What's Been On

Blair Davie chose Inchyra to play his debut headline gig.  The 'one to watch' young singer songwriter from Perth brought a packed Arts Club to their feet for a standing ovation at the end of an emotion packed show.  

with support from Christy O'Donnell

SCOUTING FOR GIRLS with support THE DUNWELLS

This was an amazing opportunity to see the festival headliners in the intimate space at Inchyra.

During their last tour Scouting For Girls played to more people than they’ve ever played to before. They were celebrating ten years since they first released their 2007 self-titled debut, a record that went on to become triple platinum and birthed the generation-bridging anthems of ‘She’s So Lovely’,  ‘Elvis Ain’t Dead’ and ‘Heartbeat’. 2017’s accompanying ‘Ten Add Ten’ record bundled that now-classic debut with ten new songs, proving that the band’s joy, energy and ability to write an instantly catchy chorus hadn’t gone anywhere.

Upbeat, fun and infectious, new album ‘The Trouble With Boys’ dives into their love of uniquely British bands like The Kinks, ELO, Madness and The Beatles. It’s designed to make people feel good. It’s about remembering to be excited, care-free and in love. It’s a very Scouting For Girls album. “Being in a band almost feels like you’ve gone to Neverland,” grins lead singer Roy Stride. “You never have to grow up.”

The Dunwells 'Care'

Scouting For Girls 'She's So Lovely'

Barbara and Nick performed for the second time at Inchyra to an audience who had come out on one of the wettest nights of the year. With support from the inimitable Anthony Toner this was a very special night indeed under the twinkling lights of the Byre. 

Here's a review of the show:

Barbara Dickson took the stage at the Inchyra Arts Club and quickly showed
that her skill for entertaining an audience has not diminished in the slightest.
This was a superb night’s entertainment that warmed an audience that had
been treated to some dreadful weather during the day.

Anthony Toner stepped up first to set the tone with a set of terrific songs and
stories of his Northern Irish heritage. Tales of regret for times passed and the
darkly entertaining monologue ‘Exit Wounds’ led to the magnificent ‘Alphabet’
dedicated to his Father who, suffering from Alzheimer's, is only recognizable in
fits and starts. Anthony Toner is a great storyteller who deserves to be far more widely recognized.

Then the elegant and golden-voiced Barbara Dickson took the stage and
opened with a lovely version of Goffin and King’s ‘Going Back’ made famous by
the Byrds. She had requested that the audience not take pictures or video as
she prefers to sing to faces and not devices. Compliance with that request
made for a delightfully relaxed and intimate atmosphere, which was not only a
refreshing change but also explains why there is no on stage illustration of this
review. Song after wonderfully illustrated and sung song followed in an
extraordinary array of styles and moods. The cover of the Beatles classic
‘Eleanor Rigby’ accompanied by electronic drones was dramatic and effective.
The whole show was accompanied by Barbara’s guitar and piano and enhanced
by the sympathetic support of Nick Holland on keyboards and harmonies. The
hits flowed as well. “Another Suitcase In Another Hall” from ‘Evita’ and “Tell Me
It’s Not True” from ‘Blood Brothers’ served to illustrate her illustrious stage
career with the latter song dedicated to her co-star in that show, George
Costigan, who was in the audience.  Songs from the pens of Bob Dylan and
Gerry Rafferty as well as her own entertained the crowd as did her
interpretations of traditional material until sadly the evening came to a
triumphant close. Anthony Toner joined Barbara and Nick for the encore, to
perform her massive single ‘Caravan Song’ to huge applause.

With such a huge back catalogue, there was something here for everyone and
an awful lot for most. Even the weather had improved as we left, taking it’s cue
from the wonderfully warm and entertaining concert.

Pete Drummond-Hay

This was an amazing chance to see Alan try out new material. Carr’s unique style of humour and effortless stage presence has made him one of Britain’s most successful and treasured comedians. With sixteen series of Channel 4’s Chatty Man under his belt, Alan has won a multitude of awards including the publicly voted NTA and a prestigious BAFTA.

Free | Seated Show | Licensed Bar | 18+ only | Refer to BBC listing for T&Cs | Please notify us of any access requirements 

A thrilling mix of established and emerging voices will be appearing in the new series The Big Scottish Book Club. Two episodes of the series will be filmed at Inchyra on Tuesday 24th September. 

