'Pilgrimer: Re-imagining Joni Mitchell's Hejira' at Celtic Connections 2016

"touching souls and surely you touched mine..."

I felt enriched - this was a perfect evening of nostalgia for the many massive Joni fans there in the packed audience concert hall to hear Joni Michell's Hejira album - now set to new Scottish words by the author James Robertson.  Joni wrote this album while driving solo from Miami to LA ,on both the freedom and loneliness of the road. 

 

*The first SET was the Scots Re-imagining of Hejira

Author James Robertson began the night. He said after travelling in America, seeing Joni live and buying the album, Hejira was now "in his bones" - so this was an instinctive project for him to re-imagine her words into the Scots language.  He had already written the first Scots adaptation twenty years ago and was encouraged by Celtic's director Donald Shaw's wish to bring more spoken word into the festival.

Scottish folk singer and musician, Karine Polwart and her brother guitarist Steven Polwart, were central to organising this concert.  Karine, herself a talented singer song writer gave careful performance with her expressive vocal. 

She sang four of the tracks - Tod(Coyote), Hoolet(Black Crow), The Find(Hejira) and Columba(Amelia) when she was thrilled to be joined onstage by the renowned Grammy winning guitarist Larry Carlton, who has worked with many of the greats in music - including Joni's Hejira.  

Annie Grace performed the track Pie Jock(Furry Sings). While Rod Paterson delighted with his deeper vocals and a humorous rendition of Kippenrait(Strange boy)and also languorous Grey in Grez (Blue Motel).

James performed spoken word on a moving tribute, Sang for Joni(Song for Sharon. Karine, Annie and Rod sang Pilgrimer(Refuge of the Road).  

*The second SET was some favoured Joni songs.

Olivia Chaney interpreted well two of Joni's best loved classics on piano A Case of You, Women of Heart and Mind.   

Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis sang in English Cactus Tree and River with strings and expressed well the vulnerability and poignancy of her voice.

Award-winning singer Kathryn Joseph, performed the songs Rainy Night House and the classic Both Sides Now with her delicate timing and ethereal voice. Canadian singer Rose Cousins, challenged herself well to sing Joni's haunting Blue.   

With all the talented female line up on stage they then performed the more hopeful and embracing songs The Fiddle and the Drum, followed by Free Man In Paris - and after a standing ovation a lovely encore of  the Circle Game.  All five women performers clearly showed their awe, love and respect for how much Mitchell has influenced their own songs and music.   

This was a night of delightful harmony and memories - both the joy and the pain of those journeys.  With a great expanse of subtle light and shade and movement in the music.  For this album Joni blended her folk, rock and jazz influences. Well done to the entire cast for such an memorable evening of song!

A special mention to a top house band, which consisted of Calum McIntyre(drums, percussion), Steven Polwart (guitar), Kevin McGuire (double bass), Fraser Fifield (kaval, low whistle, saxophone).  

Joni was one of the first to write lyrics to her songs in such an intimate way. She is a great lyricist and painter of profound images. The direct simplicity of her words are highly memorable with lines such as  - ' You impress me most when you don't even try.' As she sings on Blue Motel Room: "I’ve got road maps from two dozen states, I’ve got coast to coast just to contemplate …" 

James asked us to send a Big Wave of thanks over the ocean to Joni - one of the greatest singer songwriters of all time. I agree wholeheartedly with him - still as brilliant 40 years later!   

