1966
Jan 1 The Drovers and The Oreogons 5/-
Jan 3 Grand New Year Dance
The Four Just Men
The Oreogons
The Wick Scottish Broadcasting Band 6/-
Although the Oreogons were advertised to play at the New Year Dance the Fugitives were also billed in a separate publication
as support for the Drovers on the Friday night. If the Fugitives did indeed play then this was their first recorded appearance at the Pavilion
and not the grandly titled "first appearance in the North" on January 28th.
Pictured are some of the Fugitives.
The same source advertised The Four Just Men plus One and the Wick Scottish for the Grand New Year Dance.
Jan 7 Phil Ryan and the Crescents (Columbia recording artists)
The Oreogons
Jan 8 Phil Ryan and the Crescents
The Oreogons
Jan 14 The Drovers
The Oreogons
Jan 15 The Drovers
The Oreogons
Jan 21 Hedgehoppers Anonymous (from Top of the Pops)
The Oreogons
The Tribe
Jan 22 The Mark Five
The Oreogons
The Tribe
This was the first date at the Pavilion for the Tribe. They had made their public debut at the Sports and Athletics Club "Hot Spot"
in Dingwall Town Hall in May 1965 and followed this up with a booking at Evanton for a Young Unionists Barn Dance in July.
Their line up at that time was John Sinclair (bass/vocals), Eric Sutherland (rhythm/vocals), Malcolm Maclennan (lead) and
Peter Angus (drums).
Modern dancing Enterprises, run by Albert Bonici, was advertising as follows:
Tain Sounds Incorporated
Elgin Gerry and the Pacemakers
Nairn Ballerina opening Jan 21
Jan 28 The Fugitives (first appearance in the North)
The Oreogons
Jan 29 The Fugitives
The Oreogons
The Fugitives first came to prominence during the 1965 Dingwall Gala Week and were given a resident spot at the Fire Brigade Teenage Dances
which started again on September 4th 1965. The leader of the band was Dennis Thomson from Ferintosh Distillery, Dingwall and the singer was
Raymond Bethune from Culbokie.
On Saturday January 29th Dingwall Fire Brigade Club had the Tribe playing at the Lower Town Hall, Dingwall at a Teenagers Dance.
The following week on February 4th Dingwall ATC held a Teenbeat Dance at the same venue with the Fugitives at a cost of 2/6.
Feb 4 Jimmy Powell and the Dimensions from Birmingham
The Drovers
The Oreogons
Feb 5 Jimmy Powell and the Dimensions
The Drovers
The Tribe
Jimmy Powell turned professional in 1961 after joining an up-and-coming local group called the Rockin' Berries.
In November 1961, the Rockin' Berries, including local singer Clive Lea as well as Jimmy Powell, went to Germany, where they played
at the Star Club. The following year the group was auditioned by Jack Good who showed little interest in signing the band but said that
Jimmy Powell had some potential. The group went back to the Star Club but by the summer of 1962, Jimmy Powell had returned to Birmingham
where he was signed up by Jack Good. Jimmy went down to London where he became involved with the local blues scene at the Marquee Club.
Here he was introduced to the Five Dimensions and after an audition, Jimmy was given the position of lead vocalist. About six months later,
a second vocalist/harmonica player named Rod Stewart was added to the group. According to Jimmy Powell, Rod stayed as part of the line-up
for about a year. In 1964, the Five Dimensions were hired to provide backing for Jamaican singer Millie Small on her hit recording of
'My Boy Lollipop', with Jimmy Powell supplying the harmonica part (not Rod Stewart, as is sometimes thought). However rivalry between the
two singers led to Rod leaving and taking some of the band with him to back Chuck Berry on a British tour. Shortly after the group broke up.
Jimmy continued to work with a number of different musicians, all of whom he called "the Dimensions" and although he went on
to record further singles his considerable popularity as a live attraction was never reflected in terms of record sales since
none of the singles ever sold well enough to get into the charts. He returned to the Pavilion for the second time on June 9th 1967,
by coincidence only a week before Millie, whom his group had backed on her recording of "My Boy Lollipop" in 1964.
