American Big Band to bring jazz and swing to Martin’s Memorial Church:

Music lovers in Stornoway are being invited to an evening of jazz and swing this Thursday, when The Metro Big Band visits Martin’s Memorial Church for a special free concert.

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The concert, organised and facilitated by Origin Ministries, takes place at 7.30pm on Thursday, 20 August, and will feature a large ensemble of musicians visiting Lewis from the United States.

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The Metro Big Band will perform music from the golden era of big band jazz, with a programme drawing particularly on the sounds of the 1920s and 1930s.

For Colin Peckham, who leads Origin Ministries, this visit is even more meaningful as he has a personal connection with Lewis. Although Colin lives in Cape Town, South Africa, his mother’s family home was at Cliff House in Port of Ness. His mother was Mary Morrison, who married Colin Peckham (Senior) and who together they wrote the book 'Sounds from Heaven' about The Hebrides Revival.

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Colin says he has many happy memories of spending time on the island as a child.

“I’ve always loved Lewis,” he said. “I have strong memories of rowing out with relatives and fishing as a child, and I’m really looking forward to returning to the island with a group of musicians I work with.”

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The visit will give the American musicians an opportunity not only to perform on Lewis but also to experience something of the island and its culture.

The Stornoway concert is part of a Scottish tour by the band. The group will also perform at the Ness Historical Society on Friday, 21 August, at 7pm.

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Admission is free and refreshments will be served at the end of the evening. There will be the opportunity given to make donations in support of Origin Ministries.