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Elgin singer one of first to get back on stage for live gig


By Lorna Thompson

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AN ELGIN singer will be one of the first local acts to get back to gigging this weekend at an Inverness venue.

Live music is returning to a second city venue this weekend as The Botanic House gets ready to welcome back performers and music fans.

Singer Colleen Murphy (36), from Elgin's Barlink Road, will kick off the first night line-up on Saturday, December 6, at 5pm.

Colleen said: "It's been a long and hard road for all us entertainers.

"This is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.

"I want to wish everyone to 'break a leg' over the next few weeks and welcome all from tier 1 to join us. Let the music play."

The Castle Street venue, which opened just over a year ago, has had strict Covid-19 procedures in place since its post-lockdown return in September.

Further precautions have now been taken, including social distancing at all times within the venue, to allow a return to live music.

Elgin-based singer Colleen Murphy.
Elgin-based singer Colleen Murphy.

The return of live gigs will be music to the ears for local acts – many of whom have found themselves out of work for nine months.

The Botanic House general manager Tom Wilding said: "We are really excited to get live music back into The Botanic, as a live music and entertainment venue.

"The past months have been challenging with the constantly changing restrictions.

"In true Highland spirit though, we have risen to the challenge, reinventing ourselves to give our loyal customers a great venue with new and exciting food and drink options to enjoy."

Gigs are planned until the end of the year.

Last month fellow Inverness venue The Ironworks held what was believed to be the first live indoor show in Scotland since lockdown in March when folk-rock band Torridon performed to a socially distanced audience of 100 people.

Back in April, Colleen, a full-time social work student at the Robert Gordon University, raised nearly £500 for Moray Women's Aid by staging an online gig from her living-room.


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