RUNRIG
The Last Dance - Farewell Concert Film.
Philippe Cousin
There are countless farewell albums by Runrig, a Scottish folk rock band that like the Tri Yann for Brittany, will have had a lasting impact on its time. But it seems that this time it is their very last performance.
On August 18, 2018, they gathered some 50,000 of their fans for their two final concerts on the lawn of Stirling Park, at the foot of the famous castle of the same name, where they had celebrated their 30th anniversary on stage in 2003. Fans from all over the world came to say goodbye to this mythical band after forty-five years on stage. A concert that could not escape recording and image capture and that will allow you to rediscover this famous band that began in 1973 on the Isle of Skye, formed by the two brothers Calum and Rory MacDonald from the North Uist Island in the Hebrides.
In all, nearly three hours of music in thirty-one tracks, with a documentary on the band as a bonus on the DVD. All the must-have titles are here, including Protect and Survive, Clash of the Ash, Book of Golden Stories, Maymorning, Skye and their greatest hits Loch Lomond and the superb Alba. And then the Gaelic language is not forgotten with Cnoc Na Feille, Onar or An Toll Dubh. From far and wide, several guests join Runrig's six musicians on stage: violinists Duncan Chisholm and Laura McGhee, singer Julie Fowlis, accordionist Gary Innes or saxophonist Dave Towers. And a former member of the band, singer Donnie Munro accompanied by Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir for the poignant Cearcal A'Chuain.
The images on the DVD allow you to appreciate the fervour of the spectators who dance and sing, repeating in unison the words they know by heart. With this last album, a whole page of Scottish music is turned. Another more reason to listen to this excellent live recording.
Sony Music RCA 19075 96918 9 pour le DVD et 19075 96916 2 pour le CD www.runrig.co.uk