RUNRIG celebrate their final studio album “The Story”

RUNRIG CELEBRATE THEIR FINAL STUDIO ALBUM WITH 14 DATE SCOTTISH/UK TOUR STARTING 10th FEBRUARY

NEW ALBUM RELEASED: FRIDAY 29th JANUARY 2016

Runrig release The Story – their 14th and final studio album on Friday 29th January, 2016.  The 11-track album brings the curtain down on a remarkable and unique recording career.

The new album will be released on Deluxe CD format that comes with an exclusive 32-page booklet, a 2-disc gatefold vinyl with bonus track (The Story – radio edit), and digital download. The album is released on Runrig’s own independent label, Ridge Records.

The band will support the new album with a 14-date Scottish/UK tour that starts at the Aberdeen Music Hall on Wednesday 10th February.  Scottish shows can be booked online from ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling the 24 hour box office: 0844 844 0444. UK shows can be booked online from bookingsdirect.com or by calling the 24 hour box office: 0844 338 000.

Having celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2013, Runrig have taken the decision to embark on one final creative journey into the studio. The result is The Story; an album of emotional resonance and reflection, placing at its heart, a narrative that is very much part of the band itself.

“This is the band’s last studio recording, a hugely significant milestone for us all and one that we really want to celebrate,” says Rory McDonald – Runrig’s bass guitarist, backing vocalist and one of their original founding members.

Runrig (L-R) � Iain Bayne, Bruce Guthro, Brian Hurren, Rory MacDonald,
Calum MacDonald, Malcolm Jones. Photo Credit: © Matt Liengie

Band Line-Up
Bruce Guthro – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Rory McDonald – bass guitar, vocals
Calum MacDonald – percussion, backing vocals
Malcolm Jones – guitar, pipes, accordion
Brian Hurren – keyboards, backing vocals, accordion
Ian Bayne – drums

The Story was produced by the band’s youngest member, keyboard player, Brian Hurren.  From the outset, Brian expressed a strong desire to drive the production agenda on this project, bringing to the table his exceptional musical and audio skills, along with a unique perspective on the historic sound of the band.

The result is an outstanding album of raw beauty, both celebratory and nostalgic, with a sound palette that ranges from the contemporary, to some of the sonic milestones that are so ubiquitous to Runrig’s past.
This is a hugely significant album for the band. It’s an album that wears its heart firmly on its sleeve.

“One of the highlights of the album was being able to go to Prague to record the 32- piece Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, says Brian Hurrren, who produced the new album and plays keyboards, accordion and sings backing vocals. “It was an incredible experience and it really helped to bring out the emotion in the songs.”

Adds original founding member, percussionist and songwriter Calum MacDonald – “There are many stories on the album but none more so than that of the band itself. A lot of the material and Brian’s production taps into that – and it’s fair to say that a number of the songs have a definite reflective quality.”

The title track, The Story, is available now, and is accompanied with a music video – a powerful uplifting presentation of one man’s relationship with his culture and with his past, and the hold these memories still have over his life and the stories inside all of us.

“Producing this album has been a real journey from start to finish,” concludes Hurren. “What we’ve tried to achieve sonically, was to try and tap into everything the fans love about Runrig – a nostalgic feel, but trying to make it as fresh as we could, and a real bold, confident step out of our 40th anniversary.”

A Runrig fan comments on iTunes about the new album –

I almost had a tear in my eye when I read that Runrig’s upcoming album, of which this is the single from, is likely to be their last. What a way to end an amazing career, still sounding as fresh as the first Runrig album I ever played!

The single ‘The Story’ sung by Rory, starts of in Gaelic, before bursting into an upbeat chorus and then into an euphoric almost dance beat instrumental with Runrig’s trade mark soaring guitars and Brian’s keyboard wizardry, and of course Runrig’s usual fantastic thought provoking lyrics which really do tell a story – make sure you check out the YouTube video too!

It’s a unique sound, created and sung by talented musicians that comes from the heart, a sound as vast and magnificent as the great Scottish landscape which inspires it!  Can’t wait to see them live in 2016, if you haven’t then you are missing out on an amazing experience! If this is Runrig’s last story to tell, then I can’t think of a more fitting song to end it on.

Download Runrig’s Official Biography

Runrig (L-R) – Rory MacDonald, Iain Bayne, Malcolm Jones, Calum MacDonald,
Brian Hurren, Bruce Guthro. Photo Credit: © Matt Liengie