Scots Top Ten!

According to the Sunday Times recently - 

Top Ten Films

Local Hero

Gregory’s girl

Whisky Galore

Prime o miss Jean Brodie

Trainspotting

Wicker Man

Braveheart

Shallow Grave

Geordie

Restless Heart

Del Amitri

Top Ten bands 
Proclaimers

Simple minds

Deacon Blue

The Blue Nile

Travis

The Waterboys

Runrig

Belle & Sebastian

Del Amitri

Iain Banks & Alex Salmond

William MclLivanney

Top Ten authors

Robert Louis Stevenson

JK Rowling

Walter Scott

Iain Banks

William MclLivanney

Muriel Sparks

Irvine Welsh

Alasdair Gray

John Buchan

Lewis Grassic Gibbons

Top Ten Artists

Charles Rennie Macintosh

Henry Raeburn

SJ Peploe

JD Fergusson

Joan Eardley

Jack Vitrianno

Eduardo Paolozzi

Alison Watt

Margaret Macdonald

John Lawrie Morrison

Top Ten Scots Songwriters

Robert Burns

Gerry Rafferty

Annie Lennox

Lewis Capaldi

Ricky Ross

Lulu
Fran Healy
Proclaimers

Music 2014

Rab Noakes and Barbara Dickson

I continue as ever really excited about music, both new and old. My son sings in an aberpella choir, which he enjoys. He sings those bass rhythms and also solos. This year I saw some of my favourite Scottish folk artists - Barbara Dickson, Rab Noakes and Dick Gaughan.   

I enjoyed great musicianship at Celtic 2014 - Nicola Benedetti, Del Amitri, Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain, Dougie McLean, Capercaillie, Mogwai and more.  I look forward to Celtic 2015, one of the highlights of my year. 

 I also enjoyed younger artists including Head and Heart and Lyla Foye There have been some fun new albums this year  - Mary Chapman Carpenter, Sarah McLachlan, White Denim, Head and Heart, King Creosote.  

Yet another strong female singer songwriter Ella, has secured big hits (oddly an X factor finalist how was voted off in the early rounds!).  

Eighties icon Kate Bush returned with 30 sell out shows in September at the Apollo Hammersmith London. She is one of the most celebrated English singer songwriters. Kate Bush has always followed her muse entirely and so to expect anything less from her first shows in three decades is to not really understand what motivates her as an artist. 

 'Don't you think art is a tremendous sensual-sexual expression? I feel that energy often.. the driving force! ' 'The most important thing for me is that its interesting from a creative point of view. Then I feel totally fulfilled as an artist and I can move on.'  

One Direction became one of the biggest bands ever worldwide. Pharrell Williams gave us the most popular song for a while with his upbeat Happy. Some memorable songs this year – Ghost (Ella), Royals (Lorde), Sky Full of Stars (Coldplay), No Place I’d Rather Be. 

Del Amitri

Lau

Some exciting new Scottish artists include – Chvrches, RM Hubbert, Lau, Frightened Rabbit, Aidan Moffat, King Creoste, Withered Hand, Paolo Nutini, Frightened Rabbit, Biffy Clyro, Belle and Sebastian. 

Independent Record Label Linn Records, Glasgow, have secured Grammy nominations for outstanding recording quality. Linn Records was started in 1982 - http://www.linnrecords.com

 Folk music is alive and very well in Scotland. Celtic Connections goes from strength to strength with both young and older artists – it’s a highlight of my year in cold January skies – with brilliant musicianship, dynamic collaborations, beautiful Gaelic singers, haunting pipes, strong guitars, melodic fiddles, energetic ceilidh bands, charged bass and percussion - the vibe is heart warming and uplifting.

 Many Celtic concerts goers attend every year for the weeks and weekend. I meet people from far away San Francisco, southern Ireland, north of England, cultured Paris and much more. The audiences at Celtic are packed with serious music fans – which creates an informed, generous and appreciative vibe at the concerts.

There is also a great deal behind the main stage, - music workshops, open mic stages for new comers, late sessions which are great fun, as well as the festival club itself. The festival days and nights are a welcome feast for music fans.

 IN 2010 GRAMOPHONE NAMED LINN LABEL OF THE YEAR

In October 2010 at the annual Gramophone Awards, Linn was named Label of the Year. For Linn, winning this prestigious award was the culmination of nearly three decades of work, and represents the dedication of a team striving to give the you the best music, with no compromises on quality or support of our artists. 

With a Studio Master, you get to hear more of the music. It's the closest we can get to capturing the artist's original performance. In fact, it's recorded with such accuracy that you'd think the artist was performing in your room

 PS  Concert Hall Steps

 The top of Buchanan Street offer striking vistas and important civic space for shoes photo shoots, for political gatherings, for sunny lunchtimes, happy buskers, concert goers, tourists and students and more. The Glasgow council in their ignorance, wants to take away the steps and instead put up a large glass atrium like you would see in any other nameless city or shopping mall. I was shocked and saddened when I heard this, Please protest against

The Big Dish supported Del Amitri

Another cool support slot was The Big Dish who supported Del Amitri at The Hydro Glasgow Celtic Connections 2014. 
I can't find anything online for this band though !

