Yes there is a great shortage of places to play it would appear. Having said that,in the sixties there were dances every week all over the county and all of these halls still exist. The music scene began to change for the worse when all the gigs were moved to licensed premises and out of the public halls.
Music and drink can exist separately,you know. In the early sixties we used to hire a hall like the Scout hut etc, and run our own dances. We got people and we made a few bucks. I see no reason why some of these venues like Dunnet and Mey could not be opened again by aspiring young dudes like yourselves.