Invergordon father and son take internet by storm with lockdown-busting living room gigs

A MUSICAL Easter Ross father and son are helping hundreds of people around the world beat the coronavirus blues – with a blast of punk rock live from their living room.

Undaunted by the lockdown, Davy and Sam Cowan have turned their talents to entertaining an online audience from their Invergordon home.

Their Saturday night request shows and Sunday afternoon punk and ska sets are proving a hit around the world with music fans from Kinlochbervie to Cologne and Avoch to Alabama getting together online for the gigs with a twist.

He said: "Myself and Sam have been doing some Facebook gigs, live from the living room.The first one we did a couple of weeks ago, we did it to raise some money and awareness for the local mental health charity Mikeysline. We were blown away by the response.

"We raised over £475 on the night. Also we couldn't believe the amount of people joining us for the music – over 450 people at one point, much more than would normally come to see us! We decided last Sunday as well as doing our Saturday request show to do a Sunday afternoon sesh at 3pm, doing all our favourite punk and ska classics from the Clash to Sham 69 and Madness to The Specials. Again we got a great response, people tuning in from all over.

"There's even folk requesting my own songs as well as the usual classics too. The true great thing about these concerts we found is how it brings so many people together. People chatting and hooking up with friends, relatives and even people they haven't heard of since their school days. It's fantastic to see so many people getting up there on Facebook, whether it be poetry, song or just a bit of craic – it definitely seems to be a way to shine a bit of light into peoples lives during these dark times."

Having formed his first band while still at Invergordon Academy, he is a well-known figure on the live music scene, playing with Sam more recently and also in bands including Coinneach and The Storm Chasers as well as solo.

Hundreds of people took to his Facebook page to thank the duo for the gig. Neil Macleod summed up the feeling of many when he wrote: "For the likes of myself and many others like me it's a pleasure to be in your company, many thanks mate."

Karen Wood wrote: "You are making staying inside so much easier for us! I’m loving the virtual gigs and the banter! If I shut my eyes I bring myself back to the madness of Loopallu.Keep up the good work!"

The Cowans are performing a Saturday night livestream at 9pm and a Sunday session at 3pm. I can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/davy.cowan

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