Showing posts with label City Halls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City Halls. Show all posts

Thursday 6 February 2014

Lau Glasgow City Halls Celtic Connections 2014


The stage at the City Halls was set with a line of glowing lights and the sign on Martin Green's keyboards, which was set on it's side, proclaimed 'I Love The NHS'. Lau of course is an Orcadian word that means 'natural light.' 

Lau are an award-winning folk band who have been gaining attention last year for their music of traditional folk voices and traditional folk song themes mixed with contemporary influences. They played on the BBCs Jools Holland show in 2012. The band are - respected singer songwriter and guitarist Kris Drever, acclaimed fiddler Aidan O’Rourke and an innovative accordionist Martin Green.  

 
They played mostly instrumental tunes and also some songs. Kris sang with his warm voice the songs Ghost and Midnight Feast.  Martin said their Ghost EP was about social migration and documented how we are stronger through our diversity.  

During the concert tonight Lau played one of the first performances for the UK's first New Music Biennial as part of Glasgow 2014 Events - 'The Bell That Never Rang.' 
The piece was commissioned by Celtic Connections and PRSF and composed and performed along with the contemporary experimental strings of the Elysian Quartet.  The music was carried through with Drever’s subtle guitar, while the layering textures and challenge of Lau’s traditional folk sound worked perfectly with the classical musicians.

Kris often leans forward on his guitar and they pull their energies together. Aidan is a powerful fiddler who moves a lot as he plays. While Martin experiments with varied soundscapes, and on one tune he played the soothing sounds of the sea

Lau are an experimental outfit and also work on Lau-land mini festivals and on other collaborations and they are taking folk in new directions and crossing boundaries with their music.
Quote Aidan O'Rourke on Lau's website - the band's music makes excursions into jazz, world, Gaelic and classical music and fiddling to the fore of another magnificent supergroup, Kan. “We’re folk musicians but firstly we’re musicians with a love of different styles and we don’t think we’re cheating on anybody by drawing on that. We all love and play a wide range of music but what we have in common is a deep love of hardcore traditional music.”
They were well supported by Canadian Annabelle Chvostek, who was previously with the Wailin Jennys. She had a silky soft-toned voice and played country folk tunes with echoing violin and electric bass.    

I saw several other faces from the Scottish music scene at the concert, such as Louis Abbot of Admiral Fallow (Lau supported his band at the Queens Hall Edinburgh last year).
The event was preceded at the City Halls by the press launch for the UK's first New Music Biennial as part of Glasgow 2014 Events. (funded by PRSF for music)

http://www.lau-music.co.uk/

Wednesday 5 February 2014

New Music Biennial

Lau at the City Hall's premier
New Music Biennial
There was a press launch at the Glasgow City Halls 30th January for the Premiere of 'The Bell That Never Rang' by Lau w/ Elysian Quartet.

The event was funded by PRSF For Music for the UK's first New Music Biennial as part of the Glasgow 2014 program.  It consists of 20 pieces of music from composers and performers across the UK which have been inspired by an international collaboration of idea. 
 
All the new pieces will be performed at two showcases over one weekend - one at London's Southbank Centre (4-6 July) and Glasgow Concert Halls (1-2 August). These performances will also be available to listen to on BBC Radio 3.  
Aims - To explore the connections between audiences and artist and to take art to new places and new audiences.
The projects are also about how people view Scotland - how people see us, what we value. 

The launch was presented by Vanessa Reid - Executive Director PRS for Music Foundation, who praised Glasgow’s creative spirit and commented that the city never tires of experimenting. 
oundation, who praised Glasgow’s creative spirit and commented that the city never tires of experimenting. 
http://www.newmusicbiennial.com/lau-premiere/ 

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Cara Dillon and BBC Scottish Symphony orchestra Glasgow City Halls


Cara is sweet, lovely and petite. She has a pure, natural voice that makes her singing feel effortless. She comes from Londonderry Northern Ireland and sings many Irish traditional songs as well as Dillon/Lakeman songs.

I first heard Cara on a radio interview and I was impressed with her voice. I checked her songs on YouTube and found her singing with the Ulster Orchestra. For Celtic Connections 2013 tonight Dillon recreated this event with the BBC Scottish Symphony orchestra.    

For her first songs here at the City Halls venue she performed with her band (Zoe Conway on fiddle and Michael McGoldrick on whistle and pipes) and included the song Johnny Lovely Johnny.  Then for her fourth song the orchestra took to the stage when the sound became as rich as a film score with that added depth, resonance, and fullness that only an orchestra can produce.

Dillon’s Voice.
On the memorable The Verdant Braes of Skreen the orchestra provided swelling strings and floating woodwind.  For the song Your Hearts No Longer Mine she sang of the heartbreak of lost love with her voice like a subtle flute. On Black Is the Colour her voice was clear and poignant. The orchestra really kicked in once the brass section took flight for the added drama on the song She Moved Through the Fair.

