Well, I think it’s safe to say the Hoolie in the Hydro certainly didn’t disappoint!
Gary Innes and crew smashed the 10,000 ticket barrier and had a great cèilidh by all accounts in one of Scotland’s most iconic venues.
Mànran, Wolfstone, Trail West, Nati Dreddd, Julie Fowlis, Karen Matheson, Donald Shaw, Alec Dalglish, Cammy Barnes, Èamonn Doorley, Duncan Chisolm, and a great many more entertained the masses – and Runrig members Iain Bayne and Brian Hurren joined the troops for a brilliant tribute to the iconic Gaelic band.
Even from afar, travelling up the road from Kendal after the final show of a two-week Tide Lines tour to Europe and England, I was made well aware of how well the night was going in Glasgow by the flurry of videos and photographs being posted on social media.
Not least because people kept tagging me in footage of DJ Paddy Callaghan mixing the Tide Lines song, Far Side of the World, with Wanna Be by the Spice Girls! Now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d type.
Seriously, though, what an incredible night for traditional music in Glasgow and, if (like me) you missed it, highlights are available on BBC iPlayer after they were shown on BBC Alba on Sunday evening.
The Trail West boys were still on a high from the gig when I met them on Sunday for our annual Christmas night out with some of the Skerryvore boys.
Every year, we raise money for a specific charity and wear ties to represent the chosen charity. This year, it was MacMillan Cancer Support and, while there were a few football-related grumbles about the colour of the tartan, we were all delighted to raise a wee bit of money for an excellent cause.
After a lovely Italian meal in Joia in Finnieston, we had a few Margaritas in El Jefe’s further up Argyle Street then, inevitably, we reached our final destination, the Park Bar, where Stuart Cameron and Andrew MacPherson from Deoch ’n’ Dorus were keeping everyone entertained.
It was a great night and good to catch up with all the lads before we head home to different corners of the Highlands and Islands for Christmas.
Before the night out, I had spent the afternoon rehearsing with a great team of singers and musicians who will be playing live in Govan Old Town Hall for Cèilidh na Bliadhn’ Ùire – BBC Alba’s Hogmanay show.
Led by Ingrid Henderson and the Glenfinnan Cèilidh Band, the evening will feature Rachel Walker, Mischa MacPherson, Darren MacLean, Finlay MacDonald, Binneas, Emma Scalpay MacLeod, and is presented by Niall Iain MacDonald and Cathy Bhàn.
I’m delighted to be playing a few songs with Tide Lines on the programme and greatly looking forward to bringing in the bells with a fantastic squad of people. If the first rehearsal was anything to go by, it’s going to be a show that’s well worth watching.
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll use this column to reflect on 2023 in Glasgow and look forward to 2024.