We are delighted to confirm to fans that Malcolm has been fully participating at the rehearsals as we prepare for Saturdays show at Scone Palace.

He is looking forward to the show and the band are really excited as we finalise plans for what promises to be an excellent day.

As we write this the stage is being erected and a vast team of men and women are working to ensure the success of this weekends gig

Huntly-based whisky shop, Whiskies of Scotland, is hosting an exhibition and tasting in the Dram Marquee within the general arena of the Scone Palace parklands the weekend of the concert.

Gathering together twelve of Scotland’s finest distillers and independent bottlers, festival-goers will get the opportunity to chat to the experts, taste exclusive whiskies and purchase a dram, or a bottle, of their favourites.

Also available to purchase at the festival will be the special-edition Runrig Scone Homecoming 2009 limited edition bottling of 22yo cask strength Highland Park from Duncan Taylor & Co. For online sales of this limited edition malt, visit www.singlemaltsdirect.com

Shuttle Buses are running from 1pm from Mill Street Perth.

Shuttles to site start: 1:40pm every 20 minutes till 6:40pm
Shuttles from site: as fast as they can fill them / drop / turn / return until there is nobody left....first come first served

3.00 return and 2.00 single.

Disabled patrons should be advised to make alternative arrangements as
route from bus to arena is not suitable for wheel chair access. There is
disabled parking / drop off adjacent to the arena.

We are finally in a position to announce the full compliment of supporting acts for Scone and there is real, genuine, feel-good factor about the musical make up of the event. Like every other entity connected with the event the music will be fully in keeping with the Homecoming ethos. The emphasis is most certainly on 'the best of Celtic' but it is good also to involve a strong local dimension, with the inclusion of new Fife 'kid on the block', King Creosote.

FRED MORRISON

Kicking off the musical festivities as a sort of 'welcome to the event' type slot, will be the incomparable Fred Morrison. Fred, who originates from South Uist, is quite simply one of the best and most respected pipers in the world. Starting off his musical life primarily as an exponent of the Highland bagpipes, he is now equally adept on various types of pipes and whistles. He is both a musical maverick, having been involved in many groundbreaking musical and cross cultural projects over the years, and the winner of major honours in the rather conservative and insular world of competition piping. Adjectives fail when trying to describe Fred's music and his unique rambunctious playing style has been described variously, as stunning, mesmerising and even genius. He is the Jimi Hendrix of the bagpipes - miss him at your peril - you will not be able to stand still.

THE BLAIR DOUGLAS BAND featuring KATHLEEN MACINNES

Blair Douglas is of course no stranger to a Runrig audience having been a founder member of the band, but it is amazing that it has taken all this time; decades of celebrated music making to finally see Blair Douglas on a stage fronting a band of his own making. He has been at the forefront of all the seminal movements in Gaelic and traditional music throughout the past three decades. He has played in Runrig and The Electric Ceilidh Band - the Gaelic 'super groups' Cliar and MacTalla - he has performed as part of a much loved duo with Gaelic singer Arthur Cormack –but throughout that time Blair has established himself as one of the foremost composers operating within traditional music, culminating with the release of his classic album, A Summer in Skye in 1996.
It was Ridge Records' great privilege to bring Blair onto the roster in 2004 with the release of Angels From the Ashes and then to follow with the more song based, Stay Strong last year. Having always been a spiritual part of Runrig, it gives the band the greatest pleasure to be able to share the Scone occasion with 'the wee man from Skye.'

KATHLEEN MACINNES

When Blair went looking for a Gaelic singer to be part of the Stay Strong album and the touring band, there was really only one choice. Kathleen Macinnes from the Isle of South Uist is one of the foremost singers operating within the Gaelic scene. Although steeped in the tradition, her rich and rhythmic vocal abilities are able to cross over into any musical or cultural boundary. She has previously supported Van Morrison.

The Blair Douglas Band are;
Blair Douglas (Accordion and Piano)
Kathleen Macinnes (Vocals)
Robin Rankin (Keyboards)
Chas Stewart (Guitars)
Bobby Miller (Bass)
Gordon Gunn (Fiddle)
Jim Drummond (Drums)

KING CREOSOTE

The final berth for the day has now been filled by the Fife singer/songwriter King Creosote. In 1995 having been a bit disillusioned with the music business in general, Kenny Anderson gave himself a make-over. He took on the solo project stage name of King Creosote and launched his own independent label, Fence, with the emphasis being on creating home recorded music in as stress-free an environment as possible. Since then the Fence Collective has involved many other artistes and achieved considerable status within the Independent Music scene. Kenny's current album, Flick the Vs has been collecting much critical acclaim and there is also a Runrig connection. The Billy Anderson Dance Band was Iain's very first band and the Billy in question just happens to be Kenny's father.

THE PEATBOG FAERIES

The main support band for the evening will be the Skye based Peatbog Faeries. Electrifying and exciting, the toe tapping Faeries never fail to get the adrenaline pumping in the heart of an audience. Formed in 1994, on the Isle of Skye, they were soon to become one of Scotland's most popular live acts within the trad. music scene and over the years they have built a solid and enduring reputation for themselves, having taken their unique and individual sound to audiences around the world, from European festivals, to Asia, Africa, America and Australia.
The band's unique sound is created through a mix of programmed effects and traditional celtic arrangements, played on bagpipes, fiddles and whistles and their range of musical influence embodies many styles and genres including rock, jazz, electronica and folk. They performed with Runrig once before as main support at the Heb Celt Festival of 2005 and few Riggies present will ever forget that memorable evening. They were the perfect support that night and at Scone we anticipate a repeat performance.

"a compelling, haunting, danceable spree that makes no apologies for roots, indeed, would not and could not exist without them."
Simon Jones, Froots, 2005

The Peatbog Faeries are:
Peter Morrison (Pipes and Whistles)
Peter Tickell (Fiddle))
Adam Sutherland (Fiddle)
Tom Salter (Guitars)
Greame Stafford (Keyboards)
Innes Hutton (Bass and Percussion)
Iain Copeland (Drums)

And after all that we hand the stage over to a 6-piece Gaelic Rock outfit who originated from the Isle of Skye.

This week saw the next phase of the Scone show commence.

Architects were on site to plot the exact position of all the onsite facilities from stage to toilets.
Of importance to all is easy access to the main catering and bar facilities and a team of production and health and safety people were all on hand to ensure that every aspect was considered.

We have a number of plans which include a 'Best of Scotland' food and drink area with whisky tasting and fine food.

Our campsite arrangements are well under way and this will include a full package of entertainment on the Friday night where we hope many fans will take the opportunity to meet up and share the craic. All camp site ticket holders will be offered a free tour of the magnificent Palace and indeed the Palace will be open on Friday night for extended hours to allow fans to enjoy the experience.

Tickets are selling very well and we are already boasting the biggest ever music event at the site and contrary to some reports this will not be a 4 or 5000 show. We stopped for a rest on the banks of the Ness. Now we're planning on spending a day (and a night) on the banks of the Tay.