On The Rocks: Jamnesty Reviewed

After the success of last year’s event, Jamnesty presented by Amnesty International returned to St. Andrews on Saturday as part of On the Rocks festival’s second night of entertainment. Taking place in the cosy setting of Sandy’s bar, Jamnesty took the shape of a relaxed, intimate gig, showcasing some of the musical talent that St Andrews has to offer whilst raising awareness of Amnesty’s missions. I’ve got to admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the event before I arrived. I had a basic knowledge of Amnesty’s passion for upholding human rights, but truthfully, I was aware that it would be a jam, and it would be for Amnesty, and that’s as far as my knowledge went.

I arrived as the evening began and although the bar was filled with just a handful of guests and committee members, listeners soon began to trickle in to the sound of soothing guitar strums and vocals provided by Gabi and Chris. Most people settled themselves comfortably on the sofas or at tables to sit back and appreciate the music, setting a laid back tone for the rest of the evening. Up next was Ukulear Fusion, a four piece ukulele band, who injected some fun and produced a few laughs with their quirky covers of indie classics, my personal favourite being The Caesars’ Jerk it Out. It was when a capella group The Hummingbirds burst on to the stage that the atmosphere got more of that Saturday night feeling, with the very talented group of girls treating the crowd to renditions of recent hits such as Ariana Grande’s Problem.

Unfortunately, during the course of the night some acts from the original line-up appeared to have dropped out. However, in the true spirit of the charitable evening, performers and friends of the Amnesty committee offered a helping hand, with some acts playing longer than expected. Even a cast member of Spring Awakening offered her talents to the audience as we were waiting for the final performance. The last in Jamnesty’s line-up, George Kakas, finished the night’s musical offerings with a solo acoustic set, providing with just his voice and a guitar the same chilled-out vibes that opened the show.

All in all, the live-music event that saw the collaboration of acoustic tunes, impressive a capella and some ukulele fun was a great way to promote the presence of St. Andrew’s Amnesty International society. Although I didn’t really come away knowing much more about the charity’s work than when I arrived, I certainly got the impression that the society were a welcoming and friendly bunch. I was very pleased to know that all the proceeds of the event would go to funding their cause. The only real shame of the night was that not as many people turned out in support of Amnesty as I had hoped. Maybe it was because it was a Saturday night. Maybe it’s because deadlines are getting the better of us. Nevertheless, it was a great gig for a great cause and I hope that it continues to be a part of the On the Rocks programme next year!

Photo courtesy of Jess Broughton, Amnesty International St. Andrews