Scotland’s single biggest night of traditional music has broken its own sales record with nearly a month to go before the big event.
Hoolie in the Hydro will see some of the biggest names in the scene take to the stage for an almighty knees-up and sing-along.
The inaugural event last December was a watershed moment for traditional music and saw huge demand and overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Hoolie has now broken its own sales records, with more than 8,500 tickets sold already – 1,000 more than last year.
But tickets are still available for the show on December 9, say organisers.
Special guests
Organised by renowned musician and broadcaster Gary Innes and hosted by Julie Fowlis and Coinneach MacLeod aka The Hebridean Baker, the special night of Scottish music will include a special collaboration to celebrate 50 Years of Runrig, featuring an array of special guests.
Iconic Runrig drummer Iain Bayne and keyboard player Brian Hurren will lead the celebrations, with celebrated singer Julie Fowlis, Wolfstone founding member and fiddle player Duncan Chisholm, and Gary Innes, among those joining them on stage to celebrate Runrig’s incredible 50th anniversary milestone.
The musicians were last on stage together with the band at Runrig’s Farewell Concert in Stirling in 2018.
Gary also features on the cover of Runrig’s 2007 album Everything You See.
Legendary founding members of Capercaillie Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw will also join the musical celebration.
Broadcaster and musician Gary said: “We’ve made history again, and I can’t believe it!
What started as a pipe dream to bring Scotland’s traditional music to our country’s biggest indoor arena has now blossomed into this incredible party that appeals to thousands of people from across the world.
Gary Innes
“What started as a pipe dream to bring Scotland’s traditional music to our country’s biggest indoor arena has now blossomed into this incredible party that appeals to thousands of people from across the world.
“I couldn’t be prouder to have the opportunity to showcase some of the best music from Scotland’s traditional scene and to celebrate the mighty Runrig at the OVO Hydro.
“With less than a month to go, tickets are continuing to fly out the door so I would encourage anyone who hasn’t snapped up a ticket to come and join us for this history-making moment!”
The original idea for Hoolie in the Hydro was first sparked in January 2020 after Gary reached 20,000 likes on his Facebook page.
To celebrate, he put out a slightly tongue in cheek post which said if half of the people who had ‘liked’ his page bought a ticket for the Hydro, they could have the world’s biggest ceilidh.
The likes, shares and support for the idea flooded in, so in early March 2020, Gary went ahead and booked Scotland’s largest indoor venue for December 2022.
The landmark concert is nominated for Event of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.
