FOR the first time in many years, Dunoon finds itself without free public entertainment on the Thursday before Cowal Games - and some controversy which threatens to mar other organised events on the night.

The popular Sunset Ceremony in Argyll Gardens, and its successor Thursday Night Live, enjoyed audiences of several hundreds for many years - an ideal opportunity for locals and visitors alike to get into the Cowal Games spirit.

However, after the disbanding of the small volunteer Cowal Events Association, no similar entertainment has been organised this year. And a £4-per-head music night arranged by the Burgh Hall project group has come under fire due to confusion that its event was designed as a replacement for the free Thursday night entertainment.

In addition, a number of anonymous comments on a local social networking website have attacked those who organised last year’s Thursday night function, and made seemingly unfounded allegations about the Burgh Hall event.

An anonymous poster claimed that the traditional Thursday Night Live had been moved to the Burgh Hall, where a charge would be made - and went on to claim that last year’s producer “hadn’t bothered” to do anything for this year.
Thursday Night Live was prtoduced, in 2009, by a local entertained on a one-off voluntary basis. It featured an ambitious  and different type of line-up from previous years, including local acts and drumming spectacular Clann an Drumma.

The event had to be moved indoors to the Queen’s Hall at short notice due to severe weather - but still managed to attract almost 1,000 visitors.
However, as an indication of the challenges faced by those who take on the daunting task of organising a free public event - often voluntarily and sometimes at their own expense - a collection taken on the night to contribute to costs raised well under £100 - under ten pence per visitor. The event is understood to have cost around £2,500 to stage.

The three volunteer members of the Cowal Events Association committee had indicated earlier in the year that they would be stepping down after the 2009 event,and also made an appeal for others to come on board to assist, in order to save the public events such as Thursday Night Live and the Christmas lights switch-on.
But, again, another common challenge cropped up - no one came forward.

The producer of last year’s event has emphasised - publicly - that he was not approached in connection with a Games Thursday event for 2010. Argyll and Bute Council has maintained for some years that it does not have the resources to organise public events of this nature (although some grant funding can be available). And Cowal Highland Gathering has long pointed out that the Thursday night events are not part of the official gathering programme, although  itacknowledges the benefits they bring.

The members of the Burgh Hall Project Group had, since doing something similar at Cowal Games last year, been planning to offer a programme of events complementing the gathering - and have refuted any suggestion that their planned music gig is a replacement for the free entertainment of previous years.

Pointing out that the reason for Burgh Hall events is always to raise funds for its restoration and to promote art and cultural development, a spokesman said: “We have planned some first class events at an extremely reasonable price. We do not have the luxury of being able to put on free events; we need to raise the cash to pay for them. The Burgh Hall is not publicly funded in any way and is kept open due to the hard work of a small number of volunteers.
“Any events run by us involve significant expense and the only way we can manage this is by charging entry fees, which we try to keep as low as possible.”

The spokesman confirmed that alongside the ticketed events in the main hall itself, the group would be running free entertainment in and around the hall over Games weekend.

He added: “If we have a sell-out at the hall we would hope to be able to put on some free acts in the gardens, depending on cover.

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In a final show of the community spirit the town hopes for, he reiterated that there would be no Wednesday evening event in the Burgh Hall and, instead, encouraged locals and visitors to support Kirn Gala - another volunteer-run event which is hugely popular in the run-up to the games.

Every Cowal Games sees another controversy, and this year it’s one of the peripheral events attracting attention, rather than the gathering itself. The challenges, however, are clear - in these times of restricted budgets and funding, and with pressures increasing on small groups who already do something, the town perhaps needs more people power if it wants to see change.

If nobody does it, it won’t happen...it’s a gauntlet thrown down to every single resident.

Who will take it up?