Towards the end of last year I got to know Eddy MacKenzie who is an entertainer originally from Inverness but now based in Glasgow. It turned out he was due to appear on a new TV quiz show and was planning to watch it with family and friends in a local pub when he was back in the Highlands over Christmas and the New Year. It made a decent story and a few weeks later he got back to me saying his band, Pandacar, had been shortlisted for an appearance at this year’s Glastonbury festival. Keeping everything crossed that they make it to the festival.

AN entertainer watched his latest TV appearance with friends and family in an Inverness pub.

Eddy MacKenzie (30), originally from Inverness and now based in Glasgow, held a special “watch party” for his appearance on a brand new game show.

I Literally Just Told You, which is hosted by comedian Jimmy Carr, was broadcast earlier this month on Channel 4.

It sees contestants given all the answers at the outset, with the questions being written as the show then unfolds.

Mr MacKenzie watched it at The Innes Bar, in Innes Street, which is owned by Craig Macleod who is the father of his childhood friend Andrew Macleod.

Mr MacKenzie who describes himself as an actor, musician, and comedian, said the party went well.

“It was a lot of fun being on the show,” he added: “I had great banter with Jimmy Carr and even made him laugh at a few of my jokes.”

Mr MacKenzie made it to the game show’s final round before apparently losing out.

However he revealed: “Then in a twist ending it turned out they’d made a mistake with a question, and so I was given the prize money after all as a sign of good favour – very dramatic indeed!”

He said appearing in the show was both “exciting and quite nerve-racking”.

“Meeting Jimmy Carr was a surreal experience, but I gradually warmed up and had a lot of fun,” he said.

There was a good reaction from friends and family at the party and he said: “There was huge jubilation and great cheer. It was wonderful to share the moment with so many of my nearest and dearest, and then to receive such kind words online afterwards was truly magical.”

He said he wanted to thank everyone involved with the show as well as Mr Macleod and everyone else who helped make it such a wonderful experience.

Mr MacKenzie had returned to the Highlands to visit his relatives during the Christmas break.

Born in London, his parents Donald and Isabelle MacKenzie, moved to the Highland capital when he was 10 years old and still live in the city.

Mr MacKenzie moved to Glasgow in 2011 to pursue further education and other opportunities, but before that he performed at Eden Court Theatre as part of Starlight Musical Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

In addition he has worked on several open-air theatre tours with Folksy Theatre, including productions of Wind in the Willows and Twelfth Night, and has provided voiceovers for a series of adverts.

He recently took part in the BBC New Comedy Awards and, while being very excited about his latest television appearance, was forced to keep details about the show a secret before and after filming took place in London last year.

From the Highland News on Thursday, January 13, 2022.

City musician could get Glastonbury gig

AN Inverness musician and his band have been included in the longlist as part of the Emerging Talent contest at this year’s Glastonbury festival.

Eddy MacKenzie, who is originally from the Highland capital and still has family members living here, plays bass with Glasgow-based Pandacar alongside drummer Nathan Langridge and singer and guitarist Nick Patrick.

They fended off stiff competition from thousands of other entrants from across the UK and Ireland and they are now in with the chance of playing one of the country’s largest and most prestigious music festivals.

The band were chosen by a panel of 30 of the country’s top music writers and they were helped onto the longlist with their upcoming single Get Out.

Mr MacKenzie said they were over the moon to have made it this far, adding: “It’s now over to the judges, including Glastonbury organisers Michael and Emily Eavis, who will whittle the longlist down to eight lucky acts that then go head-to-head at the live finals in Pilton in the hopes of being crowned 2022’s emerging talent.

“The winner will go on to perform on one of the legendary main stages at this year’s Glastonbury Festival, as well as receiving a £5000 talent development prize from the PRS Foundations to help take their song-writing to the next level.”

He said that he loved a festival but had never had the chance to visit Glastonbury, adding: “I’ve always enjoyed watching my favourite bands play via the BBC coverage and wished I was there with them – and now to be so close to potentially playing ourselves is a very exciting business indeed.”

Mr Patrick said: “The thought of playing any festival of this size, let alone Glastonbury, is a childhood dream come true. We’ve been playing small venues and clubs for the last few years, so to be in the running to have our music in front of an audience that size is just unreal.”

Mr Langridge said: “I’m keeping my feet firmly on the ground, unlike these two. If we even get through to the next round there’s still the live finals to attend. I’m hopeful, but trying to reign the boys in so we don’t get ahead of ourselves.”

Glastonbury co-organiser Ms Eavis said: “We’re so happy to announce the return of the Emerging Talent competition, which is always one of the first big markers that another Glastonbury is on its way.

“The competition has helped us unearth so much amazing music over the years and I’m really excited to hear this year’s crop of entries.”

Formed in July 2018, Pandacar are a three-piece rock band whose distilled approach to song-writing merges dance-driven rhythms, angular guitar, and everyday life.

From the Highland News on Thursday, March 31, 2022.