Tickets for a programme of concerts, shows, ceilidhs, competitions and exhibitions at the Royal National Mòd in Perth are now on sale.
Audiences can secure tickets via Horsecross Arts for a host of performances showcasing and celebrating the very best in Gaelic and Scottish traditional music and culture between October 14-22.
First staged in Oban in 1892 and organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach, The Royal National Mòd is Gaeldom’s premier musical and cultural celebration held annually at a different Scottish town and attracting thousands of competitors and visitors.
Some of the biggest names in the Scottish traditional music and the Gaelic cultural scene will be in the Fair City to delight audiences.
More than 50 shows and activities involving around 1500 musicians and participants will fill over 10 venues across Perth, including Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre, over the nine days.
Perth and Kinross Provost Xander McDade said: “We are all very excited about the return of the Royal National Mòd to Perth.
“As well as the competition itself, the fringe programme will feature a fantastic array of talent that will delight fans of traditional music. These events will not only celebrate our Gaelic heritage but also create a real buzz in Perth this October.”
Shows now on sale include the lively Mòd 2022 Opening Concert.
Taking place at Perth Concert Hall on Friday, October 14, the entertainment will kick off with singers Mairi MacInnes, Arthur Cormack, Ceitlin Lilidh and Darren MacLean performing alongside an all-star band led by Gary Innes and Ewen Henderson of Mànran fame.
Visitors can also get their hands on tickets for Our Language Our Music on Saturday, October 15 - a “very special night” dedicated to the thriving Gaelic culture and traditional music that Perthshire has to offer.
This concert will not only celebrate the well-known musicians and singers who have put Perth on the musical map, but also the many community and educational groups who work tirelessly with passion and enthusiasm to ensure the local traditional cultural community continues to thrive.
These groups include Perth Gaelic Choir, The Gordon Duncan Experience, Dunkeld and District Strathspey and Reel Society and The Tayside Young Fiddlers.
Elsewhere, The Leonard Brown Scottish Dance Band will play a legendary ceilidh in The Salutation Hotel Ballroom on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights of this year’s event.
On Tuesday evening, St John’s Kirk will host a new Gaelic harmony collective featuring young Gaelic and folk singers and speakers from across Scotland called Binneas.
The concert will be their debut performance and the group, led by Gaelic singer and choral director John Joe MacNeil, will showcase new choral arrangements by the likes of Mary Ann Kennedy and Sileas Sinclair and welcome an array of fantastic musicians including the Seonaid Aitken Quartet, Innes White and Charlie Stewart.
On Friday, October 21, The Mòd Grand Finale will welcome West Coast favourites Trail West to the Perth Concert Hall for a sensational final concert for the premier Gaelic musical and cultural event.
Tickets are also available for the event’s multiple flagship competitions, including the prestigious Gold Medal, The Lovat and Tullibardine choral contest and the Mòd Drama Final.
Hundreds of people of all ages will compete in around 140 competitions across a range of categories covering singing, poetry, music, drama and Highland dancing as well as a new Battle of the Bands event.
James Graham, chief executive officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “A host of fantastic fringe events and competitions going on sale marks another exciting milestone as we countdown to The Royal National Mòd returning to Perth this autumn.
“We’ve got some truly incredible talent gracing stages the length and breadth of the city for audiences to enjoy. We would encourage people to secure their tickets now so they don’t miss out.”
Nick Williams, CEO of Horsecross Arts, is delighted to be welcoming events to Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre. He said: “We have a long history of celebrating our Gaelic heritage on our stages and are pleased to see some of our favourite acts programmed, as well as having the opportunity to discover new talent. Shining the spotlight on Perth, it is an excellent opportunity for audiences near and far to join this nine-day celebration in person again.”
The Mòd fringe programme will also include sporting events, with shinty and football hosted at Bell’s Sports Centre, while a joyous massed choirs event on Perth High Street will close the nine-day celebration.
Online competitions will also take place alongside the full suite of in-person competitions, which boasts a selection of exciting new categories for this year.
Tickets for the Mòd Perth 2022 fringe events are available to buy online at www.horsecross.co.uk/festivals/the-royal-national-mod or by calling the box office on 01738 621031.
