Music students to perform at Inverness showcase

Music students from North Highland College UHI and Perth College UHI will be showcasing their talents in Inverness ahead of Scotland’s leading creative industries festival.
 
Liam Ross (22) from Invergordon, Jamie Bacon (21) from Wick and Cameron Roxburgh (19) from Callander will be playing at a University of the Highlands and Islands’ showcase at Mad Hatters on the eve of XpoNorth.
 
Liam Ross began playing guitar at the age of eleven and is now in the fourth year of a BA (Hons) in applied music at North Highland College UHI. He composes his own material which has influences ranging from Celtic folk to artists such as Fleetwood Mac and Kate Bush. Liam will deliver an acoustic set which showcases his signature finger picking style.
 
He said: “I look forward to bringing my finger picking style and unique guitar playing to this event. Be sure to expect original songs paired alongside material from bands such as Dire Straits and U2 like you’ve never heard them before.”
 
Cameron, who is studying for an HNC in music at Perth College UHI, describes his style as “weird, progressive and percussive acoustic.” The singer, songwriter and guitarist will perform a range of original compositions with his friend and bassist Callum Cronin at the Inverness gig.
 
He explained: “I am looking forward to taking part in this year’s XpoNorth event. The two day event is something I’ve been keen to attend for a good while now. I have been given the honour to showcase my music, prior to all the other brilliant musicians. That is the thing that excites me the most.”
 
Jamie Bacon, a fourth year BA (Hons) applied music student at Perth College UHI, lists Biffy Clyro and Frightened Rabbit among his influences. Writing his own material since the age of twelve, Jamie has a developed an ambient, indie sound with soft guitar solos and smooth vocals.
 
He said: “It’s a massive honour to play this event, coming from the highlands XpoNorth was always the event to play if you wanted to be a fully-fledged musician, so I am incredibly excited to be playing this showcase.”
 
The University of the Highlands and Islands’ showcase has been organised by lecturers to provide students with an opportunity to perform ahead of XpoNorth and to give the public a taste of some of the upcoming musical talent in the region. The gig will take place at Mad Hatters in Hootananny, Inverness, from 8pm to 11pm on Tuesday 6 June. Entry is free.