A bit of an odd event, that was frequently interesting, often entertaining, but never quite gelled.
It opened with a school pipe band marching on, followed by the evening's host, Gail Porter (no, I had to look up who she was too...). Some information about Fair Trade, a bit of an attempt at warming up the audience (not entirely successfully), and a couple of videos on a big screen over the stage, explaining something about the Fair Trade organisation and what they do.
Eventually we got to one of the two main music acts for the night, with, weirdly, the better musicians on first. Which maybe gave the biggest clue to the nature of the event. Shooglenifty were excellent, the 7 piece outfit delivering a rowdy and danceable set with sound musical ideas and lots of life about them.
The interval had more of Ms Porter, more worthy video material, and a youth drum band plus a youthful dance troupe. And then came the main act, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
I've seen the Pipers a couple of times before, but in a very different environment, where their fun act seemed more appropriate. But somehow it just didn't seem to work in a grand venue like the Usher. Competent musicians, albeit far from the best pipers (ironically), a deficit perhaps highlight by having seen and heard the wonderful Ross Ainslie a few nights before in the Traverse next door. More show than go, they are entertainers more than serious musicians. We left before the end...
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