Robertson has also adapted other books into the Scots language.  He spoke in an interview for the Herald of the challenges of working on this creative project to bring his words into the musical contact of the songs -  You can’t simply swap a song from one language into another and expect it to work. It’s no accident that Scots is the "natural" language of much traditional Scottish music, and American the "natural" language of blues and rock ’n’ roll. This does not mean, however, that synthesis is impossible or undesirable. On the contrary, building bridges between musical and wider cultural worlds is exactly what Celtic Connections does. '


That wis the lang, hot simmer, Joni,
we thocht it wid niver end;
I had ma haill life oot afore me,
nae mair lessons tae attend.
Caurs tailed back in the Safari Park,
puggies laughin in the trees:
the warld wis turnin inside oot,
shrinkin by invisible degrees.
…
I gaed through twenty-nine states and then some mair –
forests, mountains, fields and feelins.
I walked ma shoon tae shreds on stoury roads,
sometimes hurtin, sometimes healin.
Awthin turns in time tae legend,
and in ilka legend somethin’s true;
that fit-sair, luve-seik pilgrimer
aye walks aside me noo.

Karine Polwart & Dick Gaughan

One of the special moments at Celtic Connections is when some of our top musicians collaborate together. At ‘Blood and Roses: Concert for the Songs of Ewan MacColl’ at Celtic Connections 2015  we were treated to two of my favourite Scottish folk artists and top Scottish folk musicians  -  folk legend Dick Gaughan and Karine Polwart, who began the concert with a strong interpretation of Ewan's song Ballad of Accounting. 

Gaughan also sang a dramtic Father’s Song, whil Karine sang a truy felt interpretation of MacColl’s song Nobody Knew She was There.

I first heard many years back in Edinburgh and was taken on with the power of his very individual guitar playing and the moving expression and strength of his voice. He sings questioining songs of social commentary with a poignant honesty. Karine was moved when she first heard his album, A Handful of Earth.

 I first heard Karine perform at an initmate wonderful gig at The Tall Ship Glasgow where I enjoyed her memorable htoughtful songs and subtle insightful voice. She has a lovely quality to her voice.

Karine has a warm, sincere personality and a huge smile! Polwart is a Scottish singer song writer. She writes and performs music with a strong folk and roots feel.  She has been recognised for her solo career, winning three awards at the BBC Folk Awards in 2005, and was previously a member of Malinky and Battlefield

Blood and Roses: The songs of Ewan MacColl

Neill and Calum MacColl

Concert for Ewan MacColl Celtic Connections 2015

A joyous celebration of the life and songs of Ewan MacColl and a family affair along with the English folk family the Carthys.  

MacColl was many things, a diamond in the rough - a self taught actor, playwright, author, singer, songwriter, activist, song collector. He is known for his part in the folk revival movements of the 60s. He wrote one of my favourite songs ever, the well loved - 'The First Tie Ever I Saw Your Face.'

He is also best known for his songs and tonight we were enriched by hearing them interpreted in the traditional tried and tested way by some of England’s and Scotland’s finest folk singers - Dick Gaughan, Karine Polwart, Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy, The Blue Nile's Paul Buchanan, American musician Chaim Tannenbaum, Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, his sons Neill and Calum MacColl, and four of MacColl's grandchildren.

Neill and Calum MacColl

The event was organized by his two sons (with folk singer Peggy Seeger) Calum and Neill MacColl, and by Kate St John. His second wife Peggy was unable to be there due to illness.  For Peggy he wrote one of the most perfect love songs - The First time Ever I saw Your Face and Neill commented that his parents had a display they called the 'Chamber of Horrors' for some of the dire covers of this now very famous song. 

The band played acoustically and included double bass, accordion and guitars and with stripped back arrangements so the songs were able to shine through. On stage there was a backdrop of black and white images of Ewan and his wife Peggy Seeger.   

 

Dick Gaughan

**Some true gems tonight –

Scottish folk legend Dick Gaughan and Karine Polwart began the concert with a strong interpretation of Ewan's song Ballad of Accounting. Gaughan also sang a dramatic Father's Song. Karine Polwart's truly felt cover of the song Nobody Knew She was There.

I especially enjoyed the Blue Nile's Paul Buchanan’s subtle interpretation of The First Time Ever I Saw your Face which was full of honest depth and heart and with none of those trills or unnecessary overdone vocal gymnastics so common these days on reality shows.

