Runrig - 4/6/2001

This was a further Runrig gig at The Royal Centre Nottingham getting on for five years after the amazing 95 and 96 gigs. There was one huge difference, Donnie Monroe had left and been replaced as Lead Vocalist by Bruce Guthro. He is OK as a vocalist but he is of a somewhat similar style and for me it just doesn't work. Something major is lost. I actually like Roray MacDonald's vocals but he is definitely second vocalist. I couldn't remember whether Pete Wishart had also left by the 2001 gig. I must assume so as he was elected a few days later as an MP and so he must have been on the campaign trail by then. Of course the rest of the baqnd were still great, of course the songs, with several excellent additions released since the 96 tour were great but certainly something was missing. Intro The Stamping Ground Wall Of China Saints Of The Soil Book Of Golden Stories A Dh'Innse Na Firinn Protect And Survive One Thing Big Songs Of Hope And Cheer Leaving Strathconon The Engine Room Dust Pride Of The Summer / Edge Of The World Sabhal Aig Neill What Time The Stamping Ground Flower Of The West The Message Cnoc Na Feille Maymorning ---------- The Summer Walkers Skye ---------- Loch Lomond Going Home

Runrig - 13/11/1995 and 27/11/1996

I have to record these gigs together as at this distance they merge in my mind - a year apart in the Nottingham Royal Centre they are a bit of a blur. These were the first times I saw Runrig having been introduced to their music around ten years previously (by the current leader of the SNP in Westminster!) The MacDonalds are talented songwriters and musicians, Malcolm Jones a great guitarist and Pete Wishart (now also an SNP MP) an excellent keyboard player but it is the amazing voice and singing of Donny Monroe that really made the gigs so special. What a singer and how well the vocals work with the outstanding songs whether in English or Gaelic. It was a privilege to see Runrig in their pomp. The 1995 gig was the tour following the release of Mara and so featured a lot of the songs on that album as well as stuff from the back catalogue. The set list is shown below. The 1996 gig was more of a 'best of' set list including the superlative 'Protect and Survive'. Set list also shown below. Day In A Boat Nothing But The Sun City Of Lights Rocket To The Moon Road And The River The Mighty Atlantic Ard Edge Of The World Meadhan Oidhche Air An Acairseid Thairs Air A Ghleann The Greatest Flame The Dancing Floor Healer In Your Heart (Stepping Down) The Glory Road Dance Music Skye / Tuireadh Iain Ruaidh The Wedding Siol Ghoraidh Only The Brave Alba ---------- Flower Of The West ---------- The Highest Apple Loch Lomond Stepping Down The Glory Road Hearthammer Canada Ard The Greatest Flame The Mighty Atlantid Edge Of The World Meadhan Oidhche An Ubhal As Airde The Crowded River Always The Winner Protect And Survive Pride Of The Summer Rocket To The Moon Siol Ghoraidh / Tharais Air a Ghleann Flower Of The West Only The Brave Alba ---------- Skye ---------- Hearts Of Olden Glory Loch Lomond