FORCES from across Scotland’s Gaelic and traditional music scene are set to descend on Glasgow for a one-off spectacular as part of this year’s Royal National Mod.
Gael Force 10, billed as the grand finale of the country’s premier celebration of Gaelic language and culture, will take over the Barrowland Ballroom on Friday, October 16, bringing together some of the biggest names in the trad scene.
The event promises what organisers describe as the “ultimate west coast ceilidh”, rounding off nine days of competitions, concerts and cultural events at the world’s largest Gaelic festival.
A line-up featuring leading figures from across the Gaelic music world has been confirmed, including Capercaillie’s Donald Shaw and Karen Matheson, Tidelines frontman Robert Robertson, and Skipinnish musicians Angus MacPhail, Andrew Stevenson and Archie McAllister.
They will be joined by Skerryvore’s Daniel and Martin Gillespie, Trail West’s Ian Smith, and Manran’s Kim Carnie and Ewen Henderson, alongside double Mod gold medallist Ruairidh Gray and acclaimed fiddle player Marie Fielding.
The show has been commissioned by the Mod Ghlaschu Local Organising Committee and is being curated by musician, broadcaster and event organiser Gary Innes. It will also feature highly respected traditional musician John "Iky" Carmichael, as well as a wider ensemble representing communities from across the Highlands and Islands.
Among them are accordionist and Scottish dance band stalwart Jennifer Cruickshank, pianist Rory Matheson and drummer Fraser MacInnes, with organisers promising further performers still to be announced.
Innes said the night would bring together an unprecedented collection of talent from across the Gaelic music scene.
“This is a line up like no other,” he said. “The weather can be tricky to predict in Scotland but this October there is a 100% chance of Gaels in Glasgow.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to bring the Royal National Mod to a close than uniting so many forces of nature from the west coast music scene, and wider Highland and Island communities, for this one-off ceilidh. I couldn’t be more excited to see it all come together.”
Organisers say the choice of Glasgow as host city reflects its historic role as a centre of Gaelic life.
D-I Brown, convenor of the Local Organising Committee, said: “Glasgow is known as Baile Mor nan Gaidheal: City of the Gaels. The city has long attracted Highland and Island populations and boasts the biggest concentrated community of Gaelic learners and speakers outside of the Western Isles.
“Combining this rich Gaelic heritage with Glasgow’s unmatched reputation for live music and the best audiences in the world, this year’s Royal National Mod is certainly going to make its mark.
“The Local Organising Committee is delighted to be able to bring Gael Force 10 to Barrowlands – it will be the ceilidh to end all ceilidhs and bring the festival to a fantastic conclusion. We welcome anyone with an interest in Scotland’s language, music and culture to experience the spirit of the Mod for themselves.”
The Royal National Mod will run from October 9 to 17, featuring more than 200 competitions spanning singing, music, art and sport, alongside an expanded fringe programme of concerts, sessions and workshops.
Last year’s event in Lochaber attracted more than 9400 attendances and generated an estimated £3.9 million for the local economy.
Tickets for Gael Force 10 are on sale now via the Mòd Ghlaschu 2026 website.
