Internationally-acclaimed Highland fiddler Bruce MacGregor has sold out both nights of what promises to be a Celtic Connections appearance like no other.
The Blazin’ Fiddles founder and former band member believes his own MacGregor’s Bar will become the first to take itself out on tour with performances at Scotland’s leading traditional, folk and world music festival next week.
Later this year, the ‘MacGregor’s Gathering’ shows will be replicated in community settings out on the road at various towns and villages in the Highlands.
Tickets for the Celtic Connections dates of January 17 and 18 at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow were eagerly snapped up by punters in anticipation of unique spectacle.
WATCH: MacGregor’s Gathering first rehearsal – watch here.
Bruce MacGregor at MacGregor’s Bar. Picture: Gary Anthony
The concept dreamed up by Bruce will see him and fellow musicians and staff recreate the MacGregor’s Bar and impromptu traditional pub ceilidh music experience on stage in authentic MacGregor’s Bar-style surroundings.
As Bruce explains: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have sold out both nights.
“We love what happens at our bar in Inverness, with the spontaneity of the music and how the afternoons and evenings can shape up in unexpected ways, with so many different people joining in.
“Then I thought we could maybe create something that was able to take that bar experience out on the road.
“We will take a group of the best regular musicians from the bar, add some very special guests, and look to recreate it all on stage at Celtic Connections.”
The traditional pub session show will encapsulates all the spontaneity, music and craic of a classic night multi-award winning MacGregor’s Bar which has been home to a good many legendary sessions, while giving fiddlers, pipers, singers and dancers a platform to perform for the community.
Bruce MacGregor on stage.
Popping in to contribute will be world class guest performers including Irish-born folk singer-songwriter Edwina Hayes, Scottish country, folk and roots singer-songwriter Dean Owens and Finlay MacDonald, the head of the Glasgow piping school, among a good few others.
As well as tunes and songs, there will be the sharing of sharing tales with the event also streamed live with comments and messages being incorporated into the performance.
Bruce is also excited at the promise of taking the MacGregor’s Gathering experience out on the road this year in the Highlands.
He says: “We’ve just hit our crowdfunding target of £10k to take the bar on tour round village halls and festivals.
“I don’t think smaller parts of the Highlands get to hear enough good music.
Bruce MacGregor (MacGregor’s Bar, Inverness). Picture: Callum Mackay.
“It will be a case of working with locals, and making it a bit more of a community event in the evenings, rather than us just breezing into a place, playing and disappearing again.”
There are also moves to take the MacGregor’s Gathering experience out to festivals next summer, again with the help of Creative Scotland’s targeted support.