Celtic super-group Runrig have finally announced plans for their 40th Anniversary celebrations next summer. The main event will take the form of a weekend party at the Black Isle Showground, Muir of Ord, near Inverness.

The ‘Party on the Moor’ festivities will be celebrated by a massive outdoor concert on Saturday August 10. Fans wanting to stay the weekend can also arrive on Friday August 9, with a ceilidh in the Grand Barn and the Black Isle Showground will become a campsite and concert venue for the weekend.

On Saturday August 10, the six-piece will perform to thousands of fans with camping also available for the Saturday night. Tickets for the event go on sale on Friday (November 16) at 9am.

One of the band’s founding members Rory MacDonald, said it was important for the band to celebrate the significant milestone ‘at home’. He said:

“We are a Scottish band that is very proud of our Highlands and Islands roots. We wanted to share this significant milestone with our fans on home turf. They have shown fantastic support for us for an incredible four decades.

“This is an amazing anniversary to have reached. Little did we think as young lads back in 1973 that we would still be showcasing Gaelic, folk and rock music right into the new millennium and beyond.

“We want to thank our loyal fans who have been with us from the beginning with one of our biggest events, as well as hopefully welcoming a new generation of fans who are discovering our music.”

In recent years, Runrig has enjoyed phenomenal global success playing to tens of thousands of fans in countries such as Sweden, Germany, Denmark and Canada, as well as retaining a loyal fan base in Scotland and throughout the UK.

Two of the original members of the ‘Loch Lomond’ hit makers are still in the band – bass guitarist and singer Rory MacDonald and his brother percussionist Calum MacDonald, along with Skye guitarist Malcolm Jones, who joined five years later. Drummer Iain Bayne, from St Andrews, joined in 1980 with lead vocalist Nova Scotian, Bruce Guthro joining in 1998 and keyboard player Brian Hurren from Falkirk joining in 2001.

The band has released over 20 albums and almost 30 singles with its Gaelic song ‘An Ubhal as Àirde’ reaching number 18 in the UK charts in 1995 – the first Gaelic song to enter the UK top 20.

Lead vocalist Brian Guthro added:

“This is going to be a fantastic weekend and we look forward to celebrating 40 years of folk rock with our fans.”

The ticket prices start at £45 for the Saturday concert, or from £69 for those fans wishing to take advantage of the weekend package. There are also travel packages for fans travelling from Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Perth and other Scottish towns and cities. The campsite will be open from 12pm on Friday August 9 until 12pm on Sunday August 11.

Ticket, Travel & Camping Packages go on sale on Friday November 16 at 9am at www.ticketline.co.uk or on 0844 888 9991.

Hotel accommodation & ticket packages are also available from www.superbreak.com or by calling 0871 221 3344.

Concert and camping tickets will also be available to buy in-person at:

Inverness: Caffreys Menswear

Aberdeen: One Up Records

Dundee: Groucho’s

Elgin: Sound and Vision

Edinburgh: Tickets Scotland , Rose St

Glasgow: Tickets Scotland , Argyle St (under Central Bridge)

Glasgow: SECC Box Office

Kirkcaldy: Manifesto

Perth: Concorde Music

Stirling: Europa

Source: Runrig