Showing posts with label Eddi Reader. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eddi Reader. Show all posts

Wednesday 31 January 2024

Roaming Roots Revue at Celtic Connections 2024

 


Brownbear

What a wealth of talent!

The Roaming Roots Revue celebrated its ever popular, sold out show, with its 12th year as part of Celtic Connections. This year honouring the modern Scots song, interpreted and chosen by some of Scotland’s top talent. The concert was hosted by the excellent talent of Roddy Hart and his band the Lonesome Fire and backed by the RCS Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Logan, which created a rich and dynamic backdrop for the songs. 

 

The show was an eclectic and diverse look at the development of the modern Scots songs from well renowned Gerry Rafferty to more recent hits such a Frightened Rabbit.  New talent Brownbear aka Matthew Hickman, sang Spin Another Web and Aztec Camera’s Somewhere in my Heart. Eddi Reader performed King Creoste’s Something to Believe In. 80s artists Frank Reader and John Douglas impressed with Al Stewart’s Year of the Cat.

 

A highlight was Justin Currie of Del Amitri – who sang Be My Downfall and Nothing Ever Happens, plus a dramatic The Fight to be Human. After which the crowd cheered along to Franz Ferdinand’s Take ME Out, well performed by a dancing Hamish Hawk! The popular singer Simon Neil sang Biffy Clyro songs Space and Victory Over the Sun, plus Frightened Rabbit’s Keep Yourself Warm.


Emma Pollock performed Gerry Rafferty’s classic Night Owl. Roddy Woomble shone along with the RCS Symphony Orchestra - after a wobble to get Rod Jones guitar plugged in – with Idlewild songs You Held the World in Your Arms and American English. Eddi Reader drew proceedings to a close with In a Big Country, followed with the entire ensemble's rousing The Whole of the Moon by the Waterboys. (An additional Roaming Roots Revue was performed on the Saturday at the famous Barrowlands venue.)

Roddy Hart


Roddy Woomble 

Simon Neil


It would have been impossible to include every quality song of the recent decades in one concert – while I might have enjoyed to hear Deacon Blue’s Dignity or a Michael Marra song, but we were certainly very happy to hear the popular Proclaimer's anthem Sunshine on Leith, ably performed by Admiral Fallow’s Sarah Hayes and Louis Abbott! 

Scotland has seen a resurgence of the Scots folk scene back in the 60s and 70s with folklorists and song collectors such as Margaret Bennett, Hamish Henderson, Dick Gaughan, plus the rock and pop successes over the 80s and 90s. Scots songwriters mix the ballad traditions and contemporary influences to great effect. We should be proud and happy to see the new generations take up the mantle that was first worked on to preserve Scots voices in the 1700s by poets Allan Ramsay, Robert Fergusson and Robert Burns.

Eddi Reader
Eddi Reader

Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil

Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble and Rod Jones

Del Amitri’s Justin Currie

Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell

Admiral Fallow’s Sarah Hayes and Louis Abbott

Plus Emma Pollock,  Hamish Hawk, Brownbear, 



Review & Photos by Pauline Keightley  -  https://pkimage.co.uk

  

Tuesday 19 April 2022

Concert for Ukraine Perth

 


Eddi Reader

Concert for Ukraine Perth Concert Hall – April 20th

EDDI Reader, Dougie MacLean, Blazin’ Fiddles and The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band  

 

 

Scots Makar Kathleen Jamie will give a readings of collective poem Our Waking Breath – a Poem-Letter from Scotland to Ukraine, created from single lines submitted by the public.

 

Tickets are selling fast for the concert, has already raised over £15,000 for the

 

Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC), Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal – 

and anyone who wants to come along is being urged to act quickly as the concert is expected to sell out.

 

Tickets cost £25, with all net proceeds from the event being donated directly to the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC), Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Tickets are available at www.horsecross.co.uk; Phone, 01738621031, in person, between 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday at Perth Theatre Box Office.

 

 

Blazin Fiddles

Perthshire-based poet Jim Mackintosh, who is organising the event along with Horsecross Arts, Alan McKinnon, Dave MacFarlane and Graeme Roger, said: “I’m humbled at the response from the Scottish creative community.

 

“When we came up with the idea to do the concert, everyone we asked who could possibly rearrange their lives to be able to perform said yes. Once word spread among artists, we were actively contacted by several top names who wanted to get involved.

 

“The concert is obviously going to be full of emotion, but we do want people to come along and enjoy themselves and feel proud that they are doing something, albeit a small thing, to help the people of Ukraine.

 

 “And if people can’t make it but still want to show their support, they can still donate to the appeal through the Concert for Ukraine webpage.”

