It was pretty parky at the Rose Street multi-storey car park in Inverness on Saturday night about 6.30pm for the start of first band 28 Jacks' set.

Only a handful of people assembled to witness the opening of the music part of Getting Up - a free art event run by Highland Council.

But as the band's Only Sometimes rang out - bassist Tom managing to play his basslines perfectly wearing black gloves - a steady trickle of people headed up the stairs.

All the way up to the eighth floor, artworks greeted you.

"Shed a tear for someone you don't know" was the message on the back of one alcove where the skeleton-painted face of Mississippi Hoodoo Man and his melodeon music played.

28 Jacks in Rose Street Car Park on Saturday night, part of Getting Up.

The funny little triangular hallway at the entrance to the car park made a great venue for Withered Arm with his soft voice and killer lyrics - "Love is a disease, art is a curse".

It was the cold that was the curse on a guided tour around the streets to see the empty shop windows transformed with art, a real challenge in the temperatures. Favourite piece was the former Harry Gow window with its witty subversion of sales stickers.

But triumph of the night was the concept of the former 99p shop where those who'd bought a 99p tombola ticket waited to get a piece of art made for the event to take home.

With free tea and some amazing sweet potato soup to warm the cockles the cold was just about bearable.

This free event was a clever, fun idea if not well-enough publicised. But can we have the next one in June? MC

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