A SUCCESSFUL Inverclyde live music format is hitting the road with a special performance in Inverkip.

The Songwriters Uncovered Series founded by award-winning Greenock musician Shelagh McKay Jones is expanding beyond its 'home' at the Beacon Arts Centre with its first show in the village community hub next Saturday.

It will coincide with Scotland's Boat Show just along the road at Kip Marina.

Since SUS was launched two years ago, Shelagh has established it as a platform to showcase the fine array of songwriting and musical talent Inverclyde has to offer along with the cream of the crop from neighbouring areas.

The Inverkip gig will feature village residents Gram Allan and Linda Scott along with Linda's playing partner Jan Harper, who hails from Dunoon, Greenock musicians Anthony McElwee and Jim Carney, who is originally from Manchester, and Jordan Stewart, from Paisley.

Shelagh will also give a performance as well as hosting the event.

She said: "I was looking for community venues to come forward to widen our options and the Inverkip Hub nearly bit my hand off, which was nice.

"It's such a great venue and very similar to the studio theatre at the Beacon where we usually perform.

"We chose this weekend for the gig because it's the same weekend of the boat show, which gets a really good audience, so we're hoping that will boost the numbers. "It will be a great day out for people heading to the marina during the day then here at night."

Musician Linda, who is also in the duo Angel's Share with fellow Hub headliner Jan, will be making her Songwriters Uncovered debut and is particularly pleased it will be in Inverkip where she lives.

She said: "It's absolutely fabulous the work Shelagh is doing to encourage songwriting and the fact she's now spreading it around Inverclyde and the added exposure that brings is great. "We have this wonderful building here and we need to make the best use of it.

"This is a fantastic way of doing that."

Singer Anthony McElwee, who is also frontman of The Medicine Priests, hopes to add an indie twist to the event.

He said: "It'll be my first time playing in Inverkip Community Hub and it looks like a good wee stage and nice set-up. "I'll be performing to a different demographic and SUS normally is more a folk scene and I'm more indie style but I can adapt quite easily. "I also have some of my own songs which are a bit more upbeat, you've got to play to your audience, that's the key."

Tickets for the gig cost £8 and there will be refreshments.

To book, call Inverkip Hub on 520740.