 

Del Amitri Reunion Gig The Hydro Glasgow

This reunion gig after a twelve year break, with one of Glasgow's favourite bands was Celtic Connections biggest show so far and it’s first at the shiny new Glasgow Hydro. The show was the start of a 12 date UK tour for the band and drew a crowd of over 8,000. In fact Curran seemed somewhat surprised by the size of his audience and he said one of his mates had bought seven tickets! 

The excitement in the air for this return gig was palpable as the band took to the Hydro stage. Successful Scottish 80s band Del Amitri delighted fans with a return to their 80s favourites and with the entire floor of the vast Hydro on its feet, the audience sang along with gusto and with calls of 'brilliant' and 'We've missed you!! 

They started the show with some of their best known - The Last To Know, Kiss This Thing Goodbye and then the driving rhythms of The Ones That Lead You Nowhere. Curran and Harvie's songs are full of both optimism and regrets.  

Other songs - Driving With the Brakes on, Being Drunk in a Band, Not Where It's At and Hammering Heart,  In The Frame. 

 

Fiddler player extraordinaire Aidan O'Rourke (from Lau) joined them on stage for several songs adding that extra Celtic magic for a lovely take on the songs - This Side Of The Morning, Sleep Instead of Teardrops and Be My Downfall. 

.

Tell Her This was sung acoustically which gave the enthusiastic crowd a chance to vent their vocal energy and resulted in some of the biggest cheers of the night.

There was also singing for their other hits such as - Nothing Ever Happens, Roll To Me (top ten UK Billboard), Driving With the Brakes on and Spit In The Rain - which is apparently a Glasgow taxi drivers favourite song! 

The band played rockier numbers and also took the pace down for the insightful poignancy of their acoustic songs in the folk idiom, with Be My Downfall, What She Sees and Driving With the Brakes on. 

Encore Songs -  In The Meantime, Here and Now, Just before you Leave, Move Away Johnny Blue,

The band were on top form as Currie's rich vocals and their tight harmonies rang out over the vast arena. Del Amitri's songs have emotional rhythm and country soul, with sensitive guitar and words that ring true.

The band centre on Justin Currie and Iain Harvie who are sensitive story tellers and have a way with words that leaves them hanging in the air. With words such as.... 

Freezes up from time to time. Lonely tonight and lonely tomorrow. Hard to say you love someone. My one girl once again tonight, till we find someone new.....

 

 

The marrying of rock and Scottish lyricisms gives Scottish bands an added uniqueness and honesty on their music.  I was over in the States when all these Scottish bands came to the fore - Deacon Blue and Simple Minds, and I remember Simple Minds on MTV. 
There was a revival of Scottish arts and music in the 80s after we lost the vote because not enough people voted, so some (not all) of their songs were new to me - and I am certainly now a newly converted fan!
This really was a great feel good concert! I loved it.

They were well supported by The Os from Dallas and The Big Dish, another first rate Scottish band reunited just last year.  

Del Amitri , Scottish alternative rock band, formed Glasgow 1983. Justin Currie (bass and vocals), Iain Harvie (lead guitar), Bryan Tolland (guitar) and Paul Tyagi (drums). Currie and Harvie are the only band members to remain and were the songwriters. The band had several top ten albums UK - . http://delamitri.com/

Celtic Connections 2014!

I am looking forward to Celtic festival 2014!

Celtic Connections includes well known musicians from traditional and roots music,world, indie, jazz, folk, soul and Americana. I always particularly enjoy the unique and often fun collaborations.  

This year the festival will host concerts at the new Glasgow Hydro venue and will showcase some of the cream of Scottish musical talents. Highlights include 80s Scottish band Del Amitri and respected rock band Mogwai along with RM Hubbert.  

Also an International Burns Night at the Hydro that includes - world musicians The Mahotella Queens, Alkinoos Ioannidis, Raghu Dixit, Neil Finn of Crowded House alongside Scottish talent with Karine Polwart, Salsa Celtica, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Capercaillie, Rachel Sermanni and Dougie MacLean

The Old Fruitmarket during Celtic hosts fun ceilidh nights with bands such as the Treacherous Orchestra and  Irish singer Imelda May.  

There are also wonderful small venue gigs worth checking out that include some of the stalwarts of the Scottish music scene including - Rab Noakes, Dick Gaughan. Plus the beautiful singing voices of Julie Fowlis, Eddi Reader, Mary Chapin Carpenter,  
  

Also a 30^th Anniversary concert for Capercaillie one of Scotland’s foremost Celtic bands. The band were among the first to connect Scotland’s Gaelic traditions to the pop and world music scene, with all the “boldness, sensitivity and deep-dyed musicianship” such cross-fertilisations demand. Their new album, At the Heart Of It All, circles back towards Capercaillie’s founding Gaelic wellspring, centring on Karen Matheson’s sublime vocals, arranged with consummately elegant restraint. 