Feb 11 The Fourmosts
Theme Unlimited
The Tribe
Feb 12 Theme Unlimited
The Tribe
The Fourmost consisted of Brian O'Hara - guitar/vocals, Mike Millward - guitar/vocals,
Billy Hatton - bass guitar and Dave Lovelady - drums.
The group formed in late '59 and were originally called The Blue Jays, then The Four Jays and
then The Four Mosts. Their name was shortened by Brian Epstein when he took over their management
in 1963. They immediately got better bookings, a contract with Parlophone Records and they were recorded
by George Martin. They were also given two Lennon/McCartney songs not used by The Beatles for their first
two singles "Hello Little Girl" and "I'm in love". They were featured in the film "Ferry Cross The Mersey"
Mike Millward, was taken ill with throat cancer in '64 and died of leukaemia in March 1966. His replacement,
who played at the Pavilion, was George Peckham. They made 2 further records in August and November 1966
but neither reached the charts.
Feb 18 Grand Eve of Cup Tie Dance featuring one of Ireland’s Top Groups from Belfast
The Blue Beats Showband and
The Tribe
Miss Ross County to be chosen
Feb 19 The Blue Beats
The Tribe
Feb 25 The Drovers
Linda Flavell and the Meridians
Feb 26 The Drovers
The Tribe
Mar 4 The Blue Beats
The Oreogons
Mar 5 The Blue Beats
The Tribe
Mar 11 The Mad Hatters
The Oreogons
Mar 12 The Mad Hatters
The Oreogons
Mar 18 The Drovers
20th Century Sounds
Four Pennies Tain Town Hall
I met them in the Music Shup in Tulloch Street, Dingwall, where the Chinese takeaway is now. They were looking for a brand of guitar strings which the owner did not stock. They acted the part of big stars and grumbled that they would have to go to Inverness instead. This was just hours before their date in Tain.
Mar 19 The Drovers
The Tribe
Mar 25 The Blue Beats from Belfast
The Tribe
Mar 26 The Blue Beats
The Tribe
Apr 1 The Drovers
The Tribe
Apr 2 the Drovers
The Tribe
Apr8 The Premiers
The Tribe
Apr 9 The Premiers
The Tribe
Apr 15 The Ardennes
The Tribe
Apr 16 The Ardennes
The Tribe
Apr 22 The Drovers
The Tribe
Apr 23 The Drovers
The Tribe
Apr 29 Tony and the Traders
The Blue Beat Showband
The Tribe
Apr 30 Tony and the Traders
The Tribe
May 6 The Dee Jays Showband
The Tribe
May 7 The Dee Jays Showband
The Tribe
May 13 The Drovers
The Tribe
May 14 The Drovers
The Tribe
May 20 The Maverix
The Tribe
May 21 The Maverix
The Tribe
May 27 The Bo-Weales
The Tribe
May 28 The Bo-Weales
The Tribe
May 27 Advert for Highland Cabaret Mon/Wed/Thurs 8.30 –11.00
Argo Cameron etc. 5/-
May 28 First parade of Pipe Band in the Square
Jun 3 The Drovers
The Tribe
Jun 4 The Drovers
The Tribe
Jun 10 This Generation
The Tribe
Jun 11 This Generation
The Tribe
Jun 17 The Maverix
The Tribe
Jun 18 The Maverix
The Tribe
Jun 24 The Drovers
The Tribe
Jun 25 The Drovers
The Tribe
Jun 24 Caberfeidh Water Ski Club
Open-air dance at Curling Rink Muir of Ord 9.30
The Ambassadors and the New Breed 6/- Barbecue
Refreshments by the Bught Hotel, Inverness
Jul 1 The Veltones
The Tribe
Jul 2 The Veltones
The Tribe
Jul 8 The Drovers
The Tribe
Jul 9 the Drovers
The Tribe
Jul 15 The Blue Beat Show Band
The Tribe
Jul 16 The Blue Beat Show Band
The Tribe
The Dingwall Gala Queen dance was scheduled to take place on 20th July. There were plans firstly to get Jimmy Savile to crown
the queen but when this fell through an approach was made to Denis law. In the event neither attended.
