Worcestershire | Archive | 2003 | November | 07
From the archive, first published Friday 7th Nov 2003.
Runrig, a Scottish sextet, have been blending folk, pop and rock with Gaelic and Celtic traditions since 1973.
The band's new album, Proterra, was released two months ago, and they are currently midtour to promote it.
The history of the band began in 1973, with a concert in the famed Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.
The student combo was initially called The Run-Rig Dance Band, but opted to shorten its name before the release of its first LP, Play Gaelic in 1978.
Seven albums followed up to 1991, then 1993 saw the release of Amazing Things containing the successful singles Wonderful, and The Greatest Flame.
A year later they released Transmitting Live, capturing the band on stage.
During the spring of 1995 the band unexpectedly took the charts by storm with An Uhbal As Airde.
Taken from the album The Cutter And The Clan, it was the first Gaelic song ever to hit the British top 20.
While singer Donnie Munro's departure in 1997 caused an upset in Runrig's career, there was never any talk of the band folding.
After listening to cassettes for months on end and auditioning numerous singers, the band finally found the front man to fit the bill in Bruce Guthro.
Runrig released its 14th album, In Search Of Angels, in March 1999, which reached number 26 in the German album charts.
The album Live At Celtic Connections appeared in August 2000. The next studio album Stamping Ground, was released in the summer of 2001, and it made number 20 in the German charts.
The latest member of Runrig's present line-up is 23-year-old keyboard player Brian Hurren, who has been with the band since 2001.
Catch the band at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, on Monday, December 1.
For tickets or further details call Wolverhampton box office on 01902 552121.
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