MacGregor’s Bar is taking its regular music session on the road becoming, it says, the first bar’s to go on tour. “MacGregor’s Gathering” will take the bar to “village halls, theatres and festivals using a unique setting and format”, thanks to their successful crowdfunding campaign which has already met its £10k target for the tour.
The bar is promising to provide local communities with a weekend that begins with workshops in music explaining the the classes “will be for all but we’ll also identify those that will work with us on stage. We will provide the backing band to local singers, pipers and fiddlers and we’ll create a show over the weekend that will be ideal for a rip roaring Saturday night. After the concert we’ll start the ceilidh dance, bringing everyone together.”
MacGregor’s Gathering kicks off with Celtic Connections later this month, combining the bars music with the bar itself when it takes the stage at the National Piping Centre.
Hosted by owner Bruce MacGregor (also BBC Radio Scotland presenter and the founder of Blazin’ Fiddles), the audience will be invited into the heart of the session, with guest musicians and singers dropping in and joining the party, sharing tales, tunes and songs.
Bruce, who left the highly successful Blazin’ Fiddles last year after a sell-out night at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, says, “At the heart of Scotland’s tradition lies the pub ‘session’. It’s a spontaneous gathering of musicians who share the music and craic.”
The first event, which takes place on 17th and 18th January, will also be streamed live and MacGregor’s is inviting the online audience to add comments during the session.
You can watch the first rehearsal here