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<\/a>The\u00a0Royal National M\u00f2d<\/strong>\u00a0will showcase and celebrate the very best in Gaelic music and culture when it comes to Perth for the first time in 18 years this October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A vibrant programme of fringe concerts, shows, ceilidhs and exhibitions, has today been unveiled and will delight audiences across the city between the 14th – 22nd October 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The eight-day event is Gaeldom\u2019s premier musical and cultural celebration staged annually at a different Scottish town. This year\u2019s Royal National M\u00f2d in Perth will mark 130 years since the first ever event took place in Oban in 1892.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Around 1000 musicians and participants will fill over 10 venues, the length and breadth of Perth this October, including Perth Concert Hall, Perth Theatre and North Inch Community Campus. Sporting events will also take centre stage, with shinty and football hosted at Bells Sports Centre, while a joyous massed choirs event on Perth High Street will close the nine-day celebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the recently reported rise in the number of Scots knowing some Gaelic words and phrases, this year\u2019s Royal National M\u00f2d is expected to attract thousands of competitors and concert goers who have an interest in the language and its culture. This significant number of attendees will make a hugely positive impact on the local economy of Perth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cuirm-Fosglaidh a’ Mh\u00f2id 2022 (M\u00f2d 2022 Opening Concert)<\/strong> will welcome some of the very best Gaelic talent to the Perth Concert Hall stage this October. Singers Mairi MacInnes<\/strong>, Arthur Cormack<\/strong>, Ceitlin Lilidh<\/strong> and Darren MacLean<\/strong> will perform alongside an all-star band led by Gary Innes<\/strong> and Ewen Henderson<\/strong> of M\u00e0nran fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Saturday evening will showcase a very special night dedicated to the thriving Gaelic culture and traditional music that Perthshire has to offer. Entitled Ar C\u00e0nan ‘S Ar Ce\u00f2l (Our Language Our Music<\/strong>), this special night will feature a host of notable names including Margaret Bennett<\/strong>, Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton\u2019s Symbiosis<\/strong>, alongside Patsy Reid<\/strong>. This concert will not only celebrate the well-known musicians and singers who have put Perth on the musical map, but also the many community and educational groups who work tirelessly with passion and enthusiasm to ensure the local traditional cultural community continues to thrive. These groups include Perth Gaelic Choir<\/strong>, The Gordon Duncan Experience<\/strong> and The Tayside Young Fiddlers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A new competition for Perth M\u00f2d 2022 is the Cogadh nan C\u00f2mhlain (Battle of the Bands)<\/strong>, with the under 13s final taking place on Monday 17th and the under 19s final on Tuesday 18th October. This junior competition will provide a wonderful opportunity for young people to perform live on stage, with the winning bands receiving a recording session experience with Wee Studio in Stornoway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Leonard Brown Scottish Dance Band<\/strong> will play a legendary ceilidh in the Salutation Hotel Ballroom on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights of this year\u2019s event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cuirm Cr\u00ecochnachaidh a\u2019 Mh\u00f2id (The M\u00f2d Grand Finale)<\/strong> will welcome West Coast favourites Trail West<\/strong>to the Perth Concert Hall to close Gaeldom\u2019s 2022 premier musical and cultural event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Duais Ealain na G\u00e0idhealtachd (The Highland Art Prize)<\/strong> will also take place in Perth\u2019s City Contemporary Art Gallery. It will exhibit recently selected artwork by local art associations and galleries that celebrate art and culture from across the Highland and Islands. In conjunction with the Royal National M\u00f2d, the winning artwork will be chosen and presented with a prize of \u00a31000 ( shared between the artist and their corresponding gallery), alongside an opportunity to exhibit their work at a high-profile Glasgow gallery in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The vibrant fringe programme will accompany a full suite of in-person competitions, some online competitions and a selection of exciting new categories. Competitors wishing to take part have until 10pm on Friday<\/strong>15th July<\/strong> to submit their entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Competition categories include singing, b\u00e0rdachd, instrumental, drama and Highland dancing, while new elements include an accompanied choirs\u2019 competition<\/strong> aimed at harmony singing groups of between five and ten singers alongside a new solo singing contest, The CalMac Competition<\/strong>, which is open to adult learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outwith the syllabus, a new TikTok competition<\/strong> and Sruth<\/strong>, an event aimed at encouraging more natural conversation among young people, will be part of the programme this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n James Graham, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn G\u00e0idhealach, said<\/strong>: \u201cReturning to Perth for this year\u2019s Royal National M\u00f2d will be a fantastic moment for us. It will be so special to hear and see the best that Gaelic culture has to offer during this year\u2019s event and to welcome people from Perth, the rest of Scotland and indeed the world, to the city to enjoy Gaelic music and culture across Perth\u2019s unique and special venues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perth and Kinross Provost Xander McDade said:<\/strong> \u201cThe Mod returning to Perth is tremendously exciting and will bring a real buzz to the city in October. This will be a fantastic showcase for Perth and a wonderful celebration of our Gaelic heritage, and the Gaelic language and culture\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perth & Kinross Council leader Councillor Grant Laing said:<\/strong> \u201cThe Mod and its Fringe programme will make Perth the place to be in Scotland this October. I\u2019m delighted to see so many events taking place in venues across the city. I am sure it will be an unforgettable festival and deliver a real boost to the city\u2019s economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said:<\/strong> \u201cEventScotland is delighted to be supporting the Royal National M\u00f2d as it returns to Perth for the first time in 18 years. Scotland is one of the best places in the world to experience events and Perth will provide the perfect stage for this uniquely Scottish event celebrating Gaelic culture through music, dance and so much more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shona MacLennan, Ceannard, B\u00f2rd na G\u00e0idhlig, said:<\/strong> \u201cWe are delighted to see the Royal National M\u00f2d returning to Perth. The M\u00f2d is always a huge celebration of Gaelic language and culture, providing opportunities to use the language in a wide range of events. It also contributes to a sense of wellbeing, particularly through bringing old and new friends together after some very challenging years. We welcome all celebrations of Gaelic and its culture and I\u2019m sure Perth will be an outstanding location again this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Royal National M\u00f2d<\/strong> is supported by B\u00f2rd na G\u00e0idhlig<\/strong>, The Highland Council<\/strong>, EventScotland<\/strong>, The Scottish Government<\/strong>, HIE<\/strong>, Caledonian MacBrayne<\/strong>, The Inverness Common Good Fund<\/strong> and SQA<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This year\u2019s Royal National M\u00f2d<\/strong> will run from 14th – 22nd October 2022. More information atwww.ancomunn.co.uk<\/a>. Tickets will be available to buy from Horsecross Arts box office from mid-late August at www.horsecross.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n