Ceilidh King Fergie MacDonald plans a Highland party at Eden Court in Inverness on Friday to celebrate his MBE honour
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A Highland musician known as the Ceilidh King will celebrate his receipt of an honour with a special show in Inverness on Friday.
Fergie MacDonald will receive his MBE during a private family service at Eden Court ahead of live show The Fergie MacDonald MBE Party at the Inverness venue.
Set to perform some of his most popular tunes he will also be joined by an all-star musical line-up for the gig.
And the Highland folk legend, accordionist and band leader, will also be “in conversation” with BBC Radio Scotland presenter and musician Gary Innes, talking about his remarkable journey in music and his personal life.
Currently recovering from a significant knee operation, the 85-year-old will be the oldest person ever to have headlined Eden Court’s Empire Theatre when he takes to the stage.
He said: “Getting an MBE is such a huge honour and I am delighted to be sharing the achievement with my family, the fantastic band members who I have worked with for so many years and the amazing audiences who have supported me over the decades.
“It will be such a special night at Eden Court and an iconic moment to be the oldest person to have ever headlined the venue.
“It will be fantastic to take a wander into the past, revisiting my musical highlights on the day that I am recognised for this prestigious award.”
Gary Innes added: “Fergie is a legend in his own right and is without doubt a Scottish national treasure. It is terrific to see him receive an award as prestigious as an MBE and the respect and affection he has gained is so richly deserved and for many felt long overdue.
“I’m looking forward to once again getting the chance to sit down beside the Ceilidh King on stage to get a chat about his life and what shenanigans he has got up to throughout nearly seven decades as a band leader.”
Fergie will also be joined onstage by Allan Henderson, Iain MacFarlane, Addie Harper and Hugh MacCallum alongside other special guests.
Born Ferguson MacDonald the 85-year-old descends from a direct line of Moidart MacDonald Clanranalds.
Sherrifmuir, the 1745 Jacobite rising, Culloden and the Highland clearances are all in his genetic mix he says.
He is a Gaelic speaking indigenous Gael with all the trimmings of Moidart culture and history.
• For more, visit the Eden Court website.