All the performers and their technical support have donated their services, and Horsecross Arts has waived the hire fee for Perth Concert Hall.

 

Friday 8 January 2021

Celtic Connections first online festival 2021!


Transatlantic Sessions 2020

At this cold and dark time of year the accomplished and melodic fires of music light up our hearts and the evening skies

 

Celtic Connections, the world's biggest winter folk festival, first online festival will celebrate the musical connections, accomplished musicians, perfect melodies, musical traditions and much more. Its hard to explain what its like to miss the buzz that surrounds folk festivals and the importance to our lives of live music. So I'm looking forward to seeing some top class Celtic concerts online and on the BBC

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MUSICIANS IN THESE DARK TIMES 


Celtic Connections has now listed their first online digital festival. 

Some photos for the Danny Kyle stage.






The festival will run from Friday 15th January to Tuesday 2nd February 2021Follow the conversation at @ccfest

TICKETS AND PROGRAM - : www.celticconnections.com

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

Monday 25th January

*BBC Scotland channel: BURNS NIGHT with the BBC SSO, EDDI READER and KAREN MATHESON 7pm - 8pm 

 

*Some of CELTIC CONNECTIONS festival will be on BBC Alba

Friday 15th January Celtic Connections 2021 Online Celebration Concert (Various Artists) 7.30pm - 9pm £10 On BBC ALBA: EP1 Cuirm@Celtic Connections: Duncan Chisholm 9pm 

Monday 18th January - Come Away In with Karine Polwart, Eddi Reader, Rab Noakes, Siobhan Miller & Finlay Napier 7.30pm - 9pm £7

 

Wednesday 20th January   Blue Rose Code - Karen Matheson - LYRE - Rory Butler 7.30pm - 9pm £7

 

Friday 22nd January - Blazin Fiddles - Xabier Diaz - Gnoss - Deirdre Graham 7.30pm - 9pm £7. On BBC ALBA: EP2 Cuirm@Celtic Connections: The Staves 9pm

Sunday 24th January - The Secret Sisters - Kinnaris Quintet - An Tobar Presents 7.30pm - 9pm £7

Friday 29th January -  Transatlantic Sessions with Special Guests 7.30pm - 8.30pm £10

Saturday 30th January - Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi - Kris Drever - Dean Owens with Joey Burns (Calexico) 8pm - 9.30pm £7


Musical Director Donald Shaw - “The resounding feeling that has come out of the recording days is a space for musicians to come back, to play again, to feel part of the community that they helped to create. The last time a lot of the contributing artists performed was at Celtic Connections 2020 and now they are back playing as part of the festival one year on after what has undoubtedly been the hardest year of their careers. We feel incredibly proud that as a festival, along with our funding partners, we have allowed for this safe space for them to play again, embrace their creativity and ultimately give them hope that there is a future for them within this industry.”


Aly Bain


 The Celtic Connections online festival will begin one week today. Across 19 days, the festival will present over 30 online performances between Friday 15th January and Tuesday 2nd February 2021.

World class concerts will be available to view online with some of the biggest names on the Scottish music scene and beyond appearing on screens across the world as part of the winter festival. Celtic Connections has created unique digital content from specially commissioned projects and performances filmed across many of Glasgow’s much-loved venues. International artists have also contributed to the eclectic line-up by recording performances remotely.

Traditionally, the festival welcomes over 100,000 attendees to Glasgow, a UNESCO City of Music, and on announcing the digital-first festival organisers hoped it would appeal to the wide international audience they usually see attending the festival. The 19-day event undoubtedly has caught the attention of music fans across the world with festival passes purchased in 35 countries already. With the festival’s global audiences in mind, they have allowed for all shows to be available for a week after they are first streamed to alleviate any restrictions for different time zones enjoying the range of content.  


Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “The announcement of the full festival programme today marks a huge moment for me and the wider team. The concept for a digital-first Celtic Connections was borne out of a desire to promote wellbeing and optimism amongst fellow musicians as much as it was about still being able to offer entertainment to our loyal Celtic Connections audiences during the dark nights of January. 


John Paul White


Rab Noakes

Eddi Reader and the RSNO


Friday 14 February 2020

Blue Rose Code: This Is Caledonian Soul, Celtic Connections 2020

 

Blue Rose Code: Caledonian Soul at the Old Fruitmarket as part of Celtic Connections 2020

Tonight was a celebration of outstanding Scottish soul music, covering such Scots artists as the Blue Nile, Boo Hewerdine, Mark Knopfler, Del Amitri, Gerry Rafferty, Lewis Capaldi, Travis, KT Tunstall, Annie Lennox. The concert was hosted by the inimitable and very talented Ross Wilson (aka Blue Rose Code) and he was backed by an accomplished, soul 9-piece band, string quartet and backing vocalists. Plus quality guest vocalists that included – Eddi Reader, Karen Matheson, Robert Vincent.





