FP100: The 100 greatest gigs staged in Fife. Ever ..!

It doesn't matter whether you're part of an 80,000-strong stadium crowd, in a muddy field at a festival or at the back of the smallest hall, nothing, absolutely nothing, beats seeing music played live.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Mar 2017, 17:23 BST
Updated 25th Mar 2017, 12:00 BST
The Beatles in KirkcaldyThe Beatles in Kirkcaldy
The Beatles in Kirkcaldy

The second the lights are dimmed and the band bursts into its first song – that’s where memories are made that can last a lifetime.

Collating the 100 greatest gigs ever staged in Fife has been fascinating.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We could probably have filled it with gigs alone from the generation lucky enough to have been around venues such as the YM, the Raith Ballroom and the Kinema in Dunfermline in the days when some of the biggest bands in the business played here as a matter of routine.

FP100 cover - 100 greatest gigs staged in FifeFP100 cover - 100 greatest gigs staged in Fife
FP100 cover - 100 greatest gigs staged in Fife

The roll call reads like a who’s who of rock royalty led by Elton John, The Who, The Beatles, John Mayall and The Kinks, to name check but a few.

Listing their legendary Fife gigs will surely evoke memories of great nights, and have many readers climbing into their attics to dig out memorabilia – pictures, signed programmes and maybe a tour poster or two.

We are indebted to everyone who helped collate our FP100.

So, sit back and enjoy scanning our list to see if your own greatest ever gig has made the cut.

Marillion at the Cuinzie Neuk, KinghornMarillion at the Cuinzie Neuk, Kinghorn
Marillion at the Cuinzie Neuk, Kinghorn

1 The Beatles, Carlton

2 The Who, Raith Ballroom and Kinema

3 The Kinks, Raith Ballroom/Rothes Halls

4 Elton John, Kinema

Paulo Nutini at the Alhambra Theatre, DunfermlinePaulo Nutini at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline
Paulo Nutini at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline

5 KT Tunstall, Inn at Lathones

6 Proclaimers, Lochgelly

7 Joy Division, University of St Andrews

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

8 Billy Connolly, Atlantic Bridge album recording, Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline

FP100 cover - 100 greatest gigs staged in FifeFP100 cover - 100 greatest gigs staged in Fife
FP100 cover - 100 greatest gigs staged in Fife

9 The Clash, Kinema

10 Kasabian, Alhambra

11 Bowie, Adam Smith

12 Snow Patrol, Path Tavern

13 Thin Lizzy,Kirkcaldy Ice Rink

14 The Humblebums, Elbow Room, Kirkcaldy

Marillion at the Cuinzie Neuk, KinghornMarillion at the Cuinzie Neuk, Kinghorn
Marillion at the Cuinzie Neuk, Kinghorn

15 2004-2011 Homegame Festival @ Anstruther and surrounds. Fence Records organised weekend.

16 Sir Harry Lauder, Carnegie Hall

7 Mott the Hoople, Kinema

18 Skids, Station Hotel

19 Nils Lofgren, Adam Smith Theatre

20 Yardbirds, Kirkcaldy YMCA

21 Black Sabbath, Kirkcaldy YMCA

22 Nazareth, 40th anniversary gig, Alhambra

23 Gene Vincent, Kirkcaldy Ice Rink

24 Van Morrison, Fife Aid

25 Joe Cocker, Raith Ballroom

26 The Stranglers, Alhambra

27 The Searchers Rothes Halls

28 John Mayall, Kirkcaldy YMCA

29 Morrissey, Alhambra

30 Undertones, University of St Andrews

31 Small Faces, Raith Ballroom

32 Elastica, Rothes Halls

33 Edwin Starr, Caesars, Kirkcaldy

34 Biffy Clyro, Alhambra

35 Genesis, Kinema

36 Rick Wakeman, World Earth Day/Fife Aid 2, Craigtoun Park

37 Ian Brown, Rothes Halls

38 Iron Maiden, Kinema Ballroom, 1980

39 Glasvegas, Greenside Hotel

40 Jake Bugg, PJ Molloys

41 Marillion, Cuinzie Neuk, Kinghorn

42 Jack Bruce, Craigtoun Park Fife Aid

43 Peter Sarstedt, Kinema Ballroom, Dunfermline

44 T V Smith, Old Sally Hall, Leven, June 30, 2006

45 Badfinger, Kinema

46 Hot Chocolate, Raith Ballroom

47 The Beat, Windsor Hotel

48 Sergeant, Rothes Hall

49 Rezillos, PJs Molloys

50 Big Country, Students Union, University of St Andrews

51 George McCrae, Anstruther c 1985

52 The Waterboys, Carnegie Hall 2006

53 Neil Innes, Carnegie Hall 2005

54 Michael Marra, Rothes Halls

55 Jeff Beck Group, Kinema

56 Elvis Costello, Kinema

57 Deep Purple, Kinema

58 Marianne Faithfull, Kinema

59 Shed Seven, Glen Pavillion

60 Flying Pickets, Kinema

61 Primal Scream, Alhambra

62 The Damned, University of St Andrews

63 Robert Plant’s Band of Joy, Kirkcaldy YMCA

64 James Last Orchestra, Adam Smith, early 1970s

65 Bay City Rollers, Templehall Community Centre

66 Runrig, Rothes Halls

67 Frightened Rabbit, Alhambra

68 The Prodigy Lido, Kirkcaldy, supported by TTF

69 Marmalade, Kirkcaldy YMCA

70 The McCalmans, Elbow Room, Kirkcaldy 1971/72

71 Taste, YMCA Kirkcaldy

72 Stereophonics - Rothes Halls

73 Chris McLure Section, Kirkcaldy YMCA, December 1967

74 Scalded Cats, Kirkcaldy Acoustic Music Club

75 Paolo Nutini, Alhambra,

76 Gaels Blue, Pathhead Halls, Kirkcaldy

77 Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Rothes Halls

78 Jimmy James & The Vagabonds, Kirkcaldy YMCA, 1968

79 Dunragan’s Hogmanay gigs, Rothes Halls

80 Rab Noakes, Kirkcaldy Acoustic Music Club

81 Wizzard, Kinema

82 Teenage Fanclub, University of St Andrews, 1995.

83 Pallas at Dutch Mill 1978

84 The Groundhogs, Exit Centre, Glenrothes, early to mid 1980s

85 Frank Turner, PJ Molloys, Dunfermline. May 2011

86 Slade (known then as Ambrose Slade), Kirkcaldy, YMCA

87 Blues n’ Trouble, The Warehouse Dunfermline

88 Frankie Miller, Crown Hotel, Thornton

89 Budgie, Glen Pavilion, Dunfermline - November 1982

90 The Specials, Alhambra

91 Amen Corner, Burma Ballroom

92 Dave Nachmanoff - Crail Folk Club, 2016

93 Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain, St Andrews

94 Chicken Shack, Kinema Ballroom

95 Bad Manners, Windsor Hotel, Kirkcaldy

96 Belle & Sebastian, Alhambra

97 Gladys Knight, Raith Ballroom

98 Hermans Hermits, Raith Ballroom

99 Dennis Alexander, Acoustic Music Club

100 Highlander, Jackie O, Kirkcaldy

Related topics:DunfermlineKirkcaldyFife