DESPITE what their name suggests, the Chair aren't a band to sit down to.

The 16-legged Orkney collective arrive at the Old Fruitmarket this weekend for a Celtic Connections show that's certain to be a wild, rowdy affair.

And the group reckon they have such a blast onstage because it gives them a break from their day jobs.

"We don't play an awful lot as a band as we all have full time jobs," explains accordion player Bob Gibbon.

"So we aren't full time musicians by any means and that means we love getting away for a weekend, entertaining folk and having as much fun onstage as we can.

"We try to make the most of it when we play.

"We've all got day jobs and families so this lets us play at being boys again."

The Chair have certainly surpassed those early expectations of being an escape from the day job.

While their music is centred around both traditional and contemporary Orcadian tunes, they've also added elements of the blues and bluegrass styles over two albums, Huinka and The Road To Hammer Junkie.

Yet it was an incident early in their career that made the eight-piece realise they might be going places, when they took home a Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections in 2007.

"We weren't expecting to go anywhere with the band, it was just a bit of fun and we'd been friends for years," recalls Bob, who's a civil servant by day.

"We thought we'd try and get onstage, so we went to Glasgow with no expectations and seemed to be doing quite well. Then we got asked back for the final night, which was encouraging for us.

"When we did the Danny I remember there were bar staff dancing along and everyone was on their feet.

"We got a few bookings off the back of that and have been all over Europe since then, which has been great."

They have carried that good-time spirit into their two albums, and after releasing The Road To Hammer Junkie in 2013 they're hopeful a follow-up will be out soon.

"We're working on a new record and hopefully it'll be out in the near future," adds Bob.

"It took us a while to get the second one out, so we'll try and get cracking with the third one quicker.

"I don't think there will be any great changes musically, we've got a good formula that works well and we'll keep on doing what we do to the best of our abilities."

They'll debut a couple of new tunes at the Fruitmarket show on Sunday. Playing the venue is a thrill for the group, especially given its size.

"We're excited to play the Fruitmarket, we saw Salsa Celtica there years ago and thought it would be a good venue for us, because we're all about dancing around and having a good time.

"The Fruitmarket's ideal for that, so we'll try and get a good party going. There should be plenty of atmosphere."

They'll be joined on the night by Fara, a female foursome of fiddlers who are also from Orkney. They've drawn their members from across the Scottish scene and Bob reckons they're set for great things.

"They've got a lot of potential and are very talented lasses," he adds.

"I've known them for years and they can all play tremendously, they can all write song and they can sing. I think they can go a long way and there's no reason they can't be the next Fiddlers Bid."

And the Chair remain dedicated to getting a party going, no matter what the crowd is like to begin with.

"There's certainly been a few shows we've done further afield where the crowds aren't so acquainted with us, and are maybe a bit sceptical, but by the end of the show everyone is dancing away.

"That's a great feeling, to turn them around like that."

The Chair, Old Fruitmarket, Sunday, £16.50, 8pm