Last Friday night, the evening of the 123rd Tiree Annual Gathering dance in the Glasgow University Union, I was just across the river at Pacific Quay, playing with Tide Lines for BBC Scotland’s Children In Need.
Tiree readers might laugh that, instead of watching Gunna Sound with “Archie Bear”, I was onstage with Pudsey Bear!
On which note, I was relieved Pudsey made it to Glasgow in time for the show because I noticed he had been in London and Stornoway that morning.
Just as well the Loch Seaforth was sailing that day.
Not only did I miss the Tiree dance, but I also couldn’t make the concert the previous evening in Kingsbourgh Gardens Sanctuary.
Thanks to the live Facebook stream, however, I have been able to catch up with most of the concert.
The evening began in traditional style with a set on the bagpipes by Cameron MacLeod, before Ken MacLeod welcomed the audience and introduced the evening’s chairman, Gordon Rowan, who also has a stellar career in the world of piping which Ken described.
This year’s Mòd Gold Medallist Iain Cormack was the first singer to take to the stage with a great rendition of the classic Gaelic song Eilidh.
There followed an excellent evening of entertainment including Scots songs from Carolyn Ferguson and more Gaelic songs from Islay’s Ryan Johnston. As Gordon pointed out, all three of those singers are from the GGs choir and they were all accompanied on the piano by the conductor of Govan Gaelic choir Kathryn Callendar.
It wasn’t only singing throughout the evening, of course, and Kyle and Allan Rowan entertained with tunes on the accordion and piano respectively.
It was a well attended concert and, like all the kindred association gatherings, a great way to enjoy an otherwise bleak, winter’s night.
If you are looking for similar cèilidhs in the coming weeks, look no further than the Glasgow Skye Association’s family cèilidh in the Crawford Hall, Beith Street, this Friday at 7pm. Or its annual gathering concert and dance the following Friday, December 1, in the Glasgow University Union.
The concert will feature Alice MacMillan, Catherine Tinney, Ruairidh Cormack and Ruairidh Gray and the dance that follows will be to the sound of the Robert Nairn Cèilidh Band. Alasdair Gillies is the association’s guest of honour for the evening.
Tickets are available online, at the door on the night, or from the Park Bar.
Then Glasgow has the small matter of the Hoolie in the Hydro which has just surpassed the incredible milestone of 9,000 ticket sales. That is going to be quite a night.
What’s on
Friday November 24: Glasgow Skye Association Family Cèilidh in the Crawford Hall, Beith Street, 7pm.
Thursday November 30: Glasgow Skye Association Annual Dinner, 7.30pm, in Glasgow University Union.
Friday December 1: Glasgow Skye Association Annual Gathering Concert at 7pm in the Glasgow University Union, followed by dance.
Saturday December 9: Hoolie in the Hydro