BOMBSKARE will headline the first gig at the community-run Haddington Corn Exchange, with the concert being something of a homecoming for part of the band.

The 10-piece ska act (pictured) will be supported by Beckett and Victorian Trout Conspiracy tonight (Friday) at the Court Street venue.

Scott McCafferty, lead singer and guitarist, was looking forward to returning to the venue, which they played seven years ago.

Since then, it has been taken over by the Haddington Community Development Trust (HCDT), which has ambitious plans to transform into a venue suitable for not only live music but also theatre and comedy clubs.

Bombskare’s lead singer said: “A music venue like this is definitely something East Lothian lacked.

“There was nowhere to play, other than a couple of wee individual places.

“Most of the places we have played in the county have been festivals where somebody has assembled a stage somewhere in a field; this has been badly overdue.” Various alterations, including putting in curtains, a PA system and lighting rig above the stage, have already been carried out at the venue to try to improve the acoustics.

Scott said: “It’s a few years since I was last in the Corn Exchange but my recollection of it was it was basically like a big wooden box. The sound was terrible, it just reverberated everywhere and you had no control of it.

“It’s a great big space inside and from that point of view it is a decent venue but the whole place needed to be treated to improve the sound.” Scott, who is a lorry driver Monday to Friday, was looking forward to even being able to downsize from his usual big wheels to a skateboard!

The Haddington man will be joined on stage by fellow East Lothian band members Andy Pennycuick, from Garvald, Mikey Pepper, from Prestonpans, and Ali Wales, from North Berwick.

Scott added: “For me personally, it’s a blast because it is just around the corner from my house.

“Normally, my experience of playing a gig is an epic drive there and then an epic drive back – I could even take my skateboard!” The gig will have a Garden County feel to it, with fellow East Lothian bands Victorian Trout Conspiracy and Beckett playing.

Beckett are Neil Reynolds and Sam Turvill, and will open the concert, having previously taken part in Lamp House Music’s Mentored Youth Bands programme two years ago.

The former Knox Academy pupils released their self-titled debut EP earlier this year.

Then, it will be on to 10-piece ‘urban ghetto funk’ band Victorian Trout Conspiracy.

Lead singer Fraser Fulton, a former North Berwick High School pupil, was looking forward to taking to the stage, saying: “It’s always great to play in East Lothian, we’ve played a few pubs and some of the festivals including Audio Soup, Linkylea and Trad on the Tyne – so we’ve built up a good local fan-base.

“It’s not quite Beatle-mania, but there will be a lot of people we know at the gig, who always come along and support us – it’s brilliant to see their faces and enjoy that community spirit.” Tickets are on sale from Lamp House Music and Hilary’s Deli as well as www.elleeventsltd.co.uk and doors open at 7pm.