IT MAY have its roots in the 19th century but the Royal National Mòd is continuing to inspire Scottish music stars.
Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival returns next week to Lochaber, an area of the country which boasts its own proud history of making traditional music.
Here, three well-known performers on the Scottish music scene tell how both the Mòd and Lochaber have shaped their lives and careers.
For Tide Lines lead singer Robert Robertson, the Royal National Mòd wasn’t just about going head to head with other vocalists in competitions, it was an opportunity to be inspired and connect with others who understood the beauty and power of Gaelic song.
Reflecting on his first experience at the national Mòd in 2007, also hosted in his home of Lochaber, Robertson recalled the excitement of being surrounded by traditional music.
“I had competed at the local Mòd before, but the national event coming to town was really exciting and, looking back, it was a real formative moment for me,” he told the Sunday National.
Winning the James C MacPhee Memorial Medal, one of the flagship competitions for young learners, was a proud achievement, but it was the vibrant atmosphere – the cèilidhs, dances, and bustling venues – that left a lasting impression on the young musician.
The Mòd continued to play a pivotal role in shaping Robertson’s career, offering a sense of belonging and a network of like-minded peers.
“I met some of my best pals through the Mòd and many of them are still making careers out of music to this day,” he said.
One of the highlights for Robertson was winning the prestigious Gold Medal in Paisley in 2013.
“It wasn’t just about taking home the prize, but all the memories that came with it – like my dad not being able to look at the stage because he was a nervous wreck and my mum waking me the following morning to say I was late for a radio interview because I’d slept in after celebrating too much the previous night,” he said. “I was only 19 so it was an amazing experience for a teenager.”
Growing up in Lochaber, Robertson was immersed in traditional music from an early age. Monthly accordion and fiddle club meetings, cèilidhs and concerts provided him with opportunities to perform and connect with others who shared his passion.
“Being in Lochaber for the first 17 years of my life ensured I was steeped in traditional music,” he explained.
For Robertson, Lochaber’s ability to inspire so many musicians lies in its normalisation of traditional music among young people.
“There were always role models to look up to,” he said. “I think that normalisation of young people playing traditional music is so important and, thankfully, it seems to be very much the case today.”
For singer and weather presenter Calum MacColl, the Royal National Mòd is deeply intertwined with his family’s history and his own musical journey.
His first memory of the Mòd dates back to 1995 in Golspie, where he cheered on his sister in the choir competition. Years later, he stepped on to the stage himself, competing in junior piping and eventually in singing competitions.
“My first time competing in the singing competitions was at the Lochaber Mòd in 2017,” he said.
It was a moment that marked the beginning of a new chapter in his musical career.
Growing up in a musical family in Lochaber, MacColl was surrounded by Gaelic songs and traditional music. His father and uncle, native Gaelic speakers and singers, were significant influences.
“I would hear daily singing in the house and also out and about at many cèilidhs in my youth,” he said.
The vibrant musical community in Lochaber, coupled with opportunities to learn instruments at school, provided a strong foundation for his passion.
The Mòd then became a catalyst for his growth as a musician, offering him a platform to perform and connect with his heritage.
His family’s deep ties to the event, including his late father’s role as convener of the 2007 Lochaber Mòd, playfully nicknamed the Mòdfather, further cemented its importance in his life.
“The Royal National Mòd has undoubtedly been a catalyst to my passion and related career in music,” he said.
MacColl progressed from winning the learner’s traditional competition in Dunoon in 2018, to the Silver Pendant in Glasgow in 2019 and then to winning the Traditional Gold Medal in Inverness in 2021.
“Competing at the Mòd not only helped provide progression in my Gaelic learning but also allowed me the opportunity to build on my family’s rich legacy of Gaelic song and compositions by singing a few of the songs my great uncle wrote and also that my father would sing frequently.”
He believes the tradition of family generations passing on music and Gaelic songs, as well as the stories connected to them, is something that’s very special about Lochaber.
“Pipe tunes and Gaelic songs would be shared at home and also among the wider community through social gatherings,” he explained.
“Learning by ear allowed for the music and song to be expressed in a different way, with personal interpretations being put to the music and song. I believe it is this unique style of sharing of music and song through families and friends that has given Lochaber its own style of playing and singing.”
The Royal National Mòd has also been a lifelong source of inspiration and ambition for singer Rachel Walker.
Her first experience at the National Mòd was in Dingwall in 1991, where she competed as a nervous 15-year-old.
“It was amazing to see the town so busy, with music coming from all the shops, hotels and Mòd venues,” she recalled.
In 2017, she achieved her dream of winning the Gold Medal. That same year, she led the Lochaber Gaelic Choir to their third consecutive win in the Margaret Duncan competition, cementing the week as one of her most cherished memories.
The victories were made even sweeter, as the 2017 event was held at Fort William, making it a “home Mòd” for Walker who moved to Lochaber in 1999, where she was embraced by a vibrant and supportive musical community.
“Somebody recently referred to me as ‘Lochaber’s adopted daughter,’ and that’s something I’m definitely hanging on to,” she said proudly.
The region’s rich tradition of Gaelic songwriting and its wealth of tradition bearers, such as Teàrlach MacPhàrlain and the MacColl family, have been a constant source of inspiration for her songwriting, composing and performing and Walker is convinced Lochaber has helped put traditional music on the map.
“If you look at all the bands that have been inspired and driven by Lochaber talent, such as Shooglenifty, Train Journey North, Dàimh, Blazin’ Fiddles, Cliar, The Poozies, The Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band, Breabach, Mànran, Tidelines and Skipinnish, not to mention the wealth of individual musicians and songwriters from the area, you can see the real impact on Scottish trad music as a whole,” she said.
“It certainly feels like the centre of the traditional music world and long may it continue.”
The Royal National Mòd is at Fort William from October 10-18. Tickets for flagship events are on sale now: buytickets.at/ancomunn
