punk, ska, 2tone and indie music to join them at the Craigdarroch Arms in Scotland’s festival village of Moniaive.
The gig will be a celebration of all their music from across the years, including the days from 1997 to 2003 when Alex Kapranos (of Franz Ferdinand fame) was in the line-up, first on keyboards then guitar.
Lead singer Jane Chalmers, who has been from the band since the beginning, said: “It’s been fantastic and we are really looking forward to celebrating our 20th birthday with a gig in Moniaive.
“Back then there weren’t really any ska bands in Scotland. We wanted to kick it all off again so we put together a band that had everything from 2tone and indie to a bit of punk.
“The first gig we did was at the old 13th Note, in Glassford Street, in Glasgow to raise money for the striking Liverpool dockers, and it was absolutely packed out. It would be brilliant if some of the people who were there that night could join us this weekend.”
The audience will also be able to enjoy a film about the life of Bob Marley and more live music from the feisty, folk-punk band Junkman’s Choir and special guests from the Netherlands Kalio Gayo.
The event marks the start of a whole season of events at the Craigdarroch Arms Hotel, which has a reputation of offering fabulous music of every kind in an intimate and friendly setting.
Manager Tim O’Sullivan said: “The Amphetameanies 20th birthday gig will be an amazing event – a real party for everyone who loves to dance. And this summer we have so much to look forward to, with probably our best ever series of gigs and festivals.”
The range on offer includes just about every type of sound you could wish for, from Dutch Bluegrass singer Vera Van Heeringen (17 May) and the Waves Blues Band (28 May) to Shelagh McDonald – formerly of Fairport Convention.
From band, jam sessions and themed weekends, Tim has a full programme of quality music every weekend of the summer – with the Amphetameanies getting it going with a big bang.
The nine-member band, known as an 18-legged ska monster, was formed from an unlikely combination of Glaswegian scooter boys, punker girls and indie kids, united by a common love of 2Tone and a desire to make people dance.
Highlights of their career have included being personally invited to play a special after-show gig by Madness and also, a Franz Ferdinand after-show party and of course being cheered on by the one and only Joe Strummer (of ‘The Clash’ fame).
