LARGS' legendary singer songwriter Benny Gallagher rolled back the years with a classic night of live music at Lounge - before being placed into coronavirus lockdown.

As the town readied itself for the coronavirus shutdown, the 74-year-old performer delighted his audience with classics from his days with Gallagher and Lyle.

Benny and his wife Diane are now in self-isolation for 12 weeks at their home in Worcestershire and are now having to adapt to a new way of life.

Benny said: "The show was great. The whole room was singing along to the old favourites. It was a really special atmosphere.

"We were talking about the fears over the Coronavirus and my wife Diane and me are now housebound for 12 weeks.

"I would usually walk my daughter's dog but now I can't get to see her and they kindly leave any shopping or prescriptions for us at the front door.

"It is strange being stuck inside your house, specially if it is a nice day, but that is the way it has to be.

"I am lucky in a way that my job is my hobby so I can work from home and write some songs.

"This is the new normal for many of us.

"My daughter's pub is now closed and luckily the government is providing some support to the industry."

"I have been working on some arrangements and doing some songwriting - it is do-able and although the change of being confined to your home is quite a shock it has to be done now and I think we are gradually accepting it."

Benny says that the healing power of music is more important than ever.

He said: "Music is a bit like meditation as you get lost in the lyrics and the melody."

During his return to Scotland, Benny took part in masterclass with students at the University of the West of Scotland, working with course leader Allan Dumbreck of Big Dish, Jim Prime of Deacon Blue and Mick Lamont of Spirit of Slim Chance.

He said: "It gave us the chance of reminiscing about the dream we all had for a world class music education facility 20 years ago.

"It was a great afternoon chatting with the students who are very talented. Scottish music is in very safe hands." Lounge owner Stephen McDonald said it was a pleasure to host the event at Lounge and thanked Benny for 'a terrific show'.

Photo credit: Tony Kapelko