THEIR songs have become part of Scotland, embedded in the culture of our land, from Every River to Hearts of Olden Glory, the raucous Hearthammer, timeless favourites Alba and Loch Lomond to the haunting An Ubhal As Airde (The Highest Apple).

As they prepare to bring the curtain down on a stellar, 45-year career this weekend, Runrig know what they’ve done for Scottish music, the Gaelic tongue and Scotland’s cultural identity, and they take it – in the words of drummer Iain Bayne – “with a healthy belt of gratitude and humility”.

READ MORE: John Swinney praises Runrig's contribution to Scotland

They play their two Last Dance gigs tonight and tomorrow for more than 47,000 fans at City Park, in the shadow of Stirling Castle.

Percussionist, songwriter and co-founder Calum MacDonald says all he knows is that it will be like nothing they’ve ever done before.

READ MORE: It will be a tough night for the nation when Runrig pulls the curtain down

He told me: “We’ve been doing this for 45 years, we can do it like falling off a log, but this is uncharted water – we’ve never been here before.

“I think Iain summed it up when we arrived here today and saw this city that’s been built and he said ‘you know, this is silly’, and that’s as accurate as you can get.”

Bayne adds: “That was my first impression – it’s crazy, the scale of it. The common denominator is it’s about music, songs, it’s about sharing what we do with people and to get to this point is momentous, incredible.

“This whole discussion has been two years in the making and it wasn’t until the official announcement last year when the words jumped off the page and became a reality, that’s when the whole process of trying to understand it, feel it and see it through really kicked in.

“There’s been a knot in the guts that’s been building up over the months – you think ‘are we doing the right thing, does it feel right or wrong?’.

“You can’t really express that until we’re up there and doing it and I don’t think until Sunday, when it’s over and done with, that the reality will really sink in. It’s been an incredible journey.”

It has indeed been incredible, from the first night Calum and his brother and co-writer Rory took the Runrig Dance Band on to a stage in a function room at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall.

Rory, then working as a graphic designer in Glasgow, recalls how they went back home to Skye a few weeks later and spent summer touring the Western Isles playing in village halls.

“There was a magic,” he said. “The accordionist, Blair Douglas, who started the band with us, has a very special quality.

“There’s a very strong connection with him, and we had something going. Never in a million years did we think it was going to last 45 years or even two years, but in the moment it was great.”

The Last Dances promise to be special with appearances by former keyboards player Pete Wishart – a long-time SNP MP – and former Runrig vocalist Donnie Munro.

His replacement for the past 20 years, Canadian Bruce Guthro, said the time was right for the band to end their journey together: “We had a great final mile in three separate territories to land here to an incredible sold-out show and bring it home strong and still have some serious musical relevance across Europe and the UK. What better way to take it home? And we’re ready.

“We’re confident, solid with the decision. We knew the time had to come and we wanted it to end strong.”

Like the others, keyboards player Brian Hurren admits to some emotional turmoil: “I’m going through every feeling you can think of, nerves and excitement. It’s going to be a unique show, unlike any other I’ve experienced with the band.

“I’ve had sleepless nights and I’ve had elation and excitement, sadness – everything.

“It’s been an incredible journey. There are a lot of fans who can’t get to see us because they’re in Australia or places that are just too far away. But they have been trying to make it over for this show, which is amazing.”

Bayne appreciates Deputy First Minister John Swinney’s praise for the band’s contribution to Scottish life. He said: “I defer to the historians and academics to decide how Runrig fits into the cultural picture.

“But when so many people come to you with aspects of what John Swinney has said you can’t ignore it, but if that’s the case you can only feel a sense of pride and great deal of gratitude and humility.”

Guitarist and piper Malcolm Jones said the band members would continue to work on their own projects: “You never retire from music, so ... we might pair up – I play with Iain, the drummer, in other bands and Rory and Calum will continue to write songs.”

However, Bayne was reluctant to discuss a comeback: “If we wait as long as Abba to reunite there won’t be much dancing – it’ll only be from one of two venues and I don’t think either sells tickets.”