With Fifestock in full swing, Rocktalk decided last weekend to try out the latest venture of promoter David Mundell, the man behind the successful Bein Inn and Inn at Lathones venues.
David has just teamed up with the owners of the Green Hotel in Kinross, establishing his biggest venue yet around 100 capacity but still with his trademark “living room gig” intimate feel.
For the uninitiated, David won Music Venue of The Year for Scotland in 2003 at the Bein Inn, was a finalist twice more and was also shortlisted for UK Music Venue of The Year 2008. After moving to the Inn at Lathones, the hotel won the 2009 Best Music Venue in the UK (Publican) and was a finalist the same year in the Music Venue of the Year for Scotland.
It’s a phenomenal record and well-deserved after enticing a huge range of quality bands and musicians to his venues, which feature his incredible collection of music memorabilia. That includes posters, guitars and other great keepsakes, amassed from the likes of Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton et al, adorning the walls of Backstage at the Green.
It’s well worth a visit for that stuff alone a great collection from some of the biggest stars on the planet.
David explained, “I think the bigger venue does more justice to Fifestock the room is great and allows us to let more people see the great talent on show, but still keep it intimate. It actually used to be the swimming pool but the hotel group has a spa and leisure club across the road so I convinced them to turn it into a venue and it’s worked out great.”
Top acts for the third annual Fifestock had already included Benny Gallagher (of Gallagher & Lyle fame), Colin Blunstone (Ex-Zombies & Alan Parsons Project), and The Blues Band. Henry McCullough (Joe Cocker, Paul McCartney & Wings), Ian McNabb (founder of The Icicle Works), Colin Blunstone, Jackie Leven, Trevor Burton (The Move) and Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash to name a few were still to come.
For Rocktalk’s first visit to the venue, the Friday night attraction was always going to be great fun, with Rod Stewart’s former backing band, now called Apart From Rod, playing the second of two rollicking nights. It lived up to its name, with Apart From Rod featuring Jim Cregan (Ex-Family and Rod Stewart Band), Robin Le Mesurier (Ex-Rod Stewart Band) and Robert Hart (Ex-Bad Company and Rod Stewart Band) forming part of a superb unit.
These guys recorded all the top hits with Rod after the break-up of the Faces and their live set features a run through of all the greatest songs they played together in the late 70s, 80s and early 90s.
Whatever your musical tastes it was always going to be a fabulous night, albeit criminally under-attended, with only around 40 or 50 lucky souls there. It didn’t detract from what was a hugely enjoyable occasion great songs, great playing and outrageously great fun from the original guys.
And in young singer Jim Stapley they have a superb young “Rod” in the making markedly less gravelly but shut your eyes and it could have been the great man himself, aged 20 on a good night.
Saturday night saw Perth “supergroup” Red Pine Timber Co. playing some fine Americana tunes. Another highlight through the room was the new Goldrush record store which has opened up in the hotel, selling some brilliant and rare vinyl from back in the day.
The appropriately-named Alan Thomson’s All-Stars followed the Old Firm game on Sunday afternoon before Rev Doc and the Congregation at night.Fifestock continues until March 9. See www.mundellmusic.com and www.fifestock.com for info.