live music in Inverness and the Highlands

Gigs in Inverness & the Highlands

Whether it’s a lively evening in a packed bar, an intimate hotel lounge or an acoustic session with friends, playing live has always been at the heart of what I do.

While many people know me through weddings with The Cavemen or ceilidhs with the Black Isle Ceilidh Band, a large part of my working life is spent performing regular gigs throughout Inverness and the Highlands.

No two performances are ever quite the same. One evening might be a lively pub session, the next an intimate hotel performance or a jazz concert. It’s this variety that I love, and one of the reasons I still enjoy performing as much as I did when I first started.

Chris Rasdale Jazz Collective

Improvisation has always been at the heart of my playing. Although I grew up immersed in traditional Scottish and folk music, I was equally fascinated by musicians who pushed beyond the written notes. Dave Swarbrick’s playing with Fairport Convention was a huge influence, combining traditional music with creativity and spontaneity, while Stéphane Grappelli showed me just how expressive the violin could be in the world of jazz.

Over the past few years I’ve increasingly immersed myself in gypsy jazz, regularly attending the annual Django–Grappelli Camp, where musicians from around the world come together to learn, perform and share ideas. Studying with some of the leading players in the genre has been hugely inspiring and has shaped my own approach to improvisation.

The Chris Rasdale Jazz Collective brings these influences together, performing original compositions alongside jazz standards. The quartet features Ross Little on piano, Jamie Mackenzie on guitar, Neil Sharkey on double bass, and myself on violin.

Where You Can Find Me

If you’d like to hear me live, I regularly perform at venues throughout Inverness and the Highlands.

You’ll often find me performing in pubs such as MacGregor’s and Hootananny in Inverness, hotels including the Invermoriston Town House Hotel and the Columba Hotel, and restaurants such as Crofters in Rosemarkie.

When I have a night off, I still can’t resist playing! If you’re lucky, you might stumble across an impromptu session at The Anderson in Fortrose. I also enjoy catching up with other local musicians at the regular traditional and bluegrass sessions in MacGregor’s, as well as the monthly Hot Club of Inverness.

Every venue has its own atmosphere, audience and repertoire, and that’s one of the joys of performing live. Whether it’s a busy Friday night, an intimate acoustic session or an afternoon of gypsy jazz, there’s always something different happening.