A Phone Call We Couldn’t Say No To
Every so often, a booking comes along that is a little bit different.
Last week, the Reel Time Ceilidh Band had the privilege of performing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony at the OVO Hydro, helping create a spectacular Scottish celebration for athletes and audiences from across the Commonwealth. The invitation came with a simple brief: bring Scottish energy, bring music and get the party started.
For a band that spends much of the year performing at conferences, gala dinners, corporate events and ceilidhs across Edinburgh and Glasgow, being asked to play on one of the biggest stages in Scotland was a special moment.
Teaching a Ceilidh in Just One Week
One of the biggest challenges wasn’t the performance itself.
The production included a large-scale ceilidh sequence involving volunteer performers who had never danced together before. Working alongside the show’s choreography team, we helped teach and prepare the dancers, transforming them from enthusiastic beginners into a performance-ready cast in just a matter of days.
Seeing the rehearsal process come together was remarkable. By show night, the ceilidh looked like it had been rehearsed for months rather than days.
The Challenge of a Mobile Ceilidh Band
Unlike a traditional ceilidh, this wasn’t a stage show where the band could simply set up and play.
The production team needed a fully mobile four-piece ceilidh band that could move quickly on and off stage without leaving a stage footprint. Every element had to be designed around the flow of the ceremony.
The result was a fast-moving, high-energy performance featuring bagpipes, accordion, guitar and mobile drums, all built to create a modern Scottish celebration inside one of the country’s most iconic venues.
As we often say:
“No Scotland, No Party”
Creating the Soundtrack
Bringing the music together was a production in itself.
The performance used a specially created backing track that evolved throughout rehearsals. Sections were edited, adjusted and refined to ensure they matched the choreography, lighting cues and timing requirements of the ceremony.
A huge amount of credit goes to Will Marshall, whose musical arrangements helped shape the final performance. His ability to combine traditional Scottish influences with modern event production requirements was a major reason the segment worked so effectively.
It’s Ceilidh Time!
One of my favourite moments came when I was handed the microphone.
As well as performing with the band, I was given the role of introducing and calling the ceilidh, helping encourage athletes and performers onto the dance floor.
Standing in front of thousands of people inside the OVO Hydro and shouting “It’s Ceilidh Time!” is not something that happens every day.
Thankfully, the crowd were up for it.
A Ceilidh Meets GBX
Then came a moment that may well have been a first.
As our ceilidh segment reached its finale, George Bowie of GBX and Clyde 1 fame picked up elements of our track and launched into a high-energy transition that led directly into the unofficial Scottish anthem, Bits and Pieces.
A ceilidh remix at the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony.
We’ll happily take that.
Why Moments Like This Matter
Behind every event are the people who make it happen.
The musicians, production team, choreographers, volunteers and organisers all worked tirelessly throughout the week to create an unforgettable celebration of sport, music and Scottish culture.
For us, it was a reminder of why we love what we do.
In the space of just a few days, the team performed at Murrayfield, the National Museum of Scotland and the OVO Hydro. Three iconic Scottish venues, three completely different audiences and one incredible weekend.
This is why we put in the miles, rehearsals and long days. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.
Looking for Ceilidh Band Entertainment in Scotland?
The Reel Time Ceilidh Band provides professional ceilidh entertainment, conference entertainment, corporate event entertainment, gala dinner entertainment and Scottish music experiences throughout Edinburgh, Glasgow and across Scotland.
Whether you’re organising an international conference, evening reception, incentive trip, awards dinner or private celebration, our musicians help create memorable experiences that bring people together through Scottish music and ceilidh dancing.
Learn more about the band at Reel Time Band
Or explore our wider range of Scottish entertainment and corporate event experiences at https://www.reel-time.co.uk