A stunning line-up of authors, from Scotland and across the UK and from fiction and non-fiction, has been confirmed for the four-part series, which will go out this autumn on BBC Scotland.  

The full line-up:

• Ian Rankin
• Sara Collins
• Graham Norton
• Marian Keyes
• David Nicholls
• Patrick Gale
• Denise Mina
• Maggie O’Farrell
• John Niven
• Rhik Samadder
• Ambrose Parry (aka Chris Brookmyre & Marisa Haetzman)
• Janice Galloway

Award-winning writer Damian Barr, who will host the series, says: “The Big Scottish Book Club is bringing books back to television and making it clear that stories are for everyone. The line-up for this series truly reflects the diverse storytelling talent at work in Scotland and across the UK and I can’t wait to share this thrilling mixture of established and emerging voices.

“Each show has a distinct theme - from memoir to crime - so we can have really rich conversations, delving into the writer’s own story as well as their books.”

Filmed in Perthshire and Helensburgh, the format of The Big Scottish Book Club is inspired by Damian Barr’s renowned Literary Salon, currently resident at London’s Savoy Hotel.

Ian Rankin says: “I grew up watching book shows on TV. They were rare enough then and there are even fewer now, despite the vast number of book-lovers in the UK. So it’s a joy to see Scotland get its own books programme and a privilege to be a guest on the first of what I hope will be many seasons.”

USEFUL INFORMATION

TICKETING: Tickets for shows at Inchyra can be purchased online through our ticketing partner Skiddle. Tickets through Skiddle are print at home e-tickets meaning there are no delivery charges. For some shows we also issue paper tickets which can be bought over the counter at the following outlets: St Madoes Village Store (very close to the venue), Spar in Errol, Bandwagon in Perth and Groucho's in Dundee. Tickets are transferable but non-refundable – this means that, once you have purchased a ticket you can give it or sell it to someone but it cannot be refunded by the venue. This is standard practice for live shows as it would be impossible to run shows if you couldn’t rely on the ticket sales. If a show is sold out, Skiddle run a very effective re-sale facility, which can be accessed through your Skiddle account.

ACCESS TO INCHYRA: Inchyra is a private home which is opened up for shows. The car park will open an hour before the doors open, which is usually at 7pm. Please don’t arrive on the estate earlier than this.

TIMINGS: Timings for Inchyra shows follow a pretty set format. Doors open at 7pm with hot food available and the bar open.  Show time 8pm. Unfortunately we are not able to advise on end times for live shows as these will vary accordingly to the artist.  However, if there is support the times will be approximately 8.00pm support act, 9pm headline act, with a finish at approximately 10.30pm, but this may run over depending on encores etc. Shows without a support act are likely to finish earlier. The bar is usually open until 11pm.

SEATING FORMATS: Seating for all shows at Inchyra is unreserved.  We will tell you at the top of each show listing what style of show it is.  Here's a description of what to expect for each style of seating:

• Cabaret Seating: jazz club style seating at small round tables with chairs, together with some bench seating for larger cabaret style shows.  Chairs are padded, benches are not. You are advised to arrive early to grab the best seats.
• Theatre Seating:  chairs laid out in rows facing the stage and allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Please be advised that due to the construction of the barn, seats in some places will have a supporting beam in their view, so again arrive early to grab the best seats. 
• Standing:  there is very limited seating available at these shows.  

DISABLED ACCESS: If you require disabled access or seating for any of our shows, including standing, please contact us on 01738 860066 and we will do our best to arrange this for you. Please be advised that disabled seating at standing shows requires the construction of a ramp and raised stand so please contact us well in advance.  Priority will be given to wheelchair users. We cannot guarantee disabled seating if we are not notified in advance of the show.  There are disabled parking bays close to the venue, where again, wheelchair users will be given priority.  

FOOD: for most shows at Inchyra there is hot food available (usually street style food) and we will detail this in the show information at the top of the page. Food is served from doors opening time. 

BAR: Unless otherwise specified there is a licenced bar available at all shows. 

