By Alan Wilson, Rocktalk writer

THE TRIBUTE concert at the Bonar Hall in memory of Dundee musician and teacher Bert Donaldson was last night hailed a huge success.

The triumph of Friday night’s event Rocking Cancer With Music: A Tribute To Bert Donaldson, which also raised money for cancer research, could lead to a series of other fund-raising gigs in the city.

Friday’s show was organised by Bert’s friends and included performers such as Michael Marra, the reformed 70s group Exhibition, Bedrock, Crawler and The Specky Boys.

The show sold out well in advance and main hall stage manager Bruce Money said he had rarely seen so many happy people in one venue at the same time.

“Countless strangers approached me throughout the evening and thanked me and the organisers for creating such a fun event,” Bruce said last night.

“I was playing in two bands that night and stage managing the main hall so my time in the audience was limited.

“However I and many others had a fantastic time meeting many old friends from the Bothy and the Tavern from 30 years ago.

“Bert’s lifelong best friend, Alan Docherty—aka Doco, formerly keyboard player with Exhibition—was the main hall MC and gave a warm heartfelt introduction to the evening, mentioning Bert and another friend who died from cancer recently, Neil Boyd, formerly the sound engineer with Exhibition.

“One stranger told me, ‘This is the best party I’ve been to in years,’ and many old friendships were renewed, which Bert would have enjoyed immensely.”

Exhibition played a 70s-style prog rock set while photographs from 1972 of Bruce’s band members were projected on to the screen “as a contrast to the baldy fat guys on stage.”

They were interspersed with images of tickets for the Caird Hall from 1972 for acts such as Led Zeppelin for £1 and Elton John for 60p.

“Many people were fascinated by these and people in the audience were shouting ‘I was at that one,’” Bruce said.

“Crawler closed the evening with a rousing set which had everyone dancing and at the end many people did not want to go home, they were having such a good time.”

As well a respected musician, Bert was a well-known art teacher in Dundee. He died of cancer on New Year’s Day.

Alan Docherty hopes it will start other musical charity events to support cancer research charities.