At the start of the second half for the haunting Gaelic song Fil Fil O Run her voice was serene, sincere and full of sadness. On the song Maid of Culmore she sang with her soft voice that both whispered and soared. On High Tide, her own composition, Dillon sang of the homesickness of emigration from Ireland which she says sadly is happening againCara finished her concert with Sam on piano and with the traditional song The Parting Glass, she wished us well..

She was expertly backed by her husband Sam Lakeman on both guitar and piano with whom she has worked for a number of years. They are an impressive musical collaboration and Lakeman's playing was perfectly in sync to Dillon's voice. Cara has a way of singing as if she sees her voice floating over the microphone.


Some of the songs Dillon sang: SET – Johnny Lovely Johnny, Hills of Derry, Verdant Braes of Skreen, Black Is the Colour, Maid of Culmore, High Tide, The Snows They Melt the Soonest, Fil Fil O Run, It Will Not be Long Love, Tunes form the band, Streets of Derry, Hill of Thieves, P Stands for Paddy, I Wish You Well, Parting Glass. 

Cara Dillon is an Irish folk singer from Londonderry Northern Ireland. In 1995 she joined folk group Equation and signed a record deal with Warners Music Group. She collaborated musically with her husband Sam Lakeman under the duo name Polar Star. In 2001, she released her first solo album titled Cara Dillon. The album contained traditional songs and the original Dillon/Lakeman songs "Blue Mountain River" and "I Wish I Was".  The opening track of the album is "Black is the Colour". Her second album Sweet Liberty(2003) , entered the UK indie album charts and included both traditional and original material. The album was promoted with the songs "High Tide", "There Were Roses" and "Everywhere".  Also songs "Falling Like a Star" and "Broken Bridges".  Dillon received The Meteor Irish Music Award for Best Irish Female. Her third album, After the Morning, was released in 2006. The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra recorded on two tracks for this album - Garden Valley and The Snows They Melt The Soonest. Paul Brady sang on The Streets Of Derry. The song Never In a Million Years gained Radio 2 airplay. The next single was the double A side: This Time/I Wish You Well.

Dillon released her fourth album in 2009 the award winning Hill of Thieves on her own label Charcoal Records.  In 2003, Dillon performed at the Belfast Festival at Queen’s Opening Ceremony with the Ulster Orchestra. In 2006 Dillon sang at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland. In 2012 Dillon performed two concerts with the Ulster Orchestra. The song "Hill Of Thieves" was voted by BBC listeners as one of the "Top 10" original songs to come out of Northern Ireland. Dillon has also done collaborations with others albums. 

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Music Industry Night - City Halls Glasgow March 2012

Hear Glasgow!'s Music Industry Panel.  Thanks to Yvonne McLellan (Host), Dougie Souness (No Half Measures Ltd.,), Jen Hunter (Musicians' Union), Duncan McCrone (MCPS-PRS Alliance), Stephen Hume (SMIA) & Dave Corbet (Dfc Scotland) for an enlightening & inspiring evening.

Bands.  Do research. Managers – ask are they trustworthy, honest, enthusiastic. Represent you to PRS, fix amplifiers. Contacts.
Maintain contact with fanbase. Direct to fanbase, and build a community outside of friends.
Make your audience find you. Re-connect.
Have a Plan,
Songs are the most important. 
Be professional, appreciate the Backstage,

It is about 95% Creativity, 5% Business

PRS – Song Royalties for live gigs.
Song royalties copyright. Band copyright for lyrics and tune. Arrangement for drums and bass.
The Song Share Agreement. Share money but not the Rights.
Musicians Union. £20 for students. Ask Us First List.

New Business Models.
Record deal less relevant.
Get music out there. The Record labels do nothing – and there are many bands that get stuck on deals for years that do nothing for them.

Radio play is important. Different genres need different deals.
Build to 2 or 3 thousand people.
Creative grants.
PR person and plugger. 3% goes to PRS.
Have control.
Right person as plugger – to get Radio One, Jools Holland.
Major Labels have changed, no longer their own repertories.  
Distribution Partner - for marketing, promoting, iTunes, Spotify, Physical Goods, Signed Items.
Distribution Costs,
Press campaign promoter.
Licensing Deals for album. Pay royalty of every record sold 50/50.

Pledge Music.
Creative Scotland.
Record Label advance – it’s a loan that you have to pay back.  
Right deal, Right people. In your time and your style.
Labels? Do you understand the band.
Less advance and money for tour and marketing.
Re-register every song.
Watch and network with other fans.

Entrance pathways.
X factor is only a small path into industry.  It is simply a different channel.
T Break tent costs money to put on. It needs to be the right time for a band. Ask for feedback.
Radio is key.