I was listening to a BBC Radio 4 programme on Saturday morning called Scotland Rocks, hosted by Midge Ure.  I was most surprised to hear him say “not all of Scotland rocked – Wick didn’t rock”.  As a native of Wick (Caithness), I was surprised to hear this.  Scotland was visited by many rock and pop bands and had many excellent local bands, but nothing was as popular as the above-named showband.  Below is a link giving a bit of history of rock and pop in Caithness in the 60’s, including this quote: -



“One week after the Yardbirds played Wick, twice as many punters packed the Assembly Rooms to welcome the Boys from Castle Blaney - The Maurice Lynch Showband was back in the Royal Burgh. A crowd of a thousand danced the conga, twisted and shook to chart hits, roared along the bawdy choruses of Seven Drunken Nights, and stood starryeyed with sentiment when Audie Heany sang My Prayer. A great night out, value for money, no-effort-necessary entertainment, unlike the previous week's act with their strange rhythms, their tortured, distorted guitar sounds. Thirty years down the road any self-respecting account of sixties music will mention The Yardbirds; abundant patience may be needed to discover references to Maurice Lynch & Co.”  You can read more (it’s very interesting) by clicking on the link below: -


http://www.internet-promotions.co.uk/archives/northlands/north3.h

HI,
  I remember Maucie and the boys very well I was in  Thurso band at the time The Federals with johnny fats etc. we played in the assembly rooms a lot before going to Switzerland etc.  Another good showband that came was the Playboys.  NIce to see the band mentioned after all these years.  I wholly agree Wick was a buzzing place in the sixties.

Tommy Stewart
ex- Federals, Five Dollars and Second chance

I spoke to Maurice's son on the telephone in 2001 as I was hoping to hire them to play at a school reunion in Wick.  unfortunately it would have cost to much to get them over from Ireland for just one gig, but he said they still played together.  I would give anything to hear them again. Do some of the showbands still play, and if so where?