The last few Glasgow Letters have been all about the Paisley Mòd.
Next week, though, my thoughts on that will be elsewhere in the paper so, for this column, I have chosen to write about something else entirely.
The Glasgow Lewis and Harris Association recently announced the full line up for its 133rd Annual Gathering in the Glasgow University Union on Friday November 3. It is worth a look.
The family friendly concert begins at 7pm and features Alistair Paterson, piano player from Skipinnish; Ruaraidh Gray, accompanied by Ciorstaidh Beaton; Joan Morrison; Claire MacLeod; the Lewis and Harris Association Pipers and young artists from Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu, the Glasgow Gaelic School.
As is tradition, the concert will be followed at 10pm by a dance until the wee small hours.
The band is Beinn Lee which recently headlined Eilean Dhorcha Festival in Uist and Gig at the Gathering in Cowal, as well as supporting Trail West in the Barrowlands.
To open the dance, the association will welcome award-winning Highland dancers Maria Monk and Caragh MacKinnon. MC for the evening will be Donnie “Maroot” MacLeod – stand by for great stories and questionable jokes – who will be helped in this role by Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu pupils, The Morrison Brothers.
The Isle of Harris Distillery will also be attending to support the event and, having enjoyed a few drams of “The Hearrach” at its launch up in Portree last weekend, I hope they will be bringing a bottle or two.
Tickets are on sale now from the eventbrite website or by scanning the QR code in the poster. Who said the kindred associations weren’t at the cutting edge of modern technology?
There are a limited number of tickets available for the dance – not the concert – from the Park Bar on Argyle Street which will also be hosting a “curer” in the afternoon the following day, Saturday November 4.
I don’t have the exclusive scoop as to who might be playing but that will be announced on the pub’s social media channels.
It’s going to be some weekend for anyone from Lewis or Harris or anyone who just fancies a good cèilidh… if they are not too burnt out after the Mòd.
What’s on
Friday October 13: Mòd 2023 Opening Concert with Breabach in Paisley Town Hall at 7:30pm
Saturday October 14: Our Language Our Music, Paisley Town Hall, 7:30pm
Tuesday October 17: The Frances Tolmie Collection Concert with Ainsley Hamill and Kenna Campbell, Paisley Town Hall, 8pm.
Wednesday October 18: The An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal Final, Paisley Town Hall, 7:30pm
Thursday October 19: Traditional Gold Medal Final, Paisley Town Hall, 7:30pm
Saturday October 21: Niteworks, Paisley Town Hall, 7pm.
Friday November 3: Glasgow Lewis and Harris Annual Gathering dance, Glasgow University Union, 10pm, with Beinn Lee
Saturday December 9: Hoolie in the Hydro