In 1996 friends John Grant and Joseph Togher had a chance meeting with bouzouki player Alasdair MacKay in Southside Music, Govanhill, Glasgow and it was decided to all meet up for a session and a few beers. Fortunately, Joseph was also a part time barman at Glasgows Heraghtys bar and so started some informal weekly sessions. It could be argued that a lot of the time, there was more drinking than playing however some of the tunes played then still form the basis of the current live set.

In addition to these sessions, all three musicians were playing in other bands. Joseph played with Glasgows band 'Belle and Sebastian' amongst others. John still additionally plays with psychobilly band 'The Termites' on German record label 'Crazy Love Records'. Alasdair has played with bands such as 'Nyah Fearties'.

In 2009, after an unsuccessful attempt by John Grant to stop drinks firm Diageo from closing Kilmarnock based whisky company Johnnie Walker with his SaveJohnnieWalker.org campaign, John was writing a march, appropriately named 'Save Johnnie Walker', and decided then that the music that they were playing should be recorded - Togail was born!

Additional musicians appear on various tracks in the album.