After weeks of anticipation in this column, the Royal National Mòd is finally under way in Paisley – and what an event it has been so far.
I write extensively about events in Paisley during the first half of the week elsewhere in this paper so, given this is the Glasgow Letter, I’ll start instead with Monday night in the Park Bar, Argyle Street.
As you can imagine, when an influx of Gaels descend on the central belt for a week, they inevitably gravitate for at least one evening to Park.
Robert and Allan Nairn were the band on Monday and, in true Mod style, they were joined by a host of Gaelic singers throughout the night – Jimmy Cameron, Tormod MacLeòid, Kirsty Netta MacKinnon and yours truly to name a few.
Half way through the evening, dozens of punters arrived wearing stetsons and cowboy boots having been at a country western gig in the Hydro.
“Why are those folk dressed so strangely?” I overheard a Mòd goer ask. “They must be from Lewis,” was the reply.
In non-Mòd related news, the Tiree Association has announced its 123rd Annual Gathering which will take place next month.
The concert will be held on Thursday November 16 at 7.30pm in Kingsborough Gardens Sanctuary – formerly Hyndland Parish Church – on 79 Hyndland Road.
Chairman for the evening will be Gordon Rowan MBE and the performers will be Iain Cormack, Ryan Johnston, Carolyn Ferguson, Kyle and Alan Rowan and Kathryn Calendar. Tickets are £10 and will be available on the door.
The dance the following night, Friday November 17, begins at 9pm in the Glasgow University Union to the music of Gunna Sound. Tickets are £12, available from EventBrite. The dance is for over 18s only.
For more information, head to the Tiree Association Facebook page or email thetireeassociation@gmail.com.
If you fancy a wee Argyll flavoured warm up to the Tiree extravaganza and enjoy traditional Highland music played on the harmonica, why not head along to the Donald Black Band live in concert the previous weekend?
Donald will be playing in Wellington Church, 77 Southpark Avenue, off University Avenue, on Saturday November 11 at 7.30pm. The following Saturday, November 18, he will be playing in Caol Community Centre. Both shows begin at 7.30pm and tickets, priced £15, are available on the door.
Donald will be joined by his usual musical compadres, Donnie MacKenzie and Martainn Skene, and by Lochaber’s Calum MacColl on the pipes, accordion and vocals.
I bumped into Donald in the Park Bar on Monday night when Robert Nairn was playing. I was wearing a checked shirt and he asked if I bought it with a cheque. My piano playing pal Ross was wearing corduroy trousers and Donald asked if he would play him a chord. Thankfully, he is better at the moothie than he is at the one liners but don’t say I didn’t warn you if his onstage patter has you rolling in the aisles.