UNDER 18s: we are all in favour of introducing children and young people to live music at an early age, however, our experience is that below a certain age the vast majority of children find big loud shows too much which is not great for them or for the rest of the audience. We therefore give a minimum age which is our experience is suitable for each show. Please do not buy tickets for children below the stated age as we will not be able to give them access.

Jack Dee performed new material to a sell-out audience at Inchyra. 

“In these difficult and uncertain times people need hope – a ray of sunshine to brighten their day. And that’s very much where I come in” says Jack.

Star of TV sitcoms Bad Move, Lead Balloon and Josh as well as chair of the legendary Radio 4 show 'I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue'.

Other credits include presenting Jack Dee’s Helpdesk on BBC Two and being the star of C4’s, The Jack Dee Show, Jack Dee’s Saturday Night, Jack Dee’s Happy Hour and Jack Dee Live at the Apollo. “In fact,” explains Jack, “I’ve appeared in every single TV show with my name in the title”.

The young Glasgow based band welcomed their largest audience to date at Inchyra on this first headline tour.  The band's line up includes members from the traditional music, jazz, and classical courses at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. And their catchy folk fusion sound on the night definitely confirmed them as one of the most bands to watch on the Scottish music scene. 

The members draw upon their disparate backgrounds and combine rock, jazz and folk styles to create a unique sound using both traditional tunes and band members' original compositions. With musicians from Argentina, the USA and Scotland, they blend many musical traditions together to make a fresh kind of Scottish music.

Legendary 70s folk-rock pioneers LINDISFARNE played their first show at Inchyra with a classic five-piece line up of long-time members fronted by original founder-member Rod Clements on vocals, mandolin, fiddle and slide guitar. With a repertoire of unforgettable songs like Meet Me On The Corner, Fog On The Tyne, Lady Eleanor and Run For Home this wonderful performance had the Inchyra crowd singing along.

We were delighted to be able to bring this very special event to Inchyra. To celebrate the release of The Divine Comedy's new album 'Office Politics' on 7th June 2019 the band performed a special intimate show at Inchyra Arts Club on 10^th June 2019.



The Byre was packed out for this wonderfully uplifting night of jazz. 

On 26th May 2019, the Inchyra Arts Club was given over to a hugely talented group of jazz musicians who had come together to help young autistic music student Ciaran Roberts Osterberg, playing drums, raise money to help him take up his scholarship place at the renowned Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA. We were delighted to be donating all proceeds from the show to help this outstanding young musician.

Enjoy these videos from the show:

with support Rainbreakers

The Temperance Movement made a very welcome return to Inchyra in this one-off sold-out special show.  

Southern Blues Larkin Poe style

Review of Larkin Poe at Inchyra, 8th April 2019 - Pete Drummond-Hay

"A sell-out crowd enjoyed a superb night of Southern Rock and Americana at
Inchyra Arts Club on Monday night.

Support came from Bristol-based duo Foreign Affairs who got the show off to a
cracking start. Brothers, Adam and Lawrence Purnell, treated the audience to a
showcase of tunes from ‘The Old Fire Station’, their recently released mini
album. Lawrence’s interesting and heartfelt songs are enlivened and enlarged
Adam’s skilful grungy guitar. On their gentler numbers, they create unusually
atmospheric and powerful soundscapes, the scope of which is extraordinary
for just two musicians. The Purnell brothers are a talented pair who know how
to excite a crowd.

Then came the twin guitar assault of Larkin Poe, a magnificent, authentic
Southern rock band. Hailing from Georgia and led by sisters Rebecca and
Meghan Lovell, they proceeded to tear the place apart with a well-paced set of
original songs and judiciously chosen covers. They were ably supported by a
rhythm section comprising Kevin McGowan on Drums and Tarka Layman
on Bass and Keyboards that allowed the Lead Guitar lines of Rebecca and the
startlingly inventive Slide Guitar of Meghan to soar. This combined with some
gorgeous smoky vocals, reminiscent, at times, of Bonnie Raitt, and even on the
more soulful numbers evoking Tina Turner, overlaid with the sibling harmonies
that only families seem able to achieve, made for a really exciting show.

