What’s on at Hootananny and Mad Hatters
For 19 years, Hootananny has been promoting the best grass roots music in Scotland. Mumford and Sons, Sam Fender, Jake Bugg, Dougie Mclean and Skerryvore have all played the venue.
The building is a lovely traditional Victorian Inverness old sweety shop with traditional Scottish music on our ground floor and indie, hiphop,ska and rock upstairs on the Madhatters stage.
The family run business has been awarded Scotland’s Best Live Music Venue 2019 by Scottish Bar and Pub Awards and Best Inverness Pub of the Year, 8 years running, by Inverness City Advertiser. Open daily for pub drinkers, we have a delicious Scottish menu of traditional dishes cooked to perfection from 6 pm.
Forgetting The Future

Forgetting the Future are an indie rock act from the most Northerly part of Scotland called Thurso. Robbie McNicol, Connor Wilson, Max Paul and Jamie Mackay formed FTF back in 2014.
Support comes from The Clampdown and Katie Gregson-Macleod.
Highland Fire Ceilidh was founded by the members of the popular Scottish Folk Band ‘Hò-rò’ after a demand for weddings, birthdays and corporate events.
Expect a night of the best Scottish Traditional music with some added popular songs given a celtic twist!
Join us at Hootananny for a live Scottish traditional music session, starting from 9 pm til late.
Hosted by top local musicians from the Highlands in a cosy and casual environment, this is a fabulous introduction to the traditional music of Scotland.
Join us at Hootananny for a live Scottish traditional music session, starting from 9 pm til late.
Hosted by top local musicians from the Highlands in a cosy and casual environment, this is a fabulous introduction to the traditional music of Scotland.
Ross Miller hails from Linlithgow, West Lothian where he is the official Town Piper. He studied Bagpipes, Scots Song and Whistles at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In July 2017 he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Traditional Music – Piping. Ross was a finalist in the 2019 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition.
A World Champion piper, Ross began piping aged 7 and was the Pipe Major of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. He competed with the world famous Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band for many years. He is now a member the Grade 1 Inveraray and District Pipe Band. Also a successful solo piper, he competes regularly around the Highland Games in Scotland and further afield.
See Ross Miller play Hootananny accompanied by two fantastic traditional musicians!
Iain Macdonald and Erik Spence along with a range of guests host the longest running ceilidh in Scotland every Saturday from 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm at Hoots!
The Absolute Jam are coming to rock Mad Hatters! Scotland’s Tribute to The Jam capture the authentic raw energy and sound of The Jam’s early punk roots in addition to playing a full range of songs from The Jam’s back catalogue.
Playing everything from In The City, Going Underground, Town Called Malice, Eton Rifles & The Modern World to some album tracks and B sides they are guaranteed to please both the avid Jam fan as well as those only familiar with the hits. This is one show you do not want to miss. That’s Entertainment!!
Doors 8 pm! Early arrival recommended!
Don’t miss the manic energy of one of the best accordion players in the Highlands! Fresh from supporting Peat & Diesel on their UK tour!
Playing Scottish ceilidh music, as well as a wide range of covers. Including ACDC, Arctic Monkeys, Mumford and Sons, Fratellis and Dr Hook.
From acoustic intimacy to full on electric ceilidh, original material and choice covers BlackRock Ceilidh are bringing their brand of Ceilidh to the Highlands, Islands & beyond. From small acoustic gigs to ceilidh’s, parties, weddings, galas, games & festivals.
Blackrock Ceilidh have been lucky enough to play all over the UK and feature in The Islay festival of music and malts, Barrafest, The Hebcelt fringe and Belladrum Festival.
Join us at Hootananny for a live Scottish traditional music session, starting from 9 pm til late.
Hosted by top local musicians from the Highlands in a cosy and casual environment, this is a fabulous introduction to the traditional music of Scotland.
Join us at Hootananny for a live Scottish traditional music session, starting from 9 pm til late.
Hosted by top local musicians from the Highlands in a cosy and casual environment, this is a fabulous introduction to the traditional music of Scotland.
Steeped in the folk music of the Shetland Islands from a young age, Arthur was brought up in a house where traditional music was on the menu everyday!
He showed interest from an early age and at 7 took his first fiddle lesson. Upon starting secondary school Arthur was offered a place at the prestigious ‘Aberdeen City Music School’ where he studied fiddle and piano. It was during his time at ‘ACMS’, through bands like ‘La Bottine Souriante’, ‘Le Vent du Nord’, ‘De Temps Antan’ that he would realise his calling for Quebecois traditional music.
Arthur has made big inroads in his first two years. An in demand session musician both for his skills as an accompanist and as a fiddler,
Iain Macdonald and Erik Spence along with a range of guests host the longest running ceilidh in Scotland every Saturday from 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm at Hoots!
Graeme has been a touring musician most of his life and has traveled all over Europe, Russia & Kazakhstan. He is billed as the Scottish music ambassador for Cyprus, making 3-4 regular trips every year.
He climbed through the competitive ranks acheiving the national championship status twice in Scotland and 2nd place in the accordion masters championship along with multiple awards for button key accordion classes.
But he is at home more on the stage, entertaining people from all over the world.
From energetic dances, to chill out and relaxing, you are sure to be entertained by all that he has to offer in a performance.
Join us at Hootananny for a live Scottish traditional music session, starting from 9 pm til late.
Hosted by top local musicians from the Highlands in a cosy and casual environment, this is a fabulous introduction to the traditional music of Scotland.
Join us at Hootananny for a live Scottish traditional music session, starting from 9 pm til late.
Hosted by top local musicians from the Highlands in a cosy and casual environment, this is a fabulous introduction to the traditional music of Scotland.