>> Start-up funding music to the ears of Croft No.Five

A Scottish band that will get the Hogmanay crowds whooping in Edinburgh after the bells has been granted £13,000 start-up cash after its business plan was approved by Inverness and Nairn Enterprise.

Croft No.Five has recieved critical acclaim for its blend in traditional and world music and approached the enterprise as it wanted to develop into a full-time outfit.

Ruaraidh MacNeil, the head business development in Inverness said: "There is a massive leap between amateur and professional. We see a lot of business plans and I have to say I was extremely impressed with the professionalism and the aims of the band."

Misha Somerville who plays whistle said "We were in the position where we wanted to pull together in a more formal business way.

We will use the money for promotion, logistics and transport. We might also produce a short promotional video." The band hopes to buy its own van to save on expensive hire costs.

Somerville believes Croft No.Five is one of only a few full time music groups in Scotland that has recieved enterprise money for development, although neighbouring Ross and Cromarty Enterprise has helped also local groups.

MacNeil said the band's members were aall youndg enthusiasts doing something to give traditional music a modern fell. "I think, if their plans works well, there is no reason why Inverness Enterprse should not be actively supporting such bands. It's a nice story for the Highlands these guys are very switched on about what they want to do."

The band said that in its business plan that its unique selling point was that it was: "One of the only bands in Scotland able to put on a live show in clubs and at festivals which people can dance to. Due to their relative youth they can deliver fresh, high- energy stage shows, which few if any bands can match."
The band is involved in a partnership agreement involving the intellectual property.

Meanwhile, the sextet has already been signed up to help promote Britain in New York in April with the UKNY promotion, and at Celtic Connections in Glasgow next month, and is planning a tour in Scotland in May. More recently it visited Brussels for the Scotland/Europa festival.

Croft No.Five will be performing on the Waverley stage in Edinburgh after the midnight bells.

Kenny Kemp_Sunday Herald, 30thDec2002