Among the artists appearing  -  Del Amitri, Imelda May, Capercaillie, Bobby Womack, Mahotella Queens, Salsa Celtica, Amadou & Miriam, Lúnasa, AR Rahman & Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Mogwai, Peatbog Faeries, Julie Fowlis, Elephant Revival, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Manu Dibango, Treacherous Orchestra, Shawn Colvin, Nicola Benedetti, Stockton's Wing, The Gloaming, Lau, Suzanne Vega, Seth Lakeman, RANT, Boban Marković Orchestra, Alkinoos Ioannidis, The Olllam, Bill Callahan, De Temps Antan, RM Hubbert, Lloyd Cole & the Leopards, Kathleen MacInnes, Tim Finn, Dick Gaughan and The Stray Birds.

2014 will see Celtic Connections celebrates its 21^st year. Over 2000 musicians from every corner of the globe will come to Glasgow between 16^th January and 2^nd February 2014. 
 All Photographs are copyrighted Pauline Keightley and are taken with the permission of the artists, the festival, and the venues involved. Please respect my copyright. Photos at Celtic Connections since 2008. http://pkimage.co.uk/celticconnections

Next summer Glasgow will host the Commonwealth Games. Celtic Connections has become the biggest celebration of the tunes and songs that connect Scotland’s musical legacy to the rest of the world.

 http://www.celticconnections.com/

Del Amitri Fri 24 Jan 2014, 07.30 PM
The Hydro

MOGWAI
Tue 28 Jan 2014, 07.30 PM
Main Auditorium

Celtic Connections 2014 Launch

Celtic Connections 2014 comes of age with it's 21st year.  Celtic offers its audience the unexpected and often unique musical collaborations.  

According to Artistic Director Donald Shaw, the world's largest Celtic festival offers breadth, internationalism and camaraderie.  The festival will host Indie, Americana, International artists with connections to their own folk music, as well as traditional Scottish folk music. 

Two big concerts will be held at Glasgow's new SSE Hydro arena - eighties band Del Amitri and an International Burns Night Concert.   

This year will focus on a Commonwealth theme with several commonwealth and international artists appearing in keeping with Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014. 
Headliners for Glasgow's biggest musical festival in 2014 will include BOBBY Womack, Suzanne Vega, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lloyd Cole, Nicola Benedetti, Seth Lakeman and Imelda May. Plus some of the biggest names in world, folk and Americana music.
Highlights include Indian and Australian music and a celebration of the 1960s “Laurel Canyon” music scene that inspired The Doors, Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, The Byrds, and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

The line-up confirmed today features several Commonwealth celebrations to coincide with Glasgow’s hosting of the sporting games next summer.  Also a concert marking 100 years since the start of the First World War.
Festival favourites performing in 2014 festival are - Capercaillie, who are celebrating their own 30th anniversary, Salsa Celtic, Peatbog Faeries, Treacherous Orchestra, and Gaelic songstresses Julie Fowlis and Kathleen MacInnes.  

The festival will host 300 events, at 20 venues with over 2,100 artists and run from 16th Jan to 2nd Feb 2014.  

Celtic Connections 2014 concerts announced!

Celtic Connections 2014 concerts announced today!  - Del Amitri, The Hydro/ MOGWAI, concert hall / Celtic Connections International Burns Concert, The Hydro. 

I am looking forward to NEW HYdro venue here a LOT...it is teired and spaceage looking and much better than the SECC. The new venue opens with Rod Stewart 30th Sept.  http://www.celticconnections.com/

(also love this photo come painted image!) 

I look forward to it! Some CELTIC PHOTOS.

Eddi Reader, Rab Noakes, Dougie McLean

Martha Rafferty and Rab Noakes at concert for Gerry Rafferty

*Great Scottish Bands

For such a small country Scotland has had an amazing number of very creative artists and scientists. People in countries like Japan think a lot of our indie music.  Here are some great Scottish bands in no particular order. These bands are still out there touring the world.

Biffy Clyro -  http://www.biffyclyro.com/

Primal Scream  - http://www.primalscream.net/

Belle and Sebastian   -   http://www.belleandsebastian.com/

Simple Minds - http://www.simpleminds.com/

Travis - http://www.travisonline.com/

Deacon Blue - http://www.deaconblue.com/

Del Amitri - http://www.delamitri.com/

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - http://sahbofficial.co.uk/

Runrig - http://www.runrig.co.uk/

King Creosote - http://www.kingcreosote.com/

Frightened Rabbit -  http://frightenedrabbit.com/

Franz Ferdinand - http://www.franzferdinand.com/

Battlefield band - http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk/

Mogwai  - http://www.mogwai.co.uk/