On the morning we were scheduled to fly out, Clare called to let us know she was in the emergency room. I'm very happy to report she's now completely fine (and just had a baby!), but at the time this scare ultimately prevented Clare and Adam from joining us. We did everything we could to help them still make the trip, but, ultimately, we all agreed Clare's health and safety had to come first, and we'd do whatever we could to still perform our scheduled shows.
Enter Paul Wikarski of Brother Crowe/The Kreellers. Paul has previously filled in for Clare on guitar many times, so I reached out to him with a Hail Mary request, and he came through BIG TIME. Fortunately, Paul had retired from the fire department a few years back, giving him flexibility, but he didn't have a passport. After a few calls, I managed to get him an emergency passport in just 48 hours (shoutout to the Detroit Passport Agency) while I was also traveling to Scotland myself. Paul crammed practicing in between shopping and packing, and he and his wife Julie made it just in time for our first show in Glasgow.
Aside from some flight delays, everyone else in our tour group made it safely. To my surprise and delight, all the passengers decided independently to arrive a day early, prompting us to move our planned meet and greet forward a night. We gathered in the hotel bar, had a great time getting to know one another, and met our tour guide Jim, who quickly became one of the absolute highlights of the entire trip.
Our adventure officially kicked off in Edinburgh with a tour along the Royal Mile and a visit to Edinburgh Castle, finishing our first day with dinner and the Spirit of Scotland show.
Rockstar tourguide, Jim
Edinburgh Castle
Spirt of Scotland Performance
Next was Glasgow, where we visited the iconic Glasgow Cathedral and stayed in a beautiful hotel right in Glasgow Central train station. Our first concert at Slay Glasgow became unexpectedly intimate due to the unusual circumstances of missing Clare, Adam, and Carly. Carly’s absence was planned and our dear friend, Xander Johnston, did amazing filling in on fiddle for her. The result was a cozy, relaxed show full of laughter, stories and camaraderie, something truly unique and unforgettable. It felt more like a house concert!
Our next journey north took us along the stunning landscapes of Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, and Loch Ness, including stops at scenic Glen Coe and historic Urquhart Castle. Although it was a long travel day, the breathtaking scenery introduced everyone to Scotland's magnificent Highlands.
In Inverness, our group split for the day. Many chose to explore the mystical Isle of Skye, visiting iconic locations like Eilean Donan Castle, Portree, Mealt Falls, Kilt Rock, and the Old Man of Storr. Back in Inverness, the band prepared for our performance at the famous Hootananny pub. This lively venue featured fantastic local acts before we took the stage, making it a genuinely memorable night filled with authentic Scottish culture and musical heritage.
Slay, Glasgow
The Three Sisters, Glencoe
Hootananny, Inverness
Heading south the following day, we began at the Culloden Battlefield on the 279th anniversary. It was an incredibly powerful and emotional experience, especially for any Outlander fans, being on the site of the final Jacobite stand on the actual anniversary. Jim brought the entire place to life with his storytelling, sharing layers of history, personal accounts, and context that made the experience even more meaningful.
We then visited the Clan MacPherson Museum, where I was able to share more of the story behind Jamie MacPherson and his famous broken fiddle. The museum staff were incredibly welcoming and treated us to some refreshments, but what really stood out was the depth of history inside. We explored stories of other notable MacPhersons, saw artifacts connected to the clan, and got a much fuller picture of their legacy. It ended up being a real highlight of the trip for many of us.
After that, we stopped at Scone Palace, learning about its history as the legendary site of Scottish coronations and enjoying a proper tea with scones. From there, we made our way to the historic city of Stirling.
Stirling was especially meaningful for me personally, as it's where I studied abroad in 2015 and first fell in love with Scotland. It was a full circle moment to bring 45 passionate CrossBow fans there years later. Our final evening included a wonderful dinner, a chance for the band to thank everyone for believing in us and coming on this journey, and an incredible performance by Jim reciting all 228 lines of Robert Burns' "Tam o' Shanter."
Culloden Battlefield
Clan MacPherson Museum
and Jamie’s broken fiddle
Jim’s recitation of “Tam o’ Shanter”
Our final day took us to the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel before returning to Edinburgh for departure. Saying goodbye was incredibly bittersweet. The week flew by faster than any of us expected.
Looking back now, we were beyond humbled and proud to see so many of our tour members at different festivals last year, all proudly wearing their bright blue tour shirts. If you happen to see one of those shirts at a show this summer, feel free to ask them about the trip! You'll get a pretty great firsthand story.