Veteran Scottish rockers fly South

Like a vintage highland whisky, legendary Scottish rockers Runrig just keep getting better with age.

Almost unbelievably, the band -founded in 1973 by songwriter siblings Calum and Rory MacDonald-  have enjoyed a career spanning four decades and are arguably Scotland’s biggest Celtic-Rock band ever.

Runrig –a name which derives from a highland style of farming involving ditches (runs) and ridges (rigs) –specialise in highly-charged metallic folk-tinged rock and have wowed  audiences across Europe with their dramatic live performances which are infused with more than a little Scottish folk tradition: Runrig fans -or ‘riggies’ as they are affectionately known- can be found waving Scottish flags and chanting along to their most famous song ‘Alba…..Alba…’ literally translated as ‘Scotland’ Indeed Runrig have done more than anyone to keep the Gaelic language alive with at least two tracks in their native tongue featuring on each of their albums.

But Runrig have a sound which appeals further than their native Scotland; They have produced some landmark Albums over the years including the 1986’s Cutter and the Clan, which included standout songs such as ‘Protect and Survive,’ and ‘Rocket to the Moon, still concert favourites today. 1991’s The Big Wheel saw them achieve their greatest commercial success, selling out concert halls outside of Scotland for the first time and playing a huge outdoor concert at Loch Lomand.  However there were those who felt that the band were beginning to their traditional folk roots.

Things came to a head in 1997when trademark vocalist Donnie Munro decided to quit the band to pursue a solo career. After a long period of reflection and regeneration however , Runrig made an inspired move, re-discovering their celtic roots, and  recruiting Canadian singer song-writer Bruce Guthro as their new frontman.

Guthro brought a new melodic richness to the band’s sound and his Canadian background spawned a fusion of cultures between Scotland and Nova Scotia –Guthro’s birthplace and the destination for so many Scottish exiles who were forced to leave their homelands and emigrate overseas – subject of many of Runrig’s most famous songs.

With a new sound and new purpose, the band have rejuvenated themselves over the past ten years with four stunning studio albums. Their last effort, 2007’s Everything You See sported a set of tuneful  folk-rock songs driven by the metallic grind of Malcolm Jones’s guitar and the warm richness of Guthro’s vocal. There have also been two live albums: Live at Celtic Connections which captured the bands post-Munro sound, and 2004’s Day of Days which was a spirited recording of the bands momentous 3oth anniversary concert at Sterling castle

The ‘riggies’ are an older bunch these days, but they’ll still be there in fine voice clapping along to the pounding tribal beat of Ian Bayne’s drums. And amongst the grey hairs there are increasing numbers of young runrig converts-often the sons or grandsons of the original fans-who want to taste some of the old vintage for themselves.

Runrig play Southampton guildhall on 10/12/2010