Their music is grounded in the Southern Rock and Country Blues of the likes of the Allmann Brothers but Larkin Poe take the genre and put their own, unique stamp on it. Songs from their new album ‘Venom and Faith’ crossed swords with classics like “John the Revelator” and Robert Johnson’s “ Come on in my Kitchen” and it was hard to distinguish new from old so steeped in the Blues are they. The ingenuity and extended soloing on Lead and Slide encapsulated the South admirably. They had the audience in the palm of their hands and songs like “California King” and “Blue Ridge Mountains” were perfect for the band to stretch themselves. “Mad as a Hatter” written for their Grandad was a delight. This was Riff laden rock performed brilliantly and the last night of their four-week European tour will live long in the memory of the Arts Club audience as they made their way home singing."

The awesome Gangstagrass returned to Inchyra!  



USEFUL INFORMATION

TICKETING: Tickets for shows at Inchyra can be purchased online through our ticketing partner Skiddle. Tickets are transferable but non-refundable. For most shows tickets are available over the counter in three local outlets: St Madoes Village Store (very close to the venue), Bandwagon in Perth and Groucho's in Dundee. 

SEATING: Seating for all shows at Inchyra is unreserved.  Here's a description of what to expect for each style of seating:

• Cabaret Seating: jazz club style seating at small round tables with chairs together with some bench seating for larger cabaret-style shows.  Chairs are padded, benches are not!   You are advised to arrive early to grab the best seats.
• Theatre Seating:  chairs laid out in rows facing the stage allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Please be advised that due to the construction of the barn, seats in some places will have a supporting beam in their view, so again arrive early to grab the best seats.  
• Standing:  there is no seating available at these shows.  

DISABLED ACCESS: If you require disabled access or seating for any of our shows, including standing, please contact us on 01738 860066 and we will arrange this for you. Please be advised that disabled seating at standing shows requires the construction of a ramp and raised stand so please contact us well in advance.  

FOOD: for most shows at Inchyra there is hot food available and we will detail this in the show information at the top of the page.  As soon as we know what it is going to be we will add these details to the show information on our website. There is always a vegetarian option available.  Food is served from doors opening time. 

BAR: Unless otherwise specified there is a licenced bar available at all shows. 

 WITH SUPPORT: Billy Mitchell and Stephanie Fraser

The View frontman Kyle Falconer playED Inchyra following the widely acclaimed launch of his first solo album earlier this year.  We were delighted to be welcoming Dundee's biggest star to the Byre. 

Kyle Falconer 'Don't Look Back In Anger'

After an impressive 19 years together, seven studio albums and over a million records sold worldwide, they might be excused a bit of downtime. But no…….the estimable London 4-piece Turin Brakes released their eighth studio album ‘Invisible Storm’ in January 2018 on Cooking Vinyl and headed out across the UK on 'The Invisible Storm' Tour. 

Invisible Storm is big-picture music played on a small screen, refracted through lyrics that embrace the personal and the universal. Formed in Balham South London, Turin Brakes released their Mercury Music Prize nominated debut album The Optimist in 2001 followed by Ether Song in 2003 which featured the top 5 hit single Pain Killer (Summer Rain). One of the finest indie bands of the last decade with 7 top 40 hits to their name Turin Brakes are a band that’s weathered many Invisible Storms, are sure of who they are and what they’ve set out to do, and know that there’s always a story left to tell…

On the night the band were supported by the wonderful Eliza Shaddad who only that day had seen her debut LP well reviewed in The Sunday Times. Eliza is a Scottish-Sudanese musician and songwriter who has released two critically acclaimed EPs on independent label Beatnik Creative.  Championed by tastemakers across BBC Radios, Radio X, and supported by the likes of The Sunday Times, i-D Magazine and FADER, Shaddad has seen her reputation for moving songwriting and powerful live shows grow, collaborating with the likes of Clean Bandit and Tom Speight, and playing dates with the likes of Kate Tempest, Oh Wonder, Lucy Rose and James Bay. 

“Haunting" - The Sunday Times | “Passionate and captivating” - Scotland on Sunday

Skye's legendary trailblazers returned to Inchyra by popular demand making for a record-breaking THIRD appearance on the Byre stage.  We were absolutely delighted that the band chose to play Inchyra as one of a limited number of shows during 2018.