Jul 22 Brian Poole and the Tremoloes
The Drovers
The Tribe
Jul 23 The Drovers
The Tribe
July 23 Big Beat Jamboree
Dingwall Town Hall 4/- 2/- gallery First prize £25
Hundreds of teenagers attended the Big Beat Jamboree. There were six bands entered: Blues Union (Inverness), The New Breed,
The Oreogons, The Pedestrians, The Tribe and The Wildkats (Inverness). The event ran from 8.00 - 11.30 and the results were:
First prize £25 The Oreogons Second place The Tribe Third place The Pedestrians.
Jul 29 The Drovers
The Tribe
Jul 30 The Drovers
The Tribe
Aug 5 The Veltones
Country Cousins
Aug 6 The Veltones
Country Cousins
The Country Cousins played a number of dates at the Pavilion. They were:
Robert Stewart (lead singer/rhythm), Jim Rowan (harmonies/bass), Tom Balmain (singer/
lead guitar), Alex Doyle (Hawaiian guitar), Jimmy "Toe" O'Neil (drums). When
last heard of Jimmy was still playing with the George Penman Jazz Band in the Glasgow area.
The band came from the Glasgow /East Kilbride area and had a good following in
the North, playing on the circuit. At the Pavilion they supported Freddie and the Dreamers,
David Jacobs, Whistling Jack Smith and Hedgehoppers Anonymous. Freddie and the
Dreamers, who got a fee of £1000, brought their own guitars but used the
Country Cousins' equipment. The Country Cousins sometimes did a Friday and a
Saturday night. When this happened they had the use of rooms at the top of the Pavilion.
After the dance they were locked in and not allowed out since the building was alarmed
directly to the Fire Brigade in Inverness. It was said that a member of a band appearing
at the Pavilion broke the curfew one night and, when trying to climb in an upper window,
slid down the slates and landed on the roof of the band's van parked below.
Top Left Robert Stewart ( Lead singer & rhythm guitar)
Top Right Tom Balmain ( Lead Guitar and singer )
Middle Jimmy "Toe" O'Neil ( Drummer)
Bottom Left Alex Doyle (Hawaian Guitar)
Bottom Right Jim Rowan ( Vocals & Bass Guitar )
Photograph of group, courtesy of Tom Balmain who says that the reason Jimmy O'Neil was
called " Toe " was as follows.
The band was preparing for a gig one might. While they were all getting
changed into their outfits the others noticed
his big toe was sticking out of a hole in his sock. From then on he was
called "Toe" by the others.
Steve Sheppard who ran the Pavilion was insistent on professional behaviour from the
artistes and did not allow smoking or drinking on stage or fraternising with locals.
Bands were allowed to have a drink in the Toddy Bowl during their breaks.
Aug 12 20th Century Sounds
The Tribe
Aug 13 The Drovers
The Tribe
Aug 19 The Drovers
The Maverix
The Tribe
Aug 20 The Drovers
The Tribe
Aug 26 The Maverix
The Tribe
Aug 27 The Maverix
The Tribe
Sep 2 Blues Brotherhood
The Tribe
Sep 3 Blues Brotherhood
The Tribe
Sep 9 The Drovers
Gary and the Highlanders
Sep 10 The Drovers
Gary and the Highlanders
Sep 15 Last Cabaret of season
Sep 16 The Vikings
The Tribe
Sep 17 The Spellbinders
The Tribe
Sep 23 Hedgehoppers Anonymous
The Country Cousins
The Pedestrians
Sep 24 The Country Cousins
The Pedestrians
Sep 30 The Emperors (one of Ireland’s top showbands)
The Pedestrians
Oct 1 The Emperors
The Pedestrians
Oct 7 The Jokers (Irish Showband from Derry)
The Pedestrians
Oct 8 The Jokers
The Pedestrians
Oct 14 The Maverix
The Pedestrians
Oct 15 The Maverix
The Pedestrians
Oct 21 20th Century Sounds
The Pedestrians
Oct 22 20th Century Sounds
The New Breed
The New Breed played their first engagement at a 21st party in Foulis Castle in September 1965. The line up
was Arthur Scott, Donald MacLennan and brother Kenneth, Alastair Scroggie and Kenneth Christie.
