A teenage rock band will open for a music festival in Inverness after picking up invaluable advice from industry professionals at last year’s event.
Inverness and Dingwall outfit Reliever will perform at Eden Court’s MonsterFest on Saturday November 4 after forming in the wake of an education event held for school pupils last year.
The Developing the Young Workforce project and music showcase that helped them get a start has inspired a record number of students to follow in their tracks.
The youngsters thanked those behind the venture.
Guitarist Flynn Wilson said: “The education day was very informative, [with] music options in the Highlands for me to do.. career choices, stuff I can do.”
A fresh influx of pupils from across Highland has converged on Eden Court Theatre to hear words of wisdom from established musicians, producers, technicians and even promoters.
The gathering offers a springboard for youngsters desperate to break into the music industry.
Nairn Academy pupil Lachy Hogg said: “I’m here because I want to learn more about the behind-the-scenes of the music industry rather than what you see up front.”
Alexa Moir, a Dingwall Academy pupil, said: “I’d probably like to be a music producer or some sort of musician – I really enjoy it.”
And Ukrainian-born Illia Petrov, a pupil at Inverness High School, said: I just want to learn how to do some music behind the scenes because I’m a performing musician. I’m a drummer in a band.”
Sandra McCaughey of the Developing The Young Workforce project said: “This is our key event in the calendar. The young people really benefit from it because it helps them to decide what subjects they need to study. It inspires them to understand that this could be for them.”
Monsterfest organiser Mark Allison added: “Initially, we actually had a band coming to Culloden Academy to play. Once we did that, we wanted to make more of the education side of things.
“So we started this workshop that opens up every festival, which has been a success as more and more students have applied to be part of it.”
London-based music promoter Whitney Ribbins has also been involved from the start.
She said: “A great example of its success is that two of the students who last year started a band.. and we encouraged them, saying ‘keep playing, keep practising, find other band members’ – and they’re actually our opening band at the festival this year.
“That’s so exciting. I’m so proud.. from 15 and 16 to getting their first live gig within a year.”
Reliever take to the stage at MonsterFest at Eden Court in Inverness at 1.40pm on Saturday November 4.
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