news
20/08/06 :: Support Gig & Babies
The support gig with Mars Patrol had to be cancelled on
the day as weather was so bad the band couldn't get across
the Pentland firth ... Orkney summer weather! Pity as we
have a few new songs to try out live - also a couple of
odd covers.
We've created a link to the orkneybands site (see our Links
page). It has great coverage of the local scene. There is
much excitement locally at the moment about the battle of
the bands comp. We enjoyed that last event in spite of our
morals (music isn't sport - no winners/losers - only players!).
Congratulations to Kenny Ritch (our antipodean exiled
webmaster!) and wife Anna who have just had a baby.
News of gigs and new songs to download will be posted on
the website soon. Enjoy what's left of the summer!.
11/07/06 :: Magfest
The band recently played their biggest gig to date playing
to 1000 plus at Magfest supporting the Proclaimers and Saw
Doctors. The set featured the pick of the songs from the
album - Fear, Stampy, I Come Around and Christine that moved
into a snipet of Purple Rain - the Prince classic. Magfest
signals the last gig in Orkney until new material is ready
to be performed. In the meantime, if you have any pics or
comments please get in touch through the website. Stay cool
as cats.
See our photos from Magfest
07/05/06 :: Magfest
Hivida are supporting The Proclaimers and Saw Doctors at
Magfest on 30 June.
Unfortunately our song "Christine" didn't make
it on to the Musicweek sampler CD of goNorth bands - but was shortlisted ... close
just aint close enough.
16/04/06 :: Gable End Gig / Musicweek Magazine
Had a great gig at the Gable End Theatre in Hoy last night.
It's a unique venue - imagine having a theatre built in
a large family livingroom! Really warm, friendly, and appreciative
audience. We actually did our first ever encore! We had
previously agreed that we wouldn't do encores - idea being
it's better to leave the audience wanting more - but the
rapturous (and continious) applause meant we couldn't let
them down! Afterwards we headed to the Royal bar in Longhope.
A "lock in" led to much carrying on - the bar
stereo was playing "time to listen" - Later we
were all dancing to the Blues Brothers then the Pouges!
Musicweek magazine are distributing a compilation of some
of the artists performing at the goNorth festival. Our song
"Christine" has been included. Musicweek is the
industry magazine with massive circulation so this is a
great opportunity for the band. More details will be provided
on the website soon.
02/04/06 :: 'Go North' Festival
Big News! The band has been invited to play at the 'GO
NORTH' festival in Aberdeen on 10th May 2005. The venue
and other details are yet to be confirmed.
GO NORTH festival is aimed at showcasing new talent from
the north of Scotland. It is attended by record companies,
agents, promoters, and people in the music business. The
panel of judges were said to have been very impressed by
the hivida album!
06/03/06 :: White Out
The first hivida gig of 2006 last night was nearly a white
out rather than a sell out! Days of heavy snow led to all
kinds of transport and logistical problems moving the gear.
Undeterred we forged ahead and somehow 60 hardy souls made
it to the gig. All the tracks from the album were played,
as well as cover versions of Sweet Georgia Brown and Minnie
the Moocher (complete with audience participation!). If
you made it to the gig, we hope you made it back home safe
and sound.
BBC Radio Orkney has asked the band to perform as part
of the Live at The Reel shows in April - date to be confirmed.
The show will be available to hear on the website. Gigs
in Shetland will be announced for April - full details will
appear in the gigs section
of the site.
20/02/06 :: Promotions
We are currently having promising discussions with various promoters and
record companies and hope to be able to release details very soon. Releasing
time to listen nationally in the spring is still our aim.
The response from people who have bought the album continues to be amazing!
Currently SIBC, Shetland's popular radio station, are playing the album.
BBC Radio Shetland recorded an interview with James and Stevie Hook for a
cultural programme to be broadcast on Thursday 23rd February. BBC Radio Orkney
are doing a piece on the release of the website - in particular King Kenny, our
antipodean webmaster, an Orcadian based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Rehearsals have led to the bare bones of 5 new songs. We are hoping to be able
to post early demos of our new material onto the website so you can get exclusive
first listens. Shine on!
05/01/06 :: The New Year
Big plans are being made to spread the hivida sound far and wide. For now
we're happy to be getting such
a positive response in our local communities. It is hoped we'll release
the album UK wide in the spring at the latest
and coincide some gigs to promote it. Charles has returned to Edinburgh
in the meantime but will return in March for two still to be announced gigs.
full details will appear on the website.
21/12/05 :: The Launch
What a night! - warm, intimate, welcoming, pretty god damned special - seemed
as though we were playing on your laps; singing in your ears. For under 100
people to buy over 40 albums on the one night is humbling to say the least!
Many thanks to the girnel hosts for letting us use their lovely peerie venue
and to the Orkney Wine Company for supplying complementary sparkly wine -
luvly jubbly Rodney!
20/12/05 :: Local Press Reviews
The Orcadian, Orkney Today and The Shetland Times have all printed highly
complimentary reviews of the album. We'll get them printed in full on the reviews pages
of the site for your perusal pleasure. There's a real buzz about, folk are telling us what songs
are their favourites. The nice thing is that almost all the songs have appealed to people in
different ways. christine, fear and northern lights (aka merry dancers) has emerged as the
early front runners. The launch will be held tomorrow night - kindo nerve racking prospect having
your closest friends and family altogether in loft like space. We're looking forward to it seeing
the whites of your eyes!
15/12/05 :: Limited Album Release
After Herculean endeavours, time to listen, was delivered on the last
flight from Aberdeen to Kirkwall airport, from where it was whisked into
Grooves record shop to go on the shelves just in time for discerning listeners
and fans to add to Christmas wish lists. The album has big local competition
from folk heavyweights Three Piece Suite and saltfishforty. But we're just heaving
massive sighs of relief that it's finally on the shelves - all be it only in Kirkwall and
Lerwick until we can catch our collective breath and spread the music worldwide.
Today Kirkwall Tomorrow Kathmandu!
10/11/2005 :: The Album Release
The album will be released on 3rd December 2005.
18/10/2005 :: Mixing the album ...
The debut album is currently being mixed. There will be
13 original songs. Full track listing is: fear, mexico,
stampy, i come around, time to listen, christine, what a
beautiful day, e-groove, storyteller, everything that goes
around, murder mystery, merry dancers, release.
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