Eliza Carthy, Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy

English folk singer Martin Carthy sang with character Champion at Keeping Em Rolling and Freeborn Man of the Travelling People. Eliza Carthy performed with honesty and verve the MacColl songs Alone, Space Girl and The Fitters Song. Martin and Eliza Cathy were joined by Norma Waterson to sing a moving interpretation of MacColl's The Moving on Song. 

Pulp's Jarvis Cocker sang in his own very unique way the song The Battle is Done With.  

American musician and philosopher Chaim Tannenbaum impressively joined the cast of players. He sang MacColl's Go Down Ye Murderers and My Old Man and the well-known song now in the folk cannon, Shoals of Herring. (For 40 years, folk music’s first family, the Wainwright-McGarrigle clan, has enjoyed Tannerbaum's quiet support.)

MacColl's grandchildren performed some shanties.  Calum MacColl sang the well kent Sweet Thames Flow Softly and Neill MacColl sang the poignant The Joy of Living, before the encore songs for us all to sing along with - Dirty Old Town and Manchester Rambler.  

ChaimTannenbaum

Jarvis cocker

Martin Carthy

Ewan McColl concert PHOTOS - http://pkimage.co.uk/ewanmaccollconcert

MacColl was a fine storyteller with a magic way with words and wrote life-affirming songs. McColl died in 1989 at 74.

His wife, Peggy Seeger, now 80, still tours and records. She is an American classically trained musician and part of another famous folk family - the Seegers (Pete Seeger).  Her father was Charles Seeger, a folklorist and musicologist; her mother was Ruth Porter Crawford, a modernist composer who was one of the first women to receive a Guggenheim fellowship.

They are also known for their folk club, The Singers Club, in London and their Critics Group a "master class" for young singers performing traditional songs or to compose new songs. Seeger and MacColl performed and recorded as a duo and as solo artists;  http://www.peggyseeger.com/ewan-maccoll/journeyman-autobiography

A four disc boxed set of MacColl’s songs to mark the centenary, will be released later this year and will include some of the singers at tonight's show.  MacColl's parents were Scottish

He has released albums twenty solo albums and thirty albums with Peggy.  

http://www.peggyseeger.com/ewan-maccoll/journeyman-autobiography

Scottish female singer songwriters

Julie Fowlis

Karen Matheson

Karine Polwart

Emeli Sande

Eddi Reader

Here are my favourite Scottish female singer songwriters - Eddi Reader, Emeli Sande, Karine Polwart, Karen Matheson, Julie Fowlis - all very different and very special in their own unique ways. I have been to several concerts by all of them. They are also successful in different areas of music.  I have also seen some young new female singer songwriters here - Kate Tough, Genesee, Rachel Sermanni, Katie Sutherland. 

Please respect my copyright. Thanks. 

Music 2014

I forgot to write about new music. I'm enjoying 'The Head and Heart' from Seattle, whose Oran Mor gig was very good. (new album Let’s Be Still)

Very good gig though and the audience were really up for it. Also some excellent gigs at the Milngavie folk club - although in folk I am worried that all the Scottish folk legends are over sixty now and I'm not sure who there is from the younger generation to replace the likes of Dick Gaughan or Rab Noakes.

I admire Karine Polwart and Inge Thomson though and RM Hubbert was certainly excellent supporting Mogwai. Justin Currie (with Del Amitri ) was wonderful at the Hydro in January at Celtic (he's not so young either). But otherwise? Many of the younger singer songwriters lack substance, character or depth.

Poalo Nutini? I watched him on Jools Holland last night and he has come on since the early contrived pop of his first album, and much respect to him. 

I've been listening to Canadian Sarah McLachlan, who has written some top quality songs and is great live. She has a new 2014 album out Shine On. I'm a fan.

With the age of the internet I prefer to find my own music. I don’t wish to follow what is promoted at me.

