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INVERNESS YOUNG GUNS PLAY THE BIG APPLE - WE FOLLOW ALL THE TRANSATLANTIC TRIBULATIONS OG LOCAL STARS IN WAITING THAT ARE

CROFT NO.FIVE

Based near Central Park in the ultra-cool Hudson Hotel, Croft No. Five spent four days in New York City at the invitation of DISTILLED IN SCOTLAND: Live in New York - promoting Scotland to the American tourist market. They performed on three consecutive nights at Boylan Studios up on the 14th floor - with a spectacular nightime view over Manhattan. Each night thay took the stage after act Mull Historical Society - testiment to the promoter's belief in the boys' ability to whip up a storm. Playing to an excess of two thousand people over the three nights (a mixture of ex-pats, corporate guests and locals), the band felt they gained great experience - augmented by being joined onstage by Tommy Smith the renowned saxophonist for an improvised set on the final night.

Also performing in town at around the same night were the likes of Prince, George Clinton as well as the equally-far-from-home super furry animals. They bumped into numerous celebrities - as diverse as David Byrne and Puff Daddy. Quite exciting stuff for six 20-22 yr olds from the sticks. Whilst not performing, the band took in the usual tourist essentials - empire state building, shopping on 5th avenue, photos in Times square Gardens, and of course, hanging out in Central Park - taking a rowing boat out and the obligatory (hot)'dog in.
The Croft-ers are always busy, and on their return set about organising a summer tour of the Highlands. - extending over July and August. The tour will take the innovative approach of being presented as a club night, complete with DJ (name yet to be revealed as we go to press) and incorporating a set from the ever more impressive Lush Rollers and a performance from Croft No. Five guaranteed to be a good night wherever they play. (Further Details of tour in July magazine).

But YOU don't have to wait that long Inverness, as the band will also be appearing (along with their tour mates) at Queen's Park, Inverness on June 9th as part of the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay Celebrations.

The boys name a vast array of musical influences covering many genres - from the traditional influences of Phil'n'Aly et al, to Dr Dre, Miles Davis, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Martyn Bennett, Herbie Hancock, Prince, Nitin Sawhney and various Drum'n'bass exponents - best stop before we run out of space!

They are concious of developing their material since debut album 'Attention All Personnel' and expect to demo some new material soon...

Can't wait - can you?...

Graham Hanks