Wilson began with a crowd-pleasing Del Amitri’s Kiss This Thing Goodbye and Graham Lyle’s What’s Love Got To Do With It. Eddi Reader performed a memorable Patience of Angels by Boo Hewerdine, along with her talented musician husband John Douglas, of the band Trashcan Sinatras.

Karen Matheson sang Mark Knopfler’s Brothers in Arms, with some highly exuberant playing by the rhythm section - plus the Blue Nile’s Happiness, KT Tunstall and Annie Lennox’s, No More I Love You. Karen had clearly enjoyed getting into the spirit of this collaborative, soul showcase. From Liverpool award-winning country soul singer, Robert Vincent, was on good form and sang a Travis song, Flowers in the Window, and Gerry Rafferty’s well loved Stuck in the Middle With You. As well as Lewis Capaldi’s major recent hit Someone You Love.



One of Ross’s biggest influences is John Martyn and he began the second half with an engrossing Fine Lines (I’d love to hear Solid Air or May you Never by the way). Wilson performed a new song from his up-coming album and a more upbeat version of his song Grateful. And for a grand finale we were treated to Jack Bruce’s Sunshine of Your Love, which had the packed audience on their feet. A heads up too for the excellent funky band. I would have enjoyed also to hear more duets and from emerging new Scots talent.

Keep a light on in these dark days…..  





Wilson draws on both his passion for blues rhythm guitar and the intimacy of folk tunes. His musical heroes include Van Morrison, John Martyn and other soul / folk musicians. I’m a fan! I first heard Ross at my local folk club, which was packed out for his 2 sold out nights there and I was impressed with his range, dynamic guitar playing, husky soul-filled voice and the passion of his songs. 


At Edinburgh festival 2018, Ross performed his first This Is Caledonian Soul concert at the Queens hall with a quality line up and well chosen songs.

I like to own my music and support musicians that I admire and I have so enjoyed Ross’s albums. (He also does an excellent version of Davey Steele’s powerful song Scotland Yet.) 
ALBUMS – Ballads of Peckham Rye 2015: Lo, Bird is on the wing, 2016; Live at the Queens Hall 2017; Water of Leith 2019. Plus eps and singles.  https://bluerosecode.com/

**My soul requests! Love to hear Danny Wilson’s Mary’s Prayer; Michael Marra, whose songs paint incredible pictures; Rab Noakes, renowned Scots singer songwriter, who also mixes folk and soul, Gently Does it; Average White band – Pick up the Pieces
 


Thursday 31 January 2019

Grace and Danger Review


A troubled soul looking for love…

What a glorious concert to celebrate one of Scotland’s best loved singer songwriters, John Martyn. He was born in London, but after his parent divorce when he was five, it was Glasgow that formed him. – where he lived with his father and grandmother. 

The tribute concert was hosted by double bass Danny Thompson who recounted anecdotes of his tours with Martyn. His immense legacy is well preserved by the fine artists who performed tonight at Glasgow concert hall as part of Celtic Connections. They sang some of his best loved songs.


We were graced with quality guitar playing by American blues guitarist Eric Bibb, who opened the concert with Martyn’s perfect Solid Air. He also performed accomplished guitarEasy Bluesand a moving One World.  

With the full band Ross Wilson (aka Blue Rose Code) performed with dynamic rhythms and heartfelt soul Make no Mistake, and in his first set soulful Fine Lines and Bless the Weather, along with strings led by Greg Lawson


Several younger singer songwriters expressed his widespread musical influence on their work. Lucy Rose provided intimate emotions with the song I Couldn’t Love you More, while Katie Spencer sang, Hurt in Your Heart and John the Baptist

English singer songwriter John Smith performed the songs, Walk Down, Spencer the Rover and Go Down Easyalong with Thompson’s double bass: he sounded very Martyn-like. 
Popular Scottish singer Eddi Reader performed with the string ensemble  the upbeat Dancing, Certain Surprise, and a moving Fairytale LullabyBrit award winners Paul Weller (of The Jam fame and considered a leading mod figure) played the songs, Evil in Your Heart and Sweet Little Mystery.


The concert ended with all on stage to sing his best loved song May You Never, followed by a video of Martyn in concert singing the poignant Over the Rainbow. 
What a memorable, moving night!

Like many of the greats, Martyn mixed varied influences to take his music to the edge, with pounding blues rhythms, Celtic heart and moving soul.  He recorded 22 studio albums and toured exclusively.