Otherwise I go back for my Dylan or folk fix - with a bit of the Stones or Stevie Nicks thrown in. Karine's new album ‘Traces’ is very good, with lovely textures (recorded by her husband drummer Mattie Foulds).   

------

Celtic Connnections festival 2014

Nicola Benedetti and Phil Cunningham

#ccfest  Each cold January Celtic Connections brightens our dark evenings with warm, enriching ceilidh music, beautiful 

Gaelic song and exhilarating world music. It's a celebration of the folk song and traditions, dynamic collaborations 

of renowned Scottish musicianship alongside famous world artists - and more than that an introduction to new artists. 

Celtic is all about the live interaction with the audience and very much about the live bands. 

I have attended Celtic for many years now and the buzz at this festival is particularly infectious. The hub of Celtic is at the Glasgow Concert Hall which provides a fitting setting for the main concerts. Other venues range from the intimate Oran Mor to the atmospheric Old Fruitmarket in the Merchant city part of town - excellent for ceilidhs.

This year at Celtic 2014, its 21st year, I heard some wonderful musicians here for the first time  -  Lau, RM Hubbert, Mogwai, Imelda May, Nicola B, Del Amitri and from Greece Alkinoos Ioannidis. I also enjoyed artists I'd heard before - Dougie MacLean, Julie Fowlis, erry Douglas, Karine Polwart, Kris Drever, Capercaillie. I enjoyed several top concerts this year at Celtic and it certainly gets me through January!                          

Celtic sells out several big venues on the same night. When Celtic started back twenty one years ago in 1995 people wondered would they draw a crowd out at this quiet time of year in January to see folk concerts? It really is incredible how the festival has grown year on year to become the biggest folk festival gathering worldwide.

Julie Fowlis

Joy Kills Sorrow

Kris Drever

There was crossovers between folk and classical music at the festival with among others - Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain have been working with classical violinist Nicola Benedetti for her new Scottish themed album.  Also award-winning folk band Lau composed with the classical and experimental Elysian Quartet - 'The Bell That Never Rang'  for the New Music Biennial Glasgow 2014.

Julie Fowlis & Nicola Benedetti

Duncan Chisholm

The Big Dish

At Celtic's main event, the Transatlantic Sessions - and who are one of my all time favoruite bands - there are crossovers between Scottish traditional music and American country and bluegrass - it is a powerful combination!  When music making goes in new directions with challenging collaborations, that is often when the best music can develop.  

Capercaillie celebrated their 30 years together at the festival with a concert to mark the release of their album 'At the Heart of It All'.  The band are one of Scotland's most successful contemporary folk bands and are led by festival artistic director Donald Shaw and the beautiful voice of Karen Matheson.

Capercaillie 

Dougie MacLean Burns International concert Hydro

It is good to see and hear the confidence, creativity, pride and range in Scottish music these days.  It is a huge boost for Glasgow to host this international event each year.

I  particularly enjoyed -  Alkinoos Ioannidis, RM Hubbert, Del Amitri, Lau, and Julie Fowlis.  

There are often several wonderful concerts on the same night. One good thing is there is much encouragement given 

over the festival to new musicians – with the Late Sessions, Open mic and also Showcase Scotland.   

Lau at Glasgow City Halls

Aidan O'Rourke with Lau

Darrell Scott & Tim O'Brien

Jerry Douglas & Aly Bain Transatlantic Sessions

Shaw does a great job of pulling the festival together to offer diversity, breadth and quality. It’s clear he enjoys varied and interesting collaborations.  
The festival encourages playing live, ethnic traditions, vocal harmonies, unaccompanied singing, story telling songs and words with a message, real instruments and diverse collaborations. I look forward to next year's Celtic Connections festival!

Imelda May

Del Amitri

The Hydro

All Photographs are copyright Pauline Keightley and are made with permission of the artists, the festival, and the venues involved. Photos at Celtic Connections since 2008.

Rab Noakes -  with  Where Dead Voices Gather' - still relevant and even better than his younger days.... 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/rabnoakes