“Nothing prepares you for the high octane music of the Peatbog Faeries. Powerful melodies are dextrously pumped out with a smart degree of techno attitude, while cross-rhythms ricochet over a heavy bass that hits you forcefully like a massive heart beat.”  The Scotsman

with support The New Madrids

One of the best live bands currently working in the UK, The Temperance Movement played Inchyra on a rain-free summer evening producing one of the stand out performances of their career in one of Scotland's most atmospheric venues.   

The band's eagerly-anticipated new album, 'A Deeper Cut', was released in February this year to rave reviews across the board and features 12 brand new songs which draw on the band's most recent experiences.  

"This is my favourite record we've made so far and I'm more excited about getting this out there than I have been about any of the previous albums," states guitarist Paul Sayer.  "I feel like we've really captured what the band is about on this one; I can't wait for people to hear it and I can't wait to get out on the road and play it live to everyone." 

'brazen, loud and pure rock n roll' TENEMENT TV

One of the most authentic and spirited players of blues and New Orleans piano in Europe today, Dom Pipkin has appeared live all around the world, winning and wowing fans with his electrifying live performances.

His musical life’s journey has culminated in the creation of his solo show “Smokin’ Boogie - Tales of the Big Easy, Bourbon & Bad Boys” - New Orleans piano from its very beginnings in the brothels of the early jazz age through the joyous RnB boom of the 50s, marked by artists such as Fats Domino and Professor Longhair, into the heady drug-fuelled excesses and funk of James Booker and the “Nite Tripper” Dr John.

A mixture of stories, humour, and unfiltered raw blues piano, the show was a  massive hit with an enthusiastic Inchyra audience.  Pipkin is an engaging performer and held an appreciative crowd spell bound with his obvious love of the genre and his consummate skill on the piano. 

Jake Bugg released his stunning new album ‘Hearts That Strain’, recorded in Nashville, September 1st on Virgin EMI. He visited Inchyra as part of a solo acoustic album tour of the UK.  The Byre welcomed the largest audience to date for a truly memorable night - with support from rising star Georgie.  

A largely amateur cast received a standing ovation for this poignant sell out evening of song, poetry and music dedicated to the memory of those who fell in the Great War 1914-1918 and told through the story of a Scottish Everyman. 

We were delighted to support this Charitable Performance which raised funds for Poppy Scotland, The Black Watch Museum in Perth and All Saints Church Glencarse.

When you think of legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald, you think of the some of the greatest music ever performed. 2017 marks a very special year as one of the most loved entertainer of all time Ella Fitzgerald will be celebrated around the world with a series of commemorative centennial events.

As part of these celebrations, multi-award winning guitarist Martin Taylor and Scottish-Canadian jazz singer Alison Burns toured the UK for a series of concerts highlighting the Grammy-award winning collaboration between Ella and jazz guitarist Joe Pass. Taylor and Burns who have performed for Prince William and whose fans include Sir Michael Parkinson and Downtown Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, presented a concert inspired by the intimate 1960's duo recordings of Joe Pass and Ella Fitzgerald to a large and hugely appreciative audience in the Byre. 

This true star of the Scottish music scene enjoyed mainstream chart success with hits including ‘Answer Me’, ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’, ‘Caravan’ and the million-selling number one single, ‘I Know Him So Well’.  As Scotland’s best-selling female album artist she has earned 6 platinum, 11 gold and 7 silver albums and cemented her status as one of the UK’s best-loved performers. Her stage career has included the roles of the original Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell’s long-running musical, ‘Blood Brothers’ and as Viv Nicholson in ‘Spend Spend Spend,’ both of which have won her an Olivier award for ‘Best Actress’. Barbara was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen in the 2002 New Year’s Honours for her services to music and drama and she continues to record and to play to sold-out audiences.

Nick Holland joined Barbara’s touring band in the mid-2000’s playing keyboards and adding vocals on her ‘Full Circle’ album, the first to feature the style of music she now performs. Barbara and Nick recently started working as a duo with Barbara on guitar and piano and Nick on keyboards – adding harmonies to Barbara’s own wonderful vocals. They have performed this way in numerous venues including cathedrals, festivals and theatres and developed an intimate rapport with each other and the audience.

"The Heroes British Rock Needs Right Now!" Huffington Post

Hunter & The Bear are one of the UK’s most exciting bands and pioneers of a long anticipated resurgence of rock & roll. The band played Inchyra on the tour for their debut album which launched just two days before this show and entered the iTunes Rock Chart at a storming No 8!  

Martin Harley is quite simply one of the best blues guitar players around at the moment, with a burgeoning global reputation. Martin played at Inchyra in 2015 and anyone who was there that night will tell you that it was something very special. 2017's return was no less impressive and the added bonus of the accomplished bass playing of Daniel Kimbro only added to the experience. 

Since last visiting us, Martin has released the widely acclaimed album 'Live at Southern Ground' in a collaboration with Daniel (Jerry Douglas, Larkin Poe) on upright bass. This tour celebrated the release of their latest collaboration - 'Static in the Wires'.  

“Harley offers the listener a masterclass in taste, style and roots blues” GUITARIST MAGAZINE

“Martin is arguably the best Weissenborn player in the UK and has been for many years.” WEISSENBORN EXCHANGE

“No doubt that he is a slide guitar master. He is the business” ROOTS MAGAZINE

“Awesome” JOHNNIE WALKER, BBC Radio 2

“Quite simply a great live act” TIME OUT LONDON

“This is how acoustic roots should be heard on a record that allows Harley’s indisputable talent and spirit to shine through” THE BLUES MAGAZINE 8/10 stars

“Martin Harley is one of our finest acoustic guitar players” BLUES IN THE NORTH WEST

Reviews for Martin Harley & Daniel Kimbro's latest album 'Live at Southern Ground':

“Incredible slide guitar chops, Cementing his reputation as one of it’s finest exponents” THE BLUES MAGAZINE 8/10

“’If you only invest in one Blues album this year then make it this one” ROCK SOCIETY

‘A gem of a record for all blues and hollowneck fans’ WEISSENBORN EXCHANGE

“Martin is arguably the best Weissenborn player in the UK and has been for many years. This release only underlines his stature even further as Britains best steel on steel blues ambassador.” WEISSENBORN EXCHANGE

‘From the first note to the last, this is a gorgeous album, played beautifully and with some real respect between the players.’ 5/5 stars MUSIC NEWS

“A spell binding 50 minutes” THE OBSERVER

“Handsome showcase for Harley’s talents as an acoustic guitarist, writer and performer” THE GUARDIAN

“For all lovers of acoustic blues and top class roots music . . . this is for you.” BLUES IN THE NORTHWEST

“Live At Southern Ground is an album for everyone who loves acoustic blues” BLUESDOODLES 9/10

He's a joy! He is classic! He is a must!"  RUSSELL HUNTER

Jazz and cabaret legend Earl Okin performed at Inchyra during a short tour celebrating his 70th birthday.  He first learnt his stagecraft in folk clubs and when they were replaced by comedy clubs, Earl moved effortlessly from one to the other and has been a headline act on the unforgiving UK alternative comedy circuit for decades, highly respected by all his fellow performers, young and old.  Expect jazz, cabaret and definitely a few laughs as this highly regarded and seasoned entertainer struts our stage.  

He began, however, at the Comic Strip, alongside, Rik Mayall, French & Saunders, Nigel Planer et al. Among his admirers are such names as Billy Connolly (who likewise began his career in folk-clubs), Sacha Baron Cohen and Eddie Izzard (at whose clubs Earl headlined when they were both starting out).

Among his American admirers are such established names as Emo Philips and Rick Overton. Earl has probably performed more ‘encores’ than just about anyone around and his blend of comedy and music (Tom Lehrer was one of his influences) is in demand literally around the world.  Earl has performed at such festivals as Juste Pour Rire in Montreal, the Adelaide Fringe in Australia and Humorologie in Belgium with equal success.  He regularly performs in Sweden, Germany, Austria and Holland…and at such famous US clubs as The Comedy Store, Caroline’s, The Improv. and The Ice House.

For 18 years straight, Earl performed at the internationally famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe,consistently coming away in profit…a major achievement, as any Edinburgh performer will agree!

Last but not least, Earl is in high demand for both corporate and private parties, having entertained not only Queen Elizabeth II but the king and queen of Sweden, too.

As with everything else he does, Earl Okin’s show is unique!
 

"The Festival is really under way. Earl Okin is back for his 11th consecutive year. He is, if anything, funnier than ever, just as amazing on both guitar and piano, and his 'trumpet' style is still mind blowing. To a most appreciative audience he exercised his magic again. Age does not matter for he appeals to all from 17 to senility. This year's show is 'Nothing To Do With Sex Whatsoever' and if you believe that you'll believe anything.  For much of the time you think he's only ad-libbing, but slowly realise that you are in the presence of a master of the art of cabaret. The man is unmissable as singer, songwriter, Jazz musician, comedian and, possibly my favourite this year, as a dance-track singer. He's a joy! He is classic! He is a must!
Russell Hunter, reviewing Earl Okin at the Edinburgh Fringe

This nationally acclaimed touring production from Perth Theatre in association with Bristol Old Vic, Theatre By The Lake and Theatre 503, came to Inchyra for two nights, with a sold out second night.

A soaringly emotional two hander set against the foot and mouth epidemic.  As the disease sweeps through the British countryside, communities are thrown into chaos. Michael watches, in grief stricken disbelief, the shooting of his beloved cows. He also watches his friend brandish the gun. 

By turns heart-breaking and hilarious, And Then Come the Nightjars is a tender portrait of male friendship and a requiem to rural life. Audiences on both nights were silenced by the harrowing scenes and roaring at the very British characters laughing in the face of adversity.  

'A savagely funny and sad play directed with real delicacy' The Guardian 

'Intensely funny… a small gem of a play from a writer to watch' The Daily Telegraph. 

Winner of the Theatre 503 Playwriting Award. 

Fourteen ★★★★ reviews including: ★★★★ The Stage, ★★★★The Evening Standard, ★★★★The Guardian, ★★★★The Telegraph, ★★★★Time Out and six Off West End 

nominations - including Best Director, Most Promising Playwright and Best Set Design. 

Image: Jack Sain

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo – 2016 & 2013

A fabulous night at Inchyra as Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman performed in the intimate surroundings of the Stable Room at Inchyra.  The duo have long established themselves as one of the UK folk scene’s most rewardingly enduring partnerships and this performance only served to underline that. Twice recent winners of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo – 2016 & 2013 – the couple’s intimacy and strength of passion on stage have won them many fans and an enviable reputation as ‘Songwriters par excellence’- (fRoots), whose greatly varied original songs cover such subjects as wicked mermaids, Norwegian legends and a lonely whale.

This was a fantastic Celtic double headliner to kick off the year. Top bluegrass Dundonians and friends of Inchyra Wire & Wool returned to the Byre alongside the Irish band Old Hannah.

Old Hannah are a band from the west of Ireland who've taken a deep-rooted love of all things folk, country and traditional, and have spun those influences into a unique and sophisticated sound that's both contemporary and timeless. Adding drums,trumpets and outstanding four-part harmonies to a chorus of string instruments,these old friends bring audiences to a standstill on the regular.

Wire & Wool are well known to many Byre regulars who have seen their foot stomping, energetic, and frankly sometimes exhausting, stints on our stage.

A great young band from Leeds - think Elbow with a bit of Mumford and a dash of Damien Rice.  Great stuff and we were lucky enough to have the first night of this UK tour.  

The Dunwells have already made an impact in America with their 2013 debut album Blind Sighted Faith—having hit singles and playing them on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, appearing at Lollapalooza and Red Rocks—but now their sights are set closer to home: to make an even bigger impact in the UK - and we're pretty sure they will. 

This was a thoroughly brilliant night in the Byre - many people commented that it felt like you were seeing a band playing a huge venue - they played to the Byre audience as if we were Wembley!  Fantastic stuff.  We may be proved wrong but we all agreed that we wouldn't be surprised if this was one of those bands that in a few years time we'll all be saying 'do you remember when we saw The Dunwells in Glencarse?!"

Many thanks to the boys for a really great night and hugest good luck from everyone at Inchyra for what should be a stellar future. 

Images: Cameron Phillips Photography