The line up (below left) shows Alastair Scroggie (rhythm) , Arthur Scott (bass and vocals), Kenneth MacLennan
(drums), Liz Cormack (keyboards), who had replaced Kenneth Christie, and Donald MacLennan (lead and vocals).
The picture (above right) shows Graham Jackson on the left who replaced Alastair Scroggie on rhythm guitar.
The band played locally in Ross Shire and in Inverness. When they left school Graham went to Edinburgh and
the others to Aberdeen where they became Mr Marigold's Attraction. Donald and Arthur were joined by Ray
Turpie on keyboards who wrote a lot of the band's material. Dave Lunney played drums until Ken joined again
a year later.
This photo shows L to R:
Liz Cormack, Donald MacLennan, Kenneth MacLennan, Alastair Scroggie and Arthur Scott.
It was taken on the stage of Dingwall Academy.
When the rest of the band left school Kenneth stayed on for a further year. He played with Knocker's Mob.
Here they are pictured from back to front:
John Noble, Kenneth MacLennan and Mike Devine.
This Albert Bonici flyer from 1968 shows that the Sterling Showband were not afraid of travelling to gigs
further afield during their residency at the Pavilion. It also shows the Longmore Hall in Keith and the Two
Red Shoes in Elgin, both venues played by the Beatles on their Scottish tours.
The band played regularly in Aberdeen and the North East until 1972 when they broke up to pursue separate
careers. However when Donald and Flora decided to emigrate to the US they reformed briefly in 1975 to
record some of their material at Pan Audio recording studios in Edinburgh, where Colin Nicolson was sound
engineer. He recorded the sessions and produced the finished material.
More recently some former members have reappeared as The Average Age Band and played again at the Pavilion
to raise funds for its ongoing refurbishment. The line up now consists of Arthur Scott, Ken MacLennan,
John Noble (ex Knocker's Mob) and Billy Nicol (ex Floribunda Rose). They are occasionally joined by Ian Travis
(keyboards) and Emily Scott (vocals) for charity gigs.
Oct 28 Gary and the Hi-Landers
The Pedestrians
Oct 29 Gary and the Hi-Landers
The Pedestrians
Nov 4 The Chessmen Same band 1963 Jan Pavilion?
The Pedestrians
Nov 5 The Power Set
The Oreogons
Nov 11 The Fifth Avenue
The Pedestrians
Nov 12 The Fifth Avenue
The Pedestrians
Nov 18 20th Century Sounds
The Pedestrians
Nov 19 20th Century Sounds
The Oreogons
Nov 25 The Drumbeats Irish Showband
The Pedestrians
Nov 26 The Drumbeats
The Pedestrians
Dec 2 The Fifth Column (formerly The Maverix)
The Pedestrians
Dec 3 The Fifth Column
The Pedestrians
Dec 9 A top Irish Showband
The Pedestrians
Dec 10 A top Irish Showband
The New Breed
Dec 16 The Boyfriends
The Pedestrians
Dec 17 The Boyfriends
The New Breed
Dec 23 The Woodpeckers (one of Ireland’s top showbands)
MI5 (returned from a successful tour of Germany)
Dec 24 The Woodpeckers
MI5
The Pedestrians
Dec 30 The Marine Showband from Ireland 9.30 – 1.30 6/6
The Pedestrians
Dec 31 The Marine Showband from Ireland 8.30 – 11.15 5/-
The Pedestrians
Jan 2 The Marine Showband from Ireland 9.00 – 2.00 7/6
The Pedestrians