Energise

Jul 3, 2023

By Margaret Chrystall Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing. Clean Bandit on stage. Picture: James Mackenzie. It seemed like a great balance for the Rag’n’Bone Man gig with its harder edge sounds to come on the Sunday. The show was cancelled, but with a hoped-for rescheduling. Keir Gibson on stage. Picture: James Mackenzie. Up-and-coming singer songwriter Keir Gibson, originally from Fort William – but also now spending time in California, kept the crowd entertained as he opened the night in a set also showcasing his new single As Lost As Me. These Raigmore nurses were among those enjoying the gig. Picture: James Mackenzie And he will be back at Belladrum and back in Inverness for a date in September. Ella Henderson, a source of energy that powered the crowd. Picture: James Mackenzie Ella Henderson for some is maybe best remembered for coming sixth in 2012’s X Factor, and her first single, Ghost going to number one. But she is now queen of the featured artist spot this year, with a series of singles denting the charts. Fans watching Ella Henderson. Picture: James Mackenzie The set buzzed with her David Guetta collab Crazy What Love Can Do, REACT with Switch Disco and its sample from Robert Miles’ classic Children and the latest 0800 Heaven with Joel Corry. Millie Chisholm (second left) at her first gig. Picture: James Mackenzie Feisty, great vocals and Scottish credentials to win more over, Ella’s was maybe the set of the night? Taking a moment in front of the stage for our photographer. Picture: James Mackenzie Exceptional voices – Yasmin Green and Kirsten Joy, two male urban-style dancing whirlwinds and the Clean Bandit instrumental core even boasted “a Scottish member of the band!” – Stephanie Benedetti, older sister of Nicola. Choire Hunter and Jessica Fraser from Alness. Picture: James Mackenzie Their hits rained down a lot harder than the one big shower – building to encore Rather Be, the ultimate high in a night of feelgood pop. Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.