Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, October 5

As the former frontman of internationally-acclaimed Scottish band Runrig, Donnie Munro has performed at the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline on a number of occasions – both with a full band and with a more intimate, acoustic line up.

Now, as the Skye-born star returns to Fife for an acoustic set with his sevenpiece band, he is again looking forward to experiencing the “fantastic atmosphere” he enjoys about so many older civic theatres.

“When you enter a venue like that you have a real sense of engaging with the history and life of the community of the area,” he said.

“It feels such a privilege to perform in a venue that has had such a central part to play in the social and cultural life and history of successive generations of the Fife community over so many years.

“Each venue you play has its own atmosphere and its own history and you definitely ‘tap’ into that feeling when performing there.”

Donnie,65, made headlines in the summer when, 21 years after “departing” from Runrig, he was reunited on the band’s farewell tour.

But having “never really left”, he says, coming back for two “amazing” concerts in Stirling was “something really special and deeply heartfelt.”

“Obviously we have been reunited in more recent years where I played the big ‘Party on the Moor’ anniversary gig in Muir of Ord, so it felt totally natural to be with the band at the end, as I had been at the beginning,” he said.

“Runrig was a band which came together through our common and shared linguistic, cultural and social history, and our common background and identity was a hugely significant ‘heartbeat’ at the centre of our work over many years. It was that, I believe, that gave us the passion and commitment to take things way beyond the village halls and into national and international arenas.”

Having had the benefit of spending some time outside the direct working of the band in more recent years, though still heavily involved in the arts, music language and culture, Donnie says he has become more deeply aware than ever of just what Runrig’s contribution has been, particularly to the Gaelic language culture and community.

He said many committed language activists have cited Runrig as being one of the most powerful factors behind the regeneration of the language and the culture of the Gael by introducing them to a new generation. During his acoustic set in Dunfermline, Donnie will revisit some material from the earlier Runrig days with some songs which have not, or rarely, been performed. “Hopefully there is something for everyone,” he added.