Blazin’ Fiddles musician Bruce MacGregor left stunned by the award of a City of Inverness Medal by Provost Glynis Campbell Sinclair
A Highland traditional music trailblazer admits he was left “shocked and speechless” on Saturday evening after being presented with the prestigious City of Inverness Medal.
Renowned fiddler Bruce MacGregor attended a business and charity get-together at Inverness Town House expecting to simply support the event by performing a couple of tunes.
While awaiting his call to the stage, Mr MacGregor was “completely blown away” to hear City of Inverness and area Provost Glynis Campbell Sinclair announce him as the latest recipient of the coveted city medal.
The award comes in recognition of the Blazin’ Fiddles founder’s “contribution to the promotion of Inverness and the Highlands through the production and performing of traditional music”.
“I was totally shocked. There’s not many times I’m stuck for words but that was one!” Mr MacGregor said.
“I had no idea it was coming. My wife Jo manages a very talented kid called Michael Lewis, a great singer, and he was singing at the event. The Provost asked Jo if, given she was attending, I could also come along and play a few tunes.
“I was just standing there with my fiddle getting ready to play, when I heard the Provost say she had an Inverness medal to present to someone for outstanding endeavours.
“I was looking around the room thinking ‘I wonder who has got that?’
“I zoned out a little bit and when I heard my name mentioned I just thought it was time for me to go up and play. When I realised it was me, you could have knocked me over with a feather!”
After formation in 1998, Blazin’ Fiddles built phenomenal UK and international success, with Mr MacGregor now recognised as one of the most influential contemporary musicians on the Scottish folk music scene.
He has been described as a driving force in revitalising the genre, with his twin passion for music and the history and culture of the Highlands reflected in his business interests.
MacGregor’s bar in Inverness is now a magnate for the great and good of the traditional music scene, while luring in locals and lovers of the genre from all over the world.
With wife and business partner Jo De Sylva, chairwoman of local tourism group Visit Inverness Loch Ness, he also runs the Bogbain Farm hospitality venue, the award-winning fiddle school Blazin' in Beauly and was presenter of the BBC Radio Scotland’s popular Travelling Folk show for 10 years.
He has also performed for comedian Sir Billy Connolly, actor Sir Sean Connery and Prince Edward, accompanied Hollywood star Ewan McGregor and Sharleen Spiteri, Eddi Reader and Del Amitri’s Justin Currie and duetted with world-renowned violinist Nicola Benedetti.
The former Inverness Royal Academy pupil and Edinburgh University graduate has also written tunes in honour of the Big Yin and the late Scottish rugby legend Doddie Weir.
Mr MacGregor announced recently that he would cease touring with Blazin’ Fiddles, and will play his final concert with the band - who will continue to tour and perform - at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Saturday.
But he very much plans to continue the good work with Celtic Connections appearances in store in January in the shape of a MacGregor’s Gathering concept that aims to re-create the MacGregor’s Bar live jamming experience.
Reflecting on his award, the musician paid tribute to a great tutor mentor of his youth, the legendary Donald Riddell CBE who also taught fellow Highland fiddlers Duncan Chisholm, Iain MacFarlane, Sarah Jane Summers and Adam Sutherland.
“To be given the medal is incredible - it really means a lot to me,” Mr MacGregor said.
“I was so lucky in my youth to be taught by the great Donald Riddell about the history of our music and I’m lucky now to be able to share that with people.
“Because of the pub, I’m also more aware of how important it is to visitors .
“We get the chance to promote what we truly love and it is great to have a base here that allows us to really push that.
“It is just part of what we do and what we’ve been brought up with.”
The Inverness medal is awarded at the discretion of the Provost.
Previous winners include:
Inverness medal is awarded at the discretion of the Provost. Some of the people it has more recently been awarded include the following recipients:
Angus Dick (former Councillor and Chair of Inverness Highland Games)
Colin Baillie, (Sport /Athletics)
Lily Kelman (World Champion Highland Dancer)
Jackie Sutherland (Youth Work and Youth Football)
Ewan MacDonald (World Champion Curler)
Richard Duncan and John Reid (for saving a man’s life)
Anne McCreadie (community campaigner).
