A SCOTTISH trad band hit the high seas to make sure the show goes on amidst the Storm Ali chaos.

Skipinnish set sail for Homecoming Coll to ensure they were back in time for their sold-out Glasgow Barrowlands gig on Friday.

Severe weather forecasts jeopardised the band’s chances of making it back from the Inner Hebridean island in time to play to 2,000 fans in the East End of Glasgow.

Dodging between days of gale force winds, the band made the 50-mile crossing from Oban to Coll through the Sound of Mull on their 13 metre ex-pilot boat, St Olave.

Homecoming Coll is a week-long festival of the island’s history, culture, music, art, food and day-to-day life. Skipinnish performed on Monday night.

Angus MacPhail, co-founder of the band and a former fisherman from Tiree, said: “Whether it’s playing to 200 people at the An Cridhe on Coll or 2,000 people in the Barrowlands Ballroom, every gig is important to us.

"The weather threatened to strand us on the island if the ferries weren’t running, and since we didn’t want to risk missing either show, we took matters into our own hands and decided to make the trip in our own boat.

“Conditions were ok on the way over from Oban, but we were expecting some pretty uncomfortable conditions on the return leg. As it happened the weather gods were on our side and we made it off early Tuesday morning during the calm before the storm."

This year marks the second time Skipinnish have sold out the Barrowlands.

Angus added: “We absolutely love playing at the Barrowlands, the crowd really goes for it. There’s such a big highland and island community in Glasgow, and people really know how to have a good time.

“Playing in front of thousands of people is also a real honour, and something we’re hoping to do more of as the popularity of trad music continues to grow.”