Runrig

Runrig are a Scottish Celtic rock band from Skye, Scotland, active from 1973 to 2018. They form in Portree on the Isle of Skye, beginning as the Run Rig Dance Band, and build a career around original songs in Gaelic set to a rock arrangement. Their work reflects Gaelic culture and they gain a following across the United Kingdom, Denmark and Germany.

Formation and early years

The group starts in 1973 as a three-piece with brothers Calum Macdonald and Rory Macdonald, alongside accordionist Blair Douglas. Their first performance takes place at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow. Donnie Munro joins the following year, and the band begins to move beyond its local Skye base.

Line-up changes

Douglas leaves in late 1974 and is replaced by Robert Macdonald, with Campbell Gunn joining briefly in 1976. Blair Douglas returns in 1978, and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Jones becomes guitarist, replacing Macdonald. Douglas leaves again the following year. In 1980 drummer Iain Bayne joins, and in 1981 keyboard player Richard Cherns becomes part of the band. Cherns leaves in February 1986 and is replaced by Peter Wishart, formerly of Big Country.

This line-up becomes known as the classic Runrig formation for the next 11 years. In 1997, Donnie Munro leaves to pursue a political career and later returns to music as a solo artist. The band then searches for a replacement and brings in Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Guthro. In 2001, Wishart leaves after being elected MP for Tayside North for the Scottish National Party, and Brian Hurren takes his place on keyboards.

Style and legacy

Runrig are noted for combining Gaelic-language material with a rock sound, and for maintaining a strong connection to Scottish identity and culture. Their line-up at different points includes Calum Macdonald, Rory Macdonald, Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, Donnie Munro, Bruce Guthro, Peter Wishart, Richard Cherns, Blair Douglas, Robert Macdonald, Campbell Gunn and Brian Hurren.

The band ends its career with a final concert in Stirling on 18 August 2018